Grey-headed parakeet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey-headed parakeet |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Psittacula
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| Species: |
finschii
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| Synonyms | |
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Himalayapsitta finschii |
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The grey-headed parakeet (Psittacula finschii) is a colorful bird that lives in Southeast Asia. It is very similar to the slaty-headed parakeet, and they are considered a "super-species" because they are so closely related. You can find these parakeets from north-eastern India all the way to Vietnam.
This bird's scientific name, finschii, honors a German scientist and explorer named Otto Finsch.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The grey-headed parakeet has a unique look. Its face is a mix of grey and green. The rest of its head is a dull green color. It also has a faint, light green band that goes from below its cheeks to the back of its head. This parakeet does not have a wing patch, and it has a long tail.
Where Do They Live?
The grey-headed parakeet lives across a large area in Southeast Asia. You can find them in most of Vietnam, all of Laos, and much of eastern Cambodia. They also live in northern Thailand and most of Myanmar. In China, they are found in the Yunnan province. They are very rare in eastern Bangladesh and live in nearly all of Northeast India and far southeast Bhutan.
Scientists don't know exactly how many grey-headed parakeets there are in the world. They are not very common in China, and their numbers vary in other places. These birds live in forests up to 2,700 meters (about 8,850 feet) high. They prefer forests with oak, teak, pine, and cedar trees. They also live on hillsides with deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves) and in farmland areas that have scattered trees. In Cambodia, they are often found in places with evergreen and semi-evergreen plants.
What Do They Eat and How Do They Live?
Grey-headed parakeets eat many different kinds of food. Their diet includes leaf buds, seeds, fruit, berries, and flowers.
You will often see these parakeets in small groups, like families. Sometimes, much larger groups gather together. They usually stay in the same area all year. However, they might move to different altitudes (higher or lower places) during certain seasons. This movement helps them find enough food. In the evening, many parakeets gather in large flocks to rest together.
Their breeding season is from January to March. After this, female parakeets usually lay 4 to 5 eggs. Each egg is about 28.5 x 22.0 millimeters in size.
Why Are They in Danger?
The grey-headed parakeet faces some serious threats. One big problem is that many are caught and sold in the exotic bird trade. People in some small villages in southern China and nearby areas like to keep them as pets. Catching so many birds from the wild is hurting their population.
Another major threat is deforestation, which means forests are being cut down. Logging (cutting down trees for wood) also destroys the parakeet's natural home. Losing their forest habitat makes it harder for them to survive. Luckily, the wild forest hills in Laos seem to be a safe place for these birds.
