Plum-Headed Parakeet: Information, Footage, Persona, Meals & Care Information

The Plum-Headed Parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala, combines a superb, unique look with hardiness and an interesting character. Though lively and inquisitive, their calm and relaxed demeanor makes these South Asian natives great pets and aviary additions.

Learn on to search out out why they’re one of the vital widespread fowl pet decisions on the planet.

Species Overview

Medium-sized parrots of singular magnificence, Plum Headed Parakeets make good pets, being much less aggressive and possessive than different species, and getting alongside nicely with others. Whereas much less demanding of homeowners’ time than different parrots, they nonetheless require common interplay to keep up socialization.

These social birds can reside alone or in teams. Homeowners generally hold 2 to 4 parakeets collectively in a single enclosure. Good household pets, Plum Headed Parakeets thrive in conditions the place a number of individuals are offering socialization and enrichment.

Plum-Headed Parakeet Traits

Historical past & Pure Habitat

Plum Headed Parakeets originate from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and they are often discovered within the woodlands and forests of practically any well-wooded space apart from the excessive Himalayan mountains. Within the few instances wherein they’ve been transplanted, Plum Headed Parakeets have succeeded in a wide range of climates all around the world, having even been recognized to determine small breeding populations.

Whereas wild numbers have regularly decreased with habitat loss, Plum-Headed Parakeets nonetheless thrive and usually are not threatened by extinction.

Issues to Know When Proudly owning a Plum-Headed Parakeet

Temperament

Plum Headed Parakeets are recognized to be light, social, and affectionate, significantly with their house owners. With strangers, nevertheless, they are often relatively aloof and unresponsive. Comparatively quiet for parrots, they could be a sensible choice for these in flats or different shut quarters with neighbors.

If hand-fed from infancy, Plum-Headed Parakeets can develop to be fairly tame and develop robust bonds with their house owners. Whereas they’re usually much less demanding of devoted proprietor interplay than most parrots, a specific amount of standard interplay stays necessary to maintain bonding.

If you’re inexperienced with Psittacula species, you could remember that they typically bear a “bluffing” section throughout adolescence. Throughout bluffing, you’ll possible see elevated aggression, together with hissing, biting, and general resistance to interplay. Bluffing is strictly hormone-related and by no means an indicator of the fowl’s eventual character. It’s crucial throughout this time to disregard the fowl’s cues and proceed common bonding behaviors, regardless of the response.

It solely lasts just a few months, so it’s not that large a deal. Plum-Headed Parakeets which are dealt with each day will keep tame and proceed to bond nicely as soon as their hormones have stabilized.

Sounds, Speech & Vocalizations

Plum Headed Parakeets have well-known speaking talents, which may embody mimicking and reproducing human speech. They study nicely and may imitate every kind of phrases and phrases precisely, due to intelligence and a eager sense of listening to. Plum Headed Parakeets are fast learners with superior reminiscence retention and are recognized to acknowledge sounds and reproduce them simply.

If correctly educated and socialized, can study to affiliate phrases with particular conditions or actions, and reply in flip. Additionally, vocalization is numerous and may incorporate a spread of whistles, chirps, squawks, and different sounds. Their distinct singing type is exclusive from different parrots.

Plum-Headed Parakeet Look

Plum Headed Parakeets are a number of the most superbly coloured birds you possibly can personal.

They’re sexually dimorphic, that’s their look will differ by gender.

Males have red-colored heads shifting to gray or, clearly, plum, to a bluish-purple in the back of the pinnacle, again of the neck, and cheeks. The male is definitely acknowledged by a slim black neck collar and a black chin stripe extending to the decrease jaw. Additionally they can present a purple shoulder patch.

Females exhibit a bluish-gray head with no black neck band, however relatively a gradient pale-yellow collar. Youthful females have inexperienced heads and yellow mandibles. Each sexes have lengthy, slim, bluish tails shading to white on the very tip. The irises are black, and the legs are pale grey.

Caring for the Plum-Headed Parakeet

Plum-Headed Parakeets have a usually relaxed nature, permitting them to usually coexist peacefully with different birds in shared quarters resembling aviaries. Like different species, although, they’ll develop into aggressive throughout breeding intervals, particularly females, so they need to be monitored. Momentary separation could also be mandatory.

