33 to 38 cm.. length between 133 and 168 g. of weight.

The Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) is a bird with a form attractive, thin, and with a long and narrow tail. Its plumage is green, the overall tone of the head is grey, the bill red, and with brands distinctive in the head and face. The area around the eyes is greenish, with a pretty bluish tint. It has a fine line along its forecrown and wide stripes in their cheeks. Plumage in the chest, the throat and the top abdomen is salmon-pink color, extending halfway from the vent.

The female It has a shade bluish through the region of the face. In general, they have a pink color more off above the chest and the feather half of its tail they are shorter than the of the male.

The immature birds they have the tail shorter, the bill Pink, and incomplete rays of the cheek they are easily distinguished.

Between the young birds hard identification between males and females, However, breeders have managed to identify them correctly. The head of the female bows in a more uniform manner from the cere to the rear of the head. The young males they tend to be flatter in the forecrown. The females They seem to have a face darker than blue.

• Sound of the Red-breasted Parakeet.

Usually, they live below 2.000 m (rarely above 345 metres in Nepal) all types or forest and wooded areas, including dry forest, secondary-humid deciduous forest, mangroves, coconut and mango groves , areas planted with trees (including hills of shifting cultivation), parks and urban areas. In the region of the Himalaya avoids the dense green forests.

Gregaria, usually in flocks of 6-10 birds, less frequently in groups of 50 and very exceptionally in thousands, larger flocks during garbage collection (for example, the mango or rice), sometimes mixed with the Slaty-headed Parakeet wave Gray-headed Parakeet. They form communal roosts in the tall trees, bamboo or sugarcane scrub areas.

The Red-breasted Parakeet nests in natural cavities or old hole made by woodpeckers or barbets, usually at a height between 3 and 10 m, often in loose colonies. The hole is filled with wood shavings.

The laying is of 2 to 4 eggs.

The breeding season is between December and April, Depending on the location and the altitude; in Java, breeding has been recorded in every month, except for April.

Diet Red-breasted Parakeet includes wild figs and other fruits, fruit trees and wild, flowers and nectar (especially, for example, of the Parkia speciosa and Erythrina variegata), dried fruits (for example, chestnuts Castanea), fruit (for example, Mango), berries, seeds (for example Albizia), leaves and cereals such as rice and corn, by causing serious damage to crops, especially for rice.

Size of the area of distribution (reproduction / resident): 2.570.000 km2

The Red-breasted Parakeet are distributed from the central area of the Himalaya until Indochina, China and West of Indonesian. From the lowlands of the Himalaya in the North of India, approximately to the East of Dehradun, through Nepal, Sikkim and North of Bhutan in the southwest of Yunnan, China; to the South by Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, India, until Bangladesh and to the East by Burma (including Mergui archipelago), Indochina, Malacca Peninsula, around 9°N (a record of 1889 in the Kelantan River at approximately 5°N suggests a contraction in its distribution) of Guangxi and Provinces of Canton and Hainan Island, to the South of China.

They are also distributed in Islas Andaman and Indonesian in Java, Bali, Karimun Java, Kangean, Borneo South (where it was probably introduced from Java) and Simeulue, Nias and Banyak, West of Sumatra.

Getaways captive birds eggs were found in Singapore and a single record (presumably an escape) in Hong Kong.

Resident but with some local movements dependent on food supply.

It is the most common parrot in some parts of its range., but with a substantial decrease in Thailand and Laos in recent years and local extinctions (for example, Java and Bali), because of the live poultry trade; the nominal subspecies may be at risk as a result of his capture. A small number in captivity out of range (mainly the nominal species and fasciata).

State of conservation ⓘ
Near Threatened ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

• Current Red List of UICN: Near-threatened

• Population trend: Decreasing

The population of the Red-breasted Parakeet It is suspected in a moderate to fast global decline, due to the unsustainable levels of exploitation and the destruction of their habitat. This suspicion is supported by widespread anecdotal evidence that in many parts of its range decreases.

Threats:

– The declines and local extinctions in recent decades in the population of the Red-breasted Parakeet have been attributed in large part to his capture to the trade in live birds (Juniper and Parr 1998).

– The hunt they are considered the main threats to the species in Nepal, where it is also threatened by the loss of forests (C. Inskipp and HS Baral in litt. 2011).

– His nasal voice makes the species a popular in Nepal cage bird, and their vocal habits during the breeding season, together with the tendency to form large flocks when not raising, they make susceptible to trappers. These factors lead to illegal hunting and his capture in protected areas; they are also persecuted by farmers due to their raids on crops (C. Inskipp and HS Baral in litt. 2013).

