Psittacula columboides (Vigors, 1830)

Adult Plumage General

The blue-winged parakeet (Psittacula columboides) has bluish grey plumage and a long, yellow-tipped tail. Both mature males and females have a complete black neck ring.

Male Morphological Features

Males have a bluish-green lower edge to the black collar, and an upper mandible that is red with a white tip.

Female Morphological Features

Females have an all-black bill and only the solid black collar.

Female Similar Species Identification

Female blue-winged parakeets look similar to female plum-headed parakeets, but can be distinguished by the broad yellow collar present on plum-headed parakeet females.

Flock Movement and Vocalization

Flocks travel through forest habitat while vocalizing with a series of screeching keek-keek-keek calls.

Breeding Season Timing

Blue-winged parakeets breed during the dry season that follows the northeast Monsoon, and chicks fledge before the southwest Monsoon in June.

Nest Site Characteristics

They nest in tree holes, often in tall trees of the species Mesua ferrea, and especially reuse old woodