Slaty-headed parakeet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slaty-headed parakeet |
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| In the Kullu- Manali District of Himachal Pradesh, India. | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Psittacula
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| Species: |
himalayana
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| Synonyms | |
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The slaty-headed parakeet (Psittacula himalayana) is a special type of parrot. It's the only parrot that moves up and down mountains depending on the season. This is called altitudinal migration. These birds live across a wide area, from Pakistan to the Himalayas in India. You can also find them in Nepal, Bhutan, and the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. When winter arrives, usually around the end of October, they fly down to warmer valleys.
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What Does the Slaty-Headed Parakeet Look Like?
Both male and female slaty-headed parakeets have green feathers with a blue tint on most of their bodies. Their heads are a dark grey color, like slate. This grey head has a light blue shade where it meets the neck.
Differences Between Male and Female Parakeets
- Males: Have dark maroon patches on the inside of their wings. They also have long central tail feathers.
- Females: Do not have these maroon patches. Their central tail feathers are shorter than the males'.
The tail of this parakeet is green at the base. It then turns a deep blue and has bright yellow tips. Their upper beak is a bright red-orange, and the lower beak is pale yellow. They also have pale yellow eyes.
Where Do Slaty-Headed Parakeets Live?
The slaty-headed parakeet lives across a large area in the Himalayas and nearby regions. You can find these birds in western Bhutan and most of Nepal. In India, they live in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and southern Jammu and Kashmir.
They are also found in a small area north of Islamabad in Pakistan. You might also see them in mountainous parts of Afghanistan, including the provinces of Kabul, Logar, Nangarhar, and Paktia.
How Do Slaty-Headed Parakeets Live?
These parakeets usually live in highland forests and valley woodlands. They prefer elevations between 460 and 2,400 meters (about 1,500 to 7,900 feet).
Diet and Social Life
Slaty-headed parakeets are often seen in small groups or family units. They search for food, which includes various fruits (both wild and farmed), nuts, pine nuts, seeds, nectar, and acorns. Larger groups often gather at the end of the wet season. This is when they fly down to the valleys for the winter. It's common to see them with other parakeet species. These can include the rose-ringed parakeet, plum-headed parakeet, and blossom-headed parakeet.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female slaty-headed parakeets usually lay 4 to 5 eggs. Each egg is about 28.5 x 22 mm in size. The eggs incubate (are kept warm) for about 23 to 24 days before they hatch.
In Afghanistan, these birds often nest in old holes made by scaly-bellied woodpeckers. Sometimes, both species will nest close to each other for safety from predators. Slaty-headed parakeets usually breed between March and May. They typically live for 15 to 17 years.
