[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Psittacula eupatria | [authority] Linnaeus, 1766 | [UK] Alexandrine Parakeet | [FR] Perruche alexandre | [DE] Grosser Alexandersittich | [ES] Cotorra Alejandrina | [NL] Grote Alexanderparkiet | [copyright picture] Ron Hoff
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Region | Range |
| Psittacula | eupatria | OR | India through Southeast Asia | |
| Psittacula | eupatria | avensis | ne India, n Burma | |
| Psittacula | eupatria | eupatria | s India, Sri Lanka | |
| Psittacula | eupatria | magnirostris | Andaman Is. | |
| Psittacula | eupatria | nipalensis | e Afghanistan to Bangladesh | |
| Psittacula | eupatria | siamensis | n and w Thailand, Indochina |
Genus
Members of the parrot genus Psittacula or Afro-Asian Ringnecked parakeets as they are commonly known in aviculture originates found from Africa to South-East Asia. It is a widespread group, with a clear concentration of species in south Asia, but also with representatives in Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean. This is the only genus of Parrot which has majority of its species in continental Asia. Of all the extant species only Psittacula calthropae, Psittacula caniceps and Psittacula echo do not have a representative subspecies in any part of mainland continental Asia. The Rose-ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, is one of the most widely distributed of all parrots.
Physical charateristics
P.e. eupatria: male-faint black strip from lores to eye; wide black stripe across lower cheeks; broad pink collar around hindneck; dark purple/red patch on inner secondary coverts. Thighs green/grey. Bill red. Eye pale yellow. Female-duller, with no black under cheeks. P.e nipalensis: both adults overall colour more grey/green; broader black stripe across lower cheeks; occiput and cheeks washed with blue; larger in size. P.e. magnirostris: male-thin blue stripe on hindneck above pink collar; brighter red spot on wing; larger in size; heavier bill. Female-as in eupatria, but larger bill. P.e. avensis: male-as in nipalensis, but thin blue stripe on hindneck, occasionally absent; neck and underparts more yellow/green; smaller bill. Female-as in nipalensis, but smaller bill. P.e. siamensis: male-as in avensis, but occiput and nape suffused with blue; paler, more red spot on wing; face and neck yellowish. Female-as in avensis, but face and neck yellowish.
Listen to the sound of Alexandrine Parakeet
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Alexandrine Parakeet.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
recorded by David Edwards
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 50 | cm | size max.: | 62 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 26 | days | incubation max.: | 30 | days |
| fledging min.: | 45 | days | fledging max.: | 52 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 4 |
Range
Oriental Region : India through Southeast Asia. P.e. eupatria: Sri Lanka and Indian peninsula. P.e. nipalensis: E Afganistan, E and S Pakistan, C India to Nepal, Bhutan and Assam to Bangladesh. P.e. magnirostris: Andaman Islands and nearby Coco Islands, Bay of Bengal. P.e. avensis: Cachar district of Assam to S Burma. P.e. siamensis: N and W Thailand to Cambodia, C Laos, rarely in north; and SC Vietnam.
Habitat
Found in variety of moist and dry forests and woodlands. Also found in cultivated areas and mangroves. Found up to 900m (2952ft).
Reproduction
Breeding season is from November to April in their natural distribution range. Average clutch size is 2?4 eggs. The average incubation period is 28 days usually starting with the laying of the second egg. The chicks fledge around seven weeks of age.
Feeding habits
Occurs in small flocks but forms bigger groups where food is abundant and at communal roosts where birds from a large area may gather in one large tree. Diets consists of variety of wild and cultivated seeds, flowers and flower buds, nectar, grain, fruit and vegetables.
Video Alexandrine Parakeet
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x4mdL3Nms4
copyright: Stefan Behrens
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Resident, with some nomadic movements and local migrant in North India
Distribution map