– Similarly, in Bangladesh, the species is captured for the cage bird trade It is also likely that they are affected by the removal of large trees (P. Thompson in litt. 2012).

– Almost the total disappearance of the species from the North of Laos, It is believed that it is mainly due to the loss of habitat through conversion to agriculture (JW Duckworth in litt. 2011).

– Loss and fragmentation of forests is likely to accelerate in Cambodia in the near future, given that many of the large agro-industrial concessions have been awarded recently (H. Rainey in some. 2011).

Conservation Actions:

– The species is listed in the Appendix II of CITES.

– It is known that they occur in many protected areas, as the Royal Chitwan National Park, Bardiya National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reservel, Nepal (C. Inskipp and HS Baral in litt. 2013), and the Parque nacional Cat Tien, Viet Nam (C. Robson in litt. 2013).

The Red-breasted Parakeet is a bird Smart and outgoing that is gaining increasing worldwide popularity. These parrots are sociable and playful, and if they are properly socialized, they can be a few excellent pets. They can be a bit aggressive and authoritarian, If it is not properly discipline. They need a good cage for a large size, with a lot of toys to avoid boredom.

Although this bird is linked with the Rose-ringed Parakeet, they are very different in personality. The Red-breasted Parakeet It is softer and not so noisy, although she has been described as "feisty". It is usually more quiet than other Psittacula. Also are great eaters and you accept easily new foods other birds may be thrown away.

You can get to imitate some sounds, even words, Although not as clear as the some of the larger parrots, example the Grey Parrot. But, according to some sources, they can speak more clearly than the Rose-ringed Parakeet.

Regular handling is important at an early age, since they can become aggressive, If not are well socialized and manipulated.

If you want a small Parrot with personality, the Red-breasted Parakeet It can be the ideal ave. But, It is still a "stubborn" and "stubborn" bird.. It is not surprising considering his intelligence. Obedience training is recommended. On the other hand it is one voracious chomping and should it be should provide plenty of toys to chew.

Like other parrots, need company, and if they will not be in an Aviary with other birds, We must be able and willing to spend large amounts of time with them.

In nature, this bird is often seen in flocks of 10 to 50 individuals. These flocks, often, they are heard before to be seen. This is a fact that must be taken into account before deciding to buy one Red-breasted Parakeet. Breeding females can be put in 3 to 4 eggs in each clutch, with an incubation approximately 22 days.

With regard to its longevity, according to sources, We need to know that a specimen lived 23,3 years in captivity.

Captive breeding:

The Red-breasted Parakeet commonly bred in captivity. They reach maturity between 2 and 3 years of age. The birds must be matched at a young age. The female can sometimes dominate males. The procession begins at the end of winter and the females can be seen calling males for food. In the wild they breed between the months of December and April, Although this is variable, Depending on the climate and altitude.

A thick-walled hollow trunk, It can be used as nest. If not available, any commercially available nesting box should suffice.

They require long aviaries, more than wide, due to its long tail and its type of flight (powerful, linear). Also like a protected breeding area. The entrance door to the Aviary must be on the opposite end. We must place leaves of Palm on the bird front and leafy branches on the back to protect the young fledged when they hit the walls of the Aviary and fall on your floor. If this is not done, many of the young people will die from injuries in the head or severely damage their hair. Young hatchlings do not have great control when they start to fly; they can be left with the parents during 9 months, but then you must be separated.

Diet during breeding It is very important. We can use sunflower seeds germinated, soaked chickpeas, Apple diced, celery, raw or boiled corn and green feed. Supplementation with multiple vitamins and liquid calcium is especially important prior to egg laying..

– Red-breasted Parakeet, Banded Parakeet, Bearded Parakeet, Indian Red-breasted Parakeet, Moustached Parakeet, Pink-breasted Parakeet, Red breasted Parakeet, Rose-breasted Parakeet (English).
– Perruche à moustaches (French).
– Bartsittich, Rosenbrustsittich (German).
– Periquito-de-bigode (Portuguese).
– Cotorra de Pecho Rosado, Cotorra Pechirroja (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittaculidae
– Genus: Psittacula
– Scientific name: Psittacula alexandri
– Citation: (Linnaeus, 1758)
– Protonimo: Psittacus alexandri

Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri)

Sources:

– Sounds: Peter Ericsson (Xeno-canto)