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Blossom-headed Parakeet
Psittacula roseata


Cotorra Carirrosa

Content

Description:

Of 30 to 36 cm.. length between 85 and 90 g. of weight.
The Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata) has the forecrown, lores, cheeks and ear-coverts mauve-pink, fading to pale blue in the lower cheeks, the sides of neck, the crown and back neck, with wide black stripes as “mustache” to form a narrow collar between black blue head and green body; nape bright green fading to a duller green on upperparts.

Upperwing-coverts, mostly green with a brown patch coverts smaller and medium; greater coverts outer and alula darker green. The primaries dark green (darker in vane inner) with a margin yellowish narrow in them vane outer.

Underwing-coverts green. The underparts pale green. Uppertail, centrally bright blue, with creamy white tip; outer feathers green on vane outer, yellowish-green on inner, tipped yellow; undertail-coverts dull yellowish.

Ilustración Cotorra Carirrosa

upper jaw orange-yellow, the lower black: cere whitish; irises yellowish white; legs gray-green.

The female has the head pale blue-gray, without “moustache” black and collar ring replaced by yellow opaque olive extending from the nape, around the sides of neck; tail slightly shorter. The upper jaw yellow, the lower dark grey.

The immature has the head greenish, the gray tint chin and the bill yellowish to the 15 months, when both sexes develop similar to plumage adult female; the males acquires adult plumage at about 30 months.

Subspecies description

Once considered the same species Psittacula cyanocephala, where he was often wrongly classified as Psittacula cyanocephala rosa.

  • Psittacula roseata juneae

    (Biswas, 1951) – Like species nominal, but the overall color body It is yellower; more extensive stain or red patch shoulder; central feathers tail paler color, side feathers tail yellower.


  • Psittacula roseata roseata

    (Biswas, 1951) – The species nominal.

Habitat:

Video – "Blossom-headed Parakeet" (Psittacula roseata)

Blossom-headed parakeet Call / Psittacula roseata / Bird's Call

The Blossom-headed Parakeet inhabit open forests, including Savannah, secondary forests, forest edge, clear and cultivated land. Partially deforested areas persists and seems to prefer forest edges adjacent farm.

Mainly observed in the lowlands to about 1.500 meters above sea level. Usually, in small flocks, form larger congregations where food is plentiful. He joins mixed flocks with Rose-ringed Parakeet, the Plum-headed Parakeet and Red-breasted Parakeet and form communal roosts in dense vegetation.

Reproduction:

The nests This species is found in tree cavities, usually at a moderate height; they can dig the hole themselves or modify old nests of other species (for example, woodpeckers or barbets).

Nest usually in colonies of several couples. The laying is of 4-5 (rarely six); eggs are more spherical than those of other congeners. The breeding season It is from January to April (May sometimes).

Food:

Foods are reported: wild flowers and Granada, nectar, including grain sorghum and corn, fruits such as figs and apricots, red peppers and chard seeds. Their diet is very similar to the Plum-headed Parakeet.

Distribution:

Distributed by the foothills of Himalaya Oriental until Indochina. Of Sikkim (India) and South of Bhutan through Assam until Bengal and Bangladesh and east along the north and center Burma, South of China (Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong province), Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea and Viet Nam.

Mainly sedentary with seasonal movements in southwest Burma, where Blossom-headed Parakeet They are common in the months of March and April, but otherwise few months, generally common despite apparent decline in some areas (for example, Thailand and Burma), mainly due to large-scale deforestation, and persecution. Few in Viet Nam.

Resident but with some local movements in relation to the food supply.

Held captive and apparently the subject of strong catch in some parts.

Subspecies distribution

  • Psittacula roseata juneae

    (Biswas, 1951) – From East Bangladesh to the North of Burma and east through southern China, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea and Viet Nam.


  • Psittacula roseata roseata

    (Biswas, 1951) – The species nominal.

Conservation:

State of conservation ⓘ


Status Near Threatened (UICN)ⓘ

• Current Red List of UICN: Near-threatened

• Population trend: Decreasing

This species has been upgraded from Least concern due to new information on population trends. It is listed as Near-threatened on the grounds that it is experiencing rapid moderate decline due to habitat loss, unsustainable levels of exploitation and hunting pressure.

