Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Order:

Psittaciformes

Family:

Psittaculidae

Size:

30 to 33 centimeters (12 to 13 inches)

Weight:

90 to 130 grams (3.2 to 4.6 ounces)

Taxonomy:

(Latham, 1790)

Short Description:

Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a vibrant and striking bird species found in Pakistan. It is characterized by its predominantly green plumage, accented by a deep purple-blue head, which transitions into a rich crimson on the neck and upper breast. The males boast a distinctive black chin stripe and a red shoulder patch, while females exhibit a more subdued coloration with a pale blue head and lack the black chin stripe. These parakeets are medium-sized with a stout body, a long, tapering tail, and a curved beak adapted for feeding on seeds, fruits, and buds.

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Plum-headed Parakeet is distributed across various regions of Pakistan, particularly in wooded habitats, forests, and urban areas with abundant greenery. It is commonly found in the northern and northwestern parts of the country, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and parts of Balochistan. These parakeets are known to inhabit a range of altitudes, from lowland areas to foothills and even into some mountainous regions.

Plum-headed Parakeets are social and gregarious birds, often observed in small to medium-sized flocks. They are agile flyers, displaying swift and acrobatic flight patterns as they move between trees and forage for food. Their diet primarily consists of various seeds, fruits, berries, and blossoms, which they glean from trees and shrubs. During the breeding season, which typically occurs from February to June, pairs engage in courtship displays characterized by aerial chases and mutual feeding. They nest in tree hollows, where the female lays eggs and both parents participate in incubating them and caring for the hatchlings. Outside of the breeding season, Plum-headed Parakeets may form larger communal roosts, providing safety in numbers during resting periods. Overall, these colorful parakeets play an essential role in the ecosystems of Pakistan, contributing to seed dispersal and adding vibrancy to the country’s avian diversity.