Hey! We are the unique parrots found in Himalayas called Slaty-headed Parakeet. Take a look at some interesting points about us:
- We are parrots that look like a plum-headed parakeet. We are different from them by having a dark grey head.
- We are known for our altitudinal migration meaning we travel from the hillside that we live into the adjacent valleys in the winter.
- We are traded as pets in some areas as we make excellent pets. We can learn to talk and mimic.
- We are very beautiful and add aesthetic to the tourist places around the Himalayas.
SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT US:
Our Scientific Name: Psittacula Himalayana.
Identification: Yellowish-green parrots with dark grey heads.
Our Habitat: hillside forests and woodlands.
Our Range:
Food Habits: Herbivorous; feed mainly on fruits, nuts, berries, nectar, acorns, grains and seeds.
Breeding Period: March to May.
Number of eggs laid: 4-5 eggs.
Incubation period: About 24 days.
Lifespan: 15-17 years.
IUCN red list status: Least Concern.
CITES: Not Listed.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittculidae
Genus: Psittacula
Species: P. himalayana
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are the Slaty-headed Parakeets found near Himalayas of India. Let us tell you more about our species.
We are scientifically called as Psittacula Himalayana.
HOW WE LOOK:
We are medium-sized birds with a body length of 38cm-42cm, a tail length of 15c-18cm and weighing about 125gms. We are yellowish-green colored birds with a head that is slaty (dark grey) color. We have a black collar from the chin to upper side of the throat. We have dark maroon colored patches on our wings.
Our beaks are orange-red in color with yellow tip. Our tail is green in color which turns blue as it goes down and has yellow tip. Males and females of our species look alike. Males have longer tail than females. Young ones of our species do not have grey colored heads, instead it is green in color.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We live in hillside forests and woodlands that surround Himalayas of India. Our range is from Western Himalayas (Pakistan) to eastern Himalayas (Nepal and Bhutan, including India).
We do altitudinal migration meaning, we climb down the Himalayas and stay in the valleys in the winter.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are herbivorous birds and feed on fruits, nuts, berries, nectar, acorns, grains and seeds available in our range.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We are birds found in small groups. We are monogamous birds meaning we have a single mate for a lifetime. Our breeding season is from March to May. We do not make nests, instead we occupy abandoned woodpecker’s nest.
The female lays 4-5 eggs at a time and the incubation period is about 24 days. Female alone incubates and takes care of the young while the male defends the group. Our lifespan is 15-17 years.
MORE ABOUT US:
Though we are found in very small range, we are abundant there and are traded by people to be kept as pets.
We are wonderful pets as we can even learn to talk and mimic.
We are found in many tourist places near Himalayas.
OUR CONSERVATION:
We have a stable population in our range and are traded to be kept as pets. We are considered as “Least Concern” in the red list of IUCN. In India, we are protected under Schedule IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Pic Credits: Parrots.org