This species has suffered greatly loss of habitat (Forshaw 2006), What, in combination with capture for trade bird cage and general persecution as a pest, have caused the Blossom-headed Parakeet it becomes rare or rare in Thailand (pit et to the. 1997, Juniper and Parr 1998) and Myanmar (Juniper and Parr 1998).

The size of the world's population has not been quantified, but the species according to sources, has a population variable through its range

International trade records showed that 836 birds were exported between 1981 and 1985, but this increased to 6.873 birds between 1986-1990, mainly Viet Nam and Thailand (pit et to the. 1997).

In Laos, habitat encroachment has been so severe in the lowlands, few remaining areas large enough so that the nests Blossom-headed Parakeet they can escape from theft, and there is little active effort to reduce this pressure (JW Duckworth in litt. 2013).

In Cambodia, changes in land use in the lowlands have been too quickly (RJ Timmins in litt. 2013), and it is expected that the intended conversion bosque deciduous Dry for agribusiness plantations may cause a decrease of 30% or more in the national population of this species in the next 20 years (F. Goes in some. 2013).

Actions ongoing:

    The species is known to occur in some protected areas, as the Kirirom National Park, Cambodia (F. Goes in some. 2013).

Conservation actions proposed:

    – Conduct periodic surveys to track broad population trends.
    – Monitor the rates of loss and degradation of habitat.
    – Quantify the impact of harvesting for trade.
    – List CITES listed species.
    – Increase the area of ​​suitable habitat that are protected.
    – Carry out awareness raising activities to discourage theft of nests and capture.

"Blossom-headed Parakeet" in captivity:

The Blossom-headed Parakeet It is a rare bird and very expensive, requiring experienced breeders. Immature of this species are nearly identical to those of the Slaty-headed Parakeet and Plum-headed Parakeet, so when buying an immature Blossom-headed Parakeet, be sure to do so only from a reputable breeder.

To ensure breeding success, each partner should have their own aviary. No house them with Plum-headed Parakeet wave Slaty-headed Parakeet, in order to avoid hybridisation.

The Blossom-headed Parakeet, generally, they are not aggressive with other smaller birds, usually calm and they are not very destructive to wood. The female is, usually, the dominant bird; reach breeding age at about the age of 3 years. New pairs should be introduced several months before the start of the breeding season so that the birds have enough time to establish a strong bond with each other.. A good pair bond will usually translate into better breeding results.. However, are very difficult birds to breed in captivity.

Since Blossom-headed Parakeet It is so rare, we should consider well managed breeding programs, before acquiring one of these copies for your particular pet enjoy. This Parrot You need constant training and behavioral counseling from an early age to ensure its potential owners the enjoyment of a free bird destructive habits and annoying.

Alternative names:

Blossom-headed Parakeet, Blossom headed Parakeet, Eastern Blossom-headed Parakeet (English).
Perruche à tête rose (French).
Rosenkopfsittich (German).
Periquito-de-cabeça-rosa (Portuguese).
Cotorra Carirrosa, Cotorra de Cara Rosada (español).


scientific classification:

Dr. Biswamoy Biswas
Dr. Biswamoy Biswas

Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Psittacula
Scientific name: Psittacula roseata
Citation: Biswas, 1951
Protonimo: Psittacula roseata


Blossom-headed Parakeet Images:



Especies del género Psittacula

Sources:

Avibase
– Parrots of the World – Forshaw Joseph M
– Parrots A Guide to the Parrots of the World – Tony Juniper & Mike Parr
– Birdlife

Photos:

(1) – Rose-headed Parakeet in Guwahati, Assam, India By © Raj Kamal Phukan – Oriental Bird Images
(2) – Psittacula roseata blossom headed parakeet – Birds-pet-wallpapers
(3) – Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata) by Elite-Pets
(4) – Juvenil Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata) by desbecsetdesplumes
(5) – Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata) in Tenerife – Loro Parque – link
(6) – Birds of Asia, Vol. V, Parts XXV-XXX, by John Gould, 1873-1877. Painted by John Gould & Henry C. Richter [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Sounds: Frank Lambert (Xeno-canto)

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