Alexandrine Parakeet

Alexandrine Parakeet

                Introduction of Alexandrine Parakeet

     The Alexandrine Parakeet  (Scientific Name :Psittacula eupatria) is a member of the psittaciformes order and belongs to the family Psittacidae.
     The species is named after emperor Alexander The Great (born 356 B.C. ), who is said to have had exported numerous Alexandrine parrots  to Europe and the Mediterranean, where they were considered prized possessions for the nobles and royalty.
      The species name "eupatria" has its origins from Latin or could be a Greco-Latin combination. Where the prefix "eu" means good or noble and the suffix "patria" is a Latin word means fatherland or ancestry. Therefore, the scientific name means of noble fatherland or of noble ancestry.

                How to Identify Alexandrine Parakeet

      The Alexandrine Parakeet is a large Parakeet. Length of this bird It is 58 cm (23 in) and wingspan is averaging 18.9–21.5 cm (7.5–8.5 in). Weight can be between 8.75 - 9.1 oz (250-260g)
      Color of It is mainly green with a blue-grey sheen on its cheeks and napes i.e back of a bird's neck, particularly in male bird. The color of lower parts is yellowish-green, the upperside of the middle tail feathers is blueish-green, the upperside of the external tail feathers is green while the underside of the tail feathers are all yellow.
       Alexandrine Parakeets have  a maroon (reddish-brown) patch at the top of their wing coverts which is commonly known as 'shoulder' patch. This maroon shoulder patch is seen in parakeets at their first feathering before they fledge from their nests. The lower and upper mandible are red with yellow tips. Irises of the adult bird are yellowish-white and the periopthalmic rings are light grey. The legs are grey in color but in the subspecies P. e. siamensis  color of the legs are yellowish-grey.
       Adult males has a pitch-black neck rings and large pink bands on their napes. (commonly called nape bands). Sometimes males may have a little band of blueish-grey above their bold pink nape-bands.
       Adult females have neck ring color of which are   light and dark shades of grey.  Black feathers in  neck-rings like males are absent in females. Middle-tail feathers of young Alexandrine Parakeets are short and thus young have shorter tails than adults. The adult feathering usually is acquired between 18–30 months of age, but may sometimes show up as young as 12 and/or as old as a full 36 months of age.  To differentiate the sex of Alexandrine Parakeets by sight accurately is difficult until they are 36 months old.
       The young males can be identified as soon as they display one (or more) pitch-black feathers of their neck rings and/or one (or more) pink feathers of their nape bands. Often, the young males develop their neck rings and nape bands in two or sometimes three successive moulting seasons. Adult parakeets with neither pitch-black feathers in their neck rings nor pink feathers in their nape bands are usually females.
       Beside Psittacula eupatria, there are four other recognized species of Alexandrine Parakeet.
       The P.e. nipalensis ssp. (Nepalese Alexandrine Parakeet) is the largest of the species Alexandrine Parakeet which is  62 cm (24.5 in) long and the  wingspan averaging between 20–24 cm (8–9.5 in). It looks almost like Psittacula eupatria species. But the feathers on the chest and abdomen in both sexes of Nepalese Alexandrine Parakeet display whitish-grey sheens, the cheeks and napes  are washed with blue and the adult males display large pink nape bands.
      The P.e. magnirostris ssp. (Andaman Island's Alexandrine Parakeet) is slightly larger than the nominate sub-species, whose  wingspan is  between 20–22.5 cm (8–9 in). It looks much like the Psittacula eupatria species. But the feathers on the chest and abdomen in both sexes display whitish-grey sheens. The maroon 'shoulder' patch is of a much redder (or less brownish) color than of that of the nominate. The beak is larger and more massive. The adult males display large pink nape bands, the blue sheens above the nape-bands are restricted and sometimes absent in some specimens.
     The P.e. avensis ssp. (Indo-Burmese Alexandrine Parakeet) is of same size as the Psittacula eupatria species, But the top of the head and the nape are of a yellowish-green, the blue sheens are restricted to the cheeks and thus absent in the nape. The adult males display thinner and pinker nape-bands.
    The P.e. siamensis ssp. (Laos or Siamese Alexandrine Parakeet) is the smallest of the Alexandrine Parakeet species but looks much like the Nominate species. It's size is  56 cm (22 in), and wingspan is  between 17.9–20.5 cm (7–8 in) . But the top of the head and the nape display pale-blue sheens that extends to the crown.  The cheeks are yellowish-green. There is a  'shoulder' patch which is  nearly brownless red in color and the legs display a prominent yellowish shade.

                Habits and Habitats

     In the wild these parrots form huge flocks and can be seen on the ground foraging for food. Alexandrine Parakeet is very noisy and  gregarious.  Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a loud scream, In the wild they feed on a variety of foods and are omnivores by nature. All dine on blossoms, fruits, and seeds.
   These Alexandrine Parakeet are most comfortable in the trees and are considered sentinel birds as they will emit loud calls when danger is seen. Though their calls can be heard but is very difficult to find them out in the trees once perched as they camouflage very well in their environment.
              Distribution
      Psittacula eupatria eupatria (Alexandrine Parakeet)- It's distribution range is from East of India to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh in the South and also found in Sri Lanka.
      Psittacula eupatria nipalensis (Nepalese Alexandrine Parakeet) - It is found in Eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, North and central India, Nepal, Buthan to Assam in Northeast India.
      Psittacula eupatria magnirostris (Andaman Islands' Alexandrine Parakeet)- As the name suggests it is found in Andaman Islands.
      Psittacula eupatria avensis (Indo-Burmese Alexandrine Parakeet)- Found in Northeast India and in Myanmar.
      Psittacula eupatria siamensis (Siamese Alexandrine Parakeet) - Distribution range is Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, north and east Thailand.
              Breeding
   Breeding season  is from November to April in their natural distribution range.
During the breeding season these birds will branch off into pairs to raise their offspring. The female will find or make a hollow nest cavity, usually inside a large tree.
   Female lays 2–4 eggs measuring 34.0 x 26.9 mm (1 x 1.3 in). The average incubation period is 28 days usually starting with the laying of the second egg. Only female incubate the eggs whereas the male guards the nest for any danger and and it feeds the female also. The chicks fledge around seven weeks of age. They are reared for about three weeks and are typically weaned between 12 to 16 weeks of age.

            Talking Ability
      These parrots are famous for their talking ability as well as their talking clarity. Some Alexandrines can pick up extensive vocabularies and will not remain quiet once talking has been mastered. Most start talking around eight months, but the average Alexandrines starts to talk after a year. Both males and females are able to talk, although the males seem to pick up larger vocabularies and are much more gifted when it comes to clarity. Most Alexandrines have their own tone when speaking and will not adopt the tone of their owner’s voice like the African Grey.