Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Psittacula krameri | [authority] Scopoli, 1769 | [UK] Rose-ringed Parakeet | [FR] Perruche a collier | [DE] Halsbandsittich | [ES] Cotorra Verde de Collar | [NL] Halsbandparkiet

Subspecies

Genus

Physical charateristics

Rose-ringed Parakeets are sexually dimorphic, and adult males sport black markings under their beaks and a dark band of colors around their necks. In the wild, this is a noisy species with an unmistakable squawking call.

Generally green, face, abdomen and under wing-coverts yellowish-green; nape and back of head variably washed with blue stretching to the back of the head; chin, broad cheek-stripe and narrow line from cere to eye black; narrow band to nape pink; upperside of middle tail-feathers blue with greenish-yellow tips, outer feathers green; underside of outer tail-feathers olive-yellowish, middle feathers blackish; breast and abdomen feathers tinged bluish-grey; upper mandible red, lower mandible black; iris yellowish-white; feet greenish-grey.

Listen to the sound of Rose-ringed Parakeet

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Rose-ringed Parakeet.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

Range

Africa, Oriental Region : West, Central, East Africa, Pakistan to Burma

Habitat

This non-migrating species is one of few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in ‘disturbed habitats’, and in that way withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation

Reproduction

The Rose-ringed Parakeet is equally flexible in its choice of nest sites. Like virtually all other psittacids, it is a cavity nester. In Africa the nest is always in a natural cavity; however, in India it will nest in a hole in the wall of a human dwelling. In Florida it has been observed nesting in a hole in a utility pole. The nest cavity is lined with soft wood chips. The breeding season is from August to November in Africa and from December to May in India. The clutch size varies from 2 to 6 white eggs, although 3 or 4 eggs are most common. Brooding is by both parents, and lasts for 22 to 24 days. The young remain in the nest for 6 to 7 weeks after hatching. The long central tail feathers are absent in recent fledglings, but are quickly acquired. Adult male plumage is not acquired until the third year, although successful breeding has been observed before full adult plumage is acquired.

Feeding habits

Rose-ringed Parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds

Video Rose-ringed Parakeet

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeqWy0-rylw

copyright: youtube

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). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not 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.
The Rose-ringed Parakeet has established feral populations in India, a number of European cities, South Africa and Japan. There are also apparently stable populations in the USA in Florida and California, and a small but self-sustaining population Tehran, Iran, mostly concentrated in the northern parts of city.

The European populations became established during the mid to late 20th Century from introduced and escaped birds. There are two main population centres in Britain: the largest is based around south London, Surrey and Berkshire, and by 2005 consisted of many thousands of birds. A smaller population occurs around Margate and Ramsgate, Kent. Elsewhere in Britain, smaller feral populations have established from time to time. It has been suggested that the birds could endanger populations of native British birds, and that the Rose-ringed Parakeet could even be culled as a result.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, there exist a network of feral populations numbering 5-6000 each in urbanized areas. In Germany, these birds are found along the Rhine in all major urban areas between Neuss/Dusseldorf and Heidelberg, and in the northeast of Hamburg. Other populations are found around Paris and in Barcelona.

The birds in these populations represent hybrids, originally between varying numbers – according to locality – of the subspecies manillensis, borealis, and/or (to a lesser extent) krameri.

Migration

Resident in Afrotropical and Oriental regions, except that in cultivated areas there are local feeding movements governed by ripening of crops. West Palearctic introduced populations also mainly resident.

Distribution map

Literature

Title Sexing and ageing Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri in Britain

Author(s): Christopher J. Butler and Andrew Gosler

Abstract: Although Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri ..[more]..

Source: Ringing & Migration (2004) 22, 7-12