Lord Derby's parakeet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lord Derby's parakeet
A pair - male on left and female on right
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Psittacula
Species:	derbiana

The Lord Derby's parakeet (Psittacula derbiana), also known as the Derbyan parakeet, is a type of parrot. These beautiful birds live in a small area of wet, evergreen forests. You can find them in the hills and mountains of India (in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam). They also live in nearby parts of Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan in China.

Sadly, these parakeets face threats. People sometimes cut down old trees, which are very important for the birds to build their nests. Also, some people illegally catch these birds to sell them as pets. Because of these problems, the Lord Derby's parakeet was listed as "near threatened" in 2011. This means they could become endangered soon if we don't protect them.

It's easy to tell the adult male and female parakeets apart. They have different colored beaks and slightly different feathers. This bird was named after Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby.

Lord Derby's parakeets enjoy eating many things. Their diet includes fruits, berries, seeds, and leaf buds. Sometimes, they even visit gardens and fields to find food.

What Lord Derby's Parakeets Look Like

A pair at Wilhelma Zoo, Germany

Lord Derby's parakeets are about 45 to 50 centimeters (18 to 20 inches) long. Males and females look different, which is called being sexually dimorphic. Most of their back feathers are green. They have black feathers around their eyes and on their lower cheeks. Their heads are a pretty bluish-purple color, and their eyes are pale yellow.

Their throat, chest, belly, and the feathers under their wings are a grayish-blue or lavender color. Their upper legs and vent area (near the tail) are yellowish-green. Some of these feathers have blue edges. Their tail feathers are different shades of green, with some blue edges.

Male and Female Differences

Male parakeets have a red upper beak with a yellow tip. Their lower beak is black. Female parakeets have an all-black beak. This is the easiest way to tell them apart!

Young Lord Derby's parakeets look a bit different from adults. Their colors are not as bright. Young birds have green heads. Both their upper and lower beaks are orange-red. Their eyes are dark. Their eyes will only become pale yellow when they are two or three years old. That's when they become adults.

• Adult male
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  The adult male has a red upper mandible

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  Male

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  Male pet kept in China

• Adult female
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  A female pet in Tibet. The adult female has an all black beak.

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  A female pet in China

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  A captive female in China

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Juvenile playing with a bolt on a cage in Tibet. Juveniles have dark irises and both the upper and lower mandible are orange-red.

The breeding season for Lord Derby's parakeets usually starts between April and June. The female bird lays two to four eggs. Each egg is about 3.6 by 2.8 centimeters (1.4 by 1.1 inches). She lays her eggs inside holes in trees.

The eggs hatch after about 23 days. The young birds, called chicks, will stay in the nest for about 8 to 9 weeks. After this time, they are ready to fly out and explore on their own!

Images for kids

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  A preserved specimen of Psittacula derbiana