In captivity, they could exhibit preliminary shyness and timidity, though this may be overcome with common, constant coaching and each day interplay. Try to be conscious that, regardless of being sociable, they often aren’t keen on being cuddled by their house owners. Slightly, yours will in all probability be completely content material to easily sit in your shoulder and chat with you.

Preserving your Plum-Headed Parakeet’s plumage wholesome and clear is pretty easy. A flat container filled with water must be saved obtainable for normal bathing. Additionally, a bathe sprayer can be utilized to wash them two or thrice weekly. You must also have particular grooming instruments and objects to trim beaks and nails as mandatory.

Weight loss program & Diet

Within the wild, these birds largely exist on fruit and seeds. In captivity, a food regimen consisting of high-quality seed and pellet combine, resembling an excellent small parrot feed mix, supplemented each day with contemporary, bird-safe vegatables and fruits will do them nicely.

A Plum Headed Parakeet will eat as much as 1 tablespoon of meals per day. They do take pleasure in selection, so you possibly can experiment with meals like sprouts, leafy greens, and berries.

Branches from budding apple, pear, peach, and different fruit bushes will please them, in addition to hold them occupied for hours. Plum-Headed Parakeets like to carry their meals in a single foot whereas perching with the opposite. Chopping vegatables and fruits into cubes of roughly 1 sq. inch will enable them to indulge on this.

Cage & Housing Necessities

Since they’re fast, energetic flyers, Plum Headed Parakeets do nicely in bigger cages or aviaries. A cage minimal of 40 x 20 x 32 inches is nice to accommodate a pair. Two softwood perches of a couple of half inch in diameter positioned at totally different heights within the cage present good roosting. Cage equipment resembling toys, meals dishes, and perches must be saved to a minimal, so there’s loads of room to maneuver with out crowding. Make certain the cage is in a location away from drafts or dangerous fumes.

Branches from non-toxic bushes must be supplied for pure perches and to supply a chance to chew on bark, leaves, and seeds, which they not solely love, however additional supplies glorious beak train. These birds like to climb and are skillful, swish fliers. Thus, they do greatest in out of doors or indoor aviaries, to allow them to keep lively and have an attention-grabbing atmosphere.  Whereas Plum-Headed Parakeets can get used to life in a big cage, they nonetheless can get sluggish in the event that they don’t have each day train out of the cage.

Though they’re present in tropic-like habitats, Plum-Headed Parakeets additionally steadily inhabit increased altitudes all through the Subcontinental area. You is likely to be shocked at how well-adapted they’re to cooler temperatures. Outside housing can typically work out nicely if warmth is supplied to their residence.

Your Plum-Headed Parakeet is mild-mannered and usually will get alongside nicely in teams and with such neighbors as Java Rice Birds, Chinese language Quail, bigger finches, and related birds. Breeding pairs, nevertheless, are greatest saved alone.

Train

As famous, it’s endorsed that your Plum-Headed Parakeets spend time outdoors of the enclosure day-after-day. They want the room to stretch out and use their wings, and this supplies loads of the train they want.

Contained in the enclosure, parakeets can be supplied with climbing and chewing toys for extra train and enrichment all through their day. Some examples of those are ropes, swings, and ladders.

Parakeets thrive on constant enrichment and interplay. As we’ve mentioned, they are often educated to execute not solely methods but in addition obey instructions for naturally occurring actions resembling flying to sure spots and retrieving objects.

Well being & Situations

Plum-Headed Parakeets are a hardy and resilient species, however the next preventative well being measures ought to nonetheless be taken.

Frequent Sicknesses for this birds are:

If the conduct or look of your parakeet appears irregular, it’s at all times a good suggestion to hunt medical care.

3 Little-Recognized Details In regards to the Plum-Headed Parakeet

1. Throughout flight, Plum-Headed Parakeets change instructions quickly, twisting and turning whereas making distinctive sounds.

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2. Chewing is sort of as interesting to them as flying. They’ll chew on something they’ll of their enclosure.

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3. Traditionally, Plum-Headed Parakeets have been included in the identical group as Psittacula roseate, the Blossom-Headed Parakeet.

Conclusion

An interesting character and set of character traits, gorgeous look, and nice social profile make the Plum-Headed Parakeet a most gratifying member of the household. Liked worldwide, they’re very intelligent and playful, simple to take care of, and might be relied on to make the day brighter and extra attention-grabbing.

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Featured Picture Credit score: Amol Subhash Rapte, Shutterstock