Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

OTHER NAMES: Alexandrine Parrot
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") eupatria ("noble daughter")

Adult Female Alexandrine Parakeet (subspecies P. e. siamensis) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula eupatria siamensis
Weight: 200-300g  /  Length: 52-62cm  /  Wingspan: 19-21.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

A large parakeet species - the Alexandrine Parakeet is a distinctly sexually dimorphic species - the male has a similar appearance to the Rose-ringed Parakeet, while the female lacks the black markings, giving it a much more totally green appearance.  Found in India and South-East Asia, it has a mixed colony above the ruins of Ta Prohm in Cambodia. It is named after Alexander the Great who initially introduced parakeets to European countries.

Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula

SUBSPECIES: P. e. eupatria, P. e. nipalensis, P. e. avensis, P. e. magnirostris, P. e. siamensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សេកសោម ("Parrot")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: There is a colony above Ta Prohm

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri)

OTHER NAMES: Moustached Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") alexandri (named after Alexander the Great)

Adult Red-breasted Parakeet (subspecies P. a. fasciata) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula alexandri fasciata
Weight: 150g  /  Length: 33-38cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Red-breasted parakeet is an unusual parakeet with an uncharacteristically short tail for the genus.  It has a wide distribution across much of South East Asia into Eastern India, but is considered to be somewhat threatened.  Many of the island populations are threatened, often by the wild bird trade but it does also occur as a feral species in some cities.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula

SUBSPECIES: P. a. abbotti, P. a. alexandri, P. a. cala, P. a. dammermani, P. a. fascinata, P. a. kangeanensis, P. a. major, P. a. perionca 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សេកសក ("Parrot")
A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: There is a colony above Ta Prohm

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

OTHER NAMES: Rose-ringed Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") krameri (after Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer)

Adult Rose-ringed Parakeet (subspecies P. k. borealis) on Regent's Park, London - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula krameri borealis
Weight: 94-180g  /  Length: 40cm  /  Wingspan: 42-48cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Britain's only fully established Parrot species - these parakeet established themselves at some point in the last 50 years and have been increasing ever since. Widespread within London (and apparently other places) they are however still restricted in range for now. In central London Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens seems to be a hot-spot - you can hear them shrieking from the trees a lot of the time just to the west of the Serpentine.  As with in Britain, in Spain the Rose-Ringed Parakeet is abundant in some Spanish cities - Seville in particular, though a few were seen in Madrid, although the Monk Parakeet was more prevalent in the latter.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula
Subspecies: P. k. krameri, P. k. parvirostris, P. k. borealis, P. k. manillensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common to Locally abundant Breeding Resident (8600 pairs)

 - Locally common in South East England including Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens.

SPAIN - Spanish - Cotorra de Kramer

Common in some cities.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Common around Seville    

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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