Alexandrine parakeet

The Alexandrine parakeet was first described by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson as Psittaca Ginginiana or "La Perruche de Gingi" (The Gingi's Parakeet) in 1760; after the town of Gingee in southeastern India, which was a French outpost then. The birds may, however, merely have been held in captivity there.

{{cite book

|first=Mathurin Jacques |last=Brisson |author-link=Mathurin Jacques Brisson

|year=1760

|title=Ornithologia, sive synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates |lang=la

|volume=4 |page=343

|publisher=Bauche |location=Paris, FR / Leiden

|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k99029q/f364.image

}}

Carl Linnaeus redescribed the Alexandrine parakeet in 1766 as Psittacus eupatria.

{{cite book

|last=Linnaeus |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Linnaeus

|year=1766

|title=Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis |edition=12th

|lang=la

|publisher=(Laurentii Salvii)

|location=Holmiae

|volume= I |page=140

|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946336

}}

The genus name Psittacula is a diminutive of the Latin word psittacus meaning "parrot", and the specific name eupatria ({{math|εὖπατριά}}) is derived from the ancient Greek eu- meaning "well" and patriá meaning "descent".

{{cite book

|last1=Gill |first1=Frank |author1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist)

|last2=Wright |first2=Minturn

|year=2006

|title=Birds of the World: Recommended English names

|publisher=Princeton University Press

|place=Princeton, NJ

|isbn=978-0691128276

|title-link=Birds of the World: Recommended English Names

}}

{{cite dictionary

|last1=Liddell |first1=H.G. |author1-link=Henry George Liddell

|last2=Scott |first2=R. |author2-link=Robert Scott (philologist)

|year=1940

|title={{math|εὖ}}

|dictionary=A Greek–English Lexicon |edition=9th

|publisher=Clarendon Press

|place=Oxford, UK

|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=eu)=

|via=perseus.tufts.edu / Tufts U.

}}

{{cite dictionary

|last1=Liddell |first1=H.G. |author1-link=Henry George Liddell

|last2=Scott |first2=R. |author2-link=Robert Scott (philologist)

|year=1940

|title={{math|πατριά}}

|dictionary=A Greek–English Lexicon |edition=9th

|publisher=Clarendon Press

|location=Oxford, UK

|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0058:entry=patria/

|via=perseus.tufts.edu / Tufts U.

}}

In 2019, a genetic study revived the genus Palaeornis, formerly viewed as a synonym of the current genus Psittacula. Some organisations – including the IUCN – have accepted the new taxonomy.

If this were to be taken into account, this could mean that the Alexandrine parakeet is the only living member of the now-revived genus.

Genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences of Psittacula parakeets has shown that the Alexandrine parakeet diverged from the lineage that gave rise to the rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and the Mauritius parakeet (Psittacula eques) about 5 million years ago.

{{cite journal

|last1=Groombridge |first1=Jim J. |last2=Jones |first2=Carl G.

|last3=Nichols |first3=Richard A. |last4=Carlton |first4=Mark

|last5=Bruford |first5=Michael W.

|date=April 2004

|title=Molecular phylogeny and morphological change in the Psittacula parakeets

|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

|volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=96–108

|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2003.07.008

|issn=1055-7903 |pmid=15019611

|bibcode=2004MolPE..31...96G }}

The Alexandrine parakeet is one of the largest parakeets, measuring {{convert|56|to|62|cm|in|abbr=on}} from the top of the head to the tip of the tail and weighing {{convert|200|to|300|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The tail measures {{convert|28|to|35|cm|in|abbr=on}}.

{{cite book

|last=Blanford |first=W.T. |author-link=William Thomas Blanford

|year=1895

|title=The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma

|volume=3: Birds

|publisher=Taylor and Francis |place=London, UK

|url=https://archive.org/details/faunaofbritishin03oate

|via=Internet Archive

}}

It is predominantly green with a light blue-grey sheen on the cheeks and nape (back of the neck), yellow-green abdomen, red patch on the shoulders and massive red beak with yellow tips. The upper-side of the tail passes from green at the top to blue further down, and is yellow at the tip. The underside of the tail is yellow.

{{cite book

|first=Salim |last=Ali |author-link=Salim Ali

|year=2003 |orig-year=1941

|title=The Book of Indian Birds

|title-link=Book of Indian Birds |edition=13th

|publisher=Oxford University Press

|isbn=978-0195665239

}}

Adults are sexually dimorphic. Adult males have a black stripe across their lower cheeks and a pink band on their nape. Adult females lack both a black cheek stripe and a pink nape band. The young are similar in appearance to adult females but have shorter tails.

{{cite book

|last1=Forshaw |first1=J.M. |author1-link=Joseph Forshaw

|last2=Knight |first2=F. |author2-link=Frank Knight (artist)

|year=2010

|title=Parrots of the World

|publisher=Princeton University Press

|location=Princeton, NJ

|isbn=978-0643100572

}}

{{clear}}

Five subspecies of the Alexandrine parakeet are currently recognized

:

File:Alexandrine Parakeet at Saltlake Kolkata, West Bengal, INDIA.jpg, West Bengal, India.]]

The Alexandrine parakeet lives in forests, woodlands, agricultural lands and mangrove forests at elevations of up to {{Convert|900|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It eats a variety of wild and cultivated seeds, buds, fruits and nuts. Flocks can cause extensive damage to ripening fruits and grain crops like maize and jowar. It usually lives in small flocks, but forms larger groups in areas where food is abundant or at communal roosts.

File:Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria by Dr. Raju Kasambe.JPG

File:Alexandrine Parakeet- Male at nest I IMG 5867.jpg

The Alexandrine parakeet has a variety of calls, including a ringing trrrieuw, loud kree-aar or keeak, deep klak-klak-klak-klak and resonant gr-aak. Its calls are usually deeper, harsher and more resonant than those of the rose-ringed parakeet. Its voice becomes harsher when alarmed, and it shrieks loudly when mobbing predators. Flocks occasionally excitedly vocalize together. It is known to imitate human speech in captivity.

{{cite book

|last1=Juniper |first1=Tony |author1-link=Tony Juniper

|last2=Parr |first2=Mike

|year=1998

|title=Parrots: A guide to the parrots of the world

|publisher=Yale University Press

|place=New Haven, CT

|isbn=978-0300074536

}}

Alexandrine parakeets breed from November to April in their native range. They usually nest in tree hollows, but sometimes use tree holes excavated by themselves or cracks in buildings. Females lay 2 to 4 white, blunt oval-shaped eggs, measuring {{convert|27|to|34|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The average incubation period is 24 days. The chicks fledge at about 7 weeks of age, and are dependent on their parents until 3 to 4 months of age.

{{clear}}

Alexandrine parakeets are relatively popular pet birds due to their long lifespan in captivity (up to 40 years),

playful behaviour and ability to mimic human speech. Alexander the Great is thought to have kept one as a pet. They are one of the most sought-after cage birds in the Indian market. According to CITES trade data, at least {{nobr|{{gaps|57|772}} Alexandrine}} parakeets were imported into countries outside their native range between 1981 and 2014.

{{cite press release

|title=TRAFFIC helps to claw back illegal parrot trade in India

|date=15 February 2012

|publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature

|url=https://www.wwfindia.org/?6900/TRAFFIC-helps-to-claw-back-illegal-parrot-trade-in-India

|url-status=live |access-date=4 November 2018

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104070654/https://www.wwfindia.org/?6900%2FTRAFFIC-helps-to-claw-back-illegal-parrot-trade-in-India

|archive-date=2018-11-04

}}

Color variants including lutino, albino, and blue are well-established in captivity.

The World Parrot Trust recommends that captive Alexandrine parrots be kept in a metal or welded mesh enclosure of minimum length {{Convert|4.5|m|ft}}.

{{cite web

|title=Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

|department=Parrot encyclopedia

|publisher=World Parrot Trust

|website=parrots.org/encyclopedia

|url=https://www.parrots.org/encyclopedia/alexandrine-parakeet

|access-date=14 March 2021

}}

The Alexandrine parakeet is listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because of its steep population decline in its native range due to habitat loss, persecution and excessive capture to cater to the demands of the illegal wildlife trade. It is sporadic in South India, uncommon in Bangladesh, and declining in North Bengal and certain parts of Sri Lanka. It has suffered the greatest population declines in the Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan, Laos, northwestern and southwestern Cambodia, and Thailand.

{{cite book

|title=Red List of Bangladesh

|year=2015

|volume= 3: Birds |page=375

|publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature

|series=IUCN Bangladesh

|isbn=9789843407368

|location=Dhaka

|url=https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/RL-549.3-003-v.3.pdf

|access-date=18 June 2018

}}

{{cite news

|last=Ilyas |first=Faizawork

|date=10 March 2013

|title=Parrots population declining fast in Sindh and Punjab: survey

|newspaper=Dawn

|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/791596

|access-date=18 February 2018

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220130042/https://www.dawn.com/news/791596

|archive-date=20 February 2018

}}

The sale of Alexandrine parakeets is not banned in Pakistan, and they can be found being openly sold in the markets of Lahore and Rawalpindi. Their sale is banned in India, and yet they are sold in broad daylight in urban bird markets, suggesting that the Indian government is allocating insufficient resources for their protection.

Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia and Iran have issued postage stamps depicting the Alexandrine parakeet.

{{cite web

|title=Alexandrine parakeet

|website=Bird-Stamps (bird-stamps.org)

|url=http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/7413500.htm

|access-date=12 April 2020

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010109170800/http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/7413500.htm

|url-status=usurped

|archive-date=January 9, 2001

}}

{{cite web

|title=Thailand

|department=Birds on stamps

|website=birdtheme.org

|url=http://www.birdtheme.org/country/thailand.html#18

|access-date=24 October 2013

}}

{{cite web

|title=Mongolia

|department=Birds on Stamps

|website=birdtheme.org

|url=http://www.birdtheme.org/country/mongolia.html#29

|access-date=24 October 2013

}}

{{cite web

|title=Iran

|department=Birds on Stamps

|website=birdtheme.org

|url=http://www.birdtheme.org/country/iran.html#22

|access-date=24 October 2013

}}

{{clear}}

{{reflist|25em}}

• {{cite web

|url=https://www.parrots.org/encyclopedia/alexandrine-parakeet

|title=Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

|department=Parrot Encyclopedia

|publisher=World Parrot Trust

|website=parrots.org

}}

• {{cite book

|first1=Richard |last1=Grimmett

|first2=Carol |last2=Inskipp

|first3=Tim |last3=Inskipp

|isbn=1408127636

|title=Birds of the Indian Subcontinent

}}

{{Commons category|Psittacula_eupatria|Psittacula eupatria}}

• {{cite web

|title=Alexandrine parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

|department=Gallery and fact sheet

|series=Wildscreen Arkive

|url=https://www.arkive.org/alexandrine-parakeet/psittacula-eupatria/

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216210036/https://www.arkive.org/alexandrine-parakeet/psittacula-eupatria/

|archive-date=2018-02-16 |df=dmy-all

}}

• {{cite AV media

|title=Alexandrine parakeet

|medium=Selected images

|id=bird 507

|website=Oriental Bird Images (orientalbirdimages.org)

|url=http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?Bird_ID=507

}}

{{Psittaculini}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q753746}}

Alexandrine parakeet

Category:Parrots of Asia

Category:Parakeets

Category:Feral parrots

Category:Birds of South Asia

Category:Birds of Indochina

Alexandrine parakeet

Alexandrine parakeet

Category:Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN