About Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766)
The Alexandrine parakeet, with the scientific name Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766), is one of the largest parakeet species. Individuals measure 56 to 62 cm (22 to 24 in) from the top of the head to the tip of the tail, weigh 200 to 300 g (7.1 to 10.6 oz), and have tails that are 28 to 35 cm (11 to 14 in) long. This parakeet is predominantly green, with a light blue-grey sheen covering the cheeks and nape, the back of the neck. It has a yellow-green abdomen, a red patch on the shoulders, and a large red beak with yellow tips. The upper side of the tail shifts from green at the base to blue further along its length, ending in a yellow tip. The underside of the tail is entirely yellow. Alexandrine parakeets are sexually dimorphic as adults. Adult males have a black stripe across their lower cheeks and a pink band on their nape, while adult females have neither marking. Young birds look similar to adult females but have shorter tails. In terms of ecology and behaviour, the Alexandrine parakeet inhabits forests, woodlands, agricultural lands, and mangrove forests, at elevations up to 900 m (3,000 ft). It feeds on a wide range of wild and cultivated seeds, buds, fruits, and nuts. Flocks of this species can cause extensive damage to ripening fruits and grain crops including maize and jowar. It typically lives in small flocks, but will gather into larger groups in areas with abundant food or at communal roosts. The Alexandrine parakeet produces a variety of calls: these include a ringing trrrieuw, loud kree-aar or keeak, repeated deep klak-klak, and a resonant gr-aak. Its calls are generally deeper, harsher, and more resonant than the calls of the rose-ringed parakeet. Its voice becomes harsher when it is alarmed, and it shrieks loudly when mobbing predators. Flocks will occasionally vocalize together excitedly. This species is known to be capable of imitating human speech when kept in captivity.
