Red-breasted Parakeet

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Red-breasted Parakeet
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Genus: Psittacula Species: P. alexandri
Binomial name
Psittacula alexandri (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri is among the more widespread species of the genus and is the species which has the most geographical variations. Most of the subspecies are confined to small islands or a cluster of islands in Indonesia. One subspecies occurs in the Andaman islands, India and one subspecies occurs in continental South East Asia and partly extending to North-eastern parts of South Asia along the foothills of the Himalayas. Some of the island races may be threatened by the wild bird trade. The nominate race which occurs in Java is close to extinction.

Feral populations of this species have now established themselves in cities like Mumbai and small numbers occur in other cities such as Chennai and Bangalore in India.

The binomial commemorates Alexander the Great.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Psittacula alexandri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern