Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766)

33–37 cmLength66 gWeight

The plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a species of parakeet in the family Psittacidae.

Busiest months: February · Most records: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: February · Most records: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Plum-headed Parakeet has been recorded at 230 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 12 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kanha NP – Mukki ZoneIndia2,395 records
  2. Wildlife Institute of IndiaIndia2,312 records
  3. Vetal Tekdi/HillIndia2,114 records
More places
  1. Kerala Agricultural UniversityIndia1,774 records
  2. Thrissur Government Medical CollegeIndia1,699 records
  3. Forest Research Institute (FRI), New Forest CampusIndia1,284 records
  4. Khem Villas Jungle CampIndia1,254 records
  5. Kanha Tiger ReserveIndia1,206 records
  6. Gujjar Basti, GaindikhataIndia1,174 records
  7. Sinhagad ValleyIndia1,167 records

Countries and regions with the most records

IndiaNepalSri LankaBangladeshPakistanUnited Arab EmiratesOmanIsrael

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a species of parakeet in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and was once thought to be conspecific with the blossom-headed parakeet (P. roseata) before being elevated to a full species. Plum-headed parakeets are found in flocks, the males having a pinkish purple head and the females, a grey head.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Plum-headed Parakeet?

The Plum-headed Parakeet is about 33–37 cm long and weighs around 66 g.

Where does the Plum-headed Parakeet live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: India. It is most often recorded in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

When is the best time to see the Plum-headed Parakeet?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Plum-headed Parakeet endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Plum-headed Parakeet as Least Concern.

What does the Plum-headed Parakeet eat?

Main food: Fruit.

What family is the Plum-headed Parakeet in?

It belongs to the family Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae), order Parrot (Psittaciformes).

At a glance

Length
33–37 cm
Weight
66 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Fruit
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
127 mm
Tail
197 mm
Bill
21 mm
Tarsus
12 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Oriental: India

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Parrot Psittaciformes
Family
Old World Parrots Psittaculidae
Genus
Psittacula

Other birds in the genus Psittacula

Grey-headed ParakeetGrey-headed ParakeetPsittacula finschiiSlaty-headed ParakeetSlaty-headed ParakeetPsittacula himalayanaBlossom-headed ParakeetBlossom-headed ParakeetPsittacula roseataRed-breasted ParakeetRed-breasted ParakeetPsittacula alexandriLord Derby's ParakeetLord Derby's ParakeetPsittacula derbianaLong-tailed ParakeetLong-tailed ParakeetPsittacula longicaudaBlue-winged ParakeetBlue-winged ParakeetPsittacula columboidesLayard's ParakeetLayard's ParakeetPsittacula calthrapaeAlexandrine ParakeetAlexandrine ParakeetPsittacula eupatriaRose-ringed ParakeetRose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriEcho ParakeetEcho ParakeetPsittacula equesNicobar ParakeetNicobar ParakeetPsittacula caniceps
Plum-headed Parakeet

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Hari K Patibanda. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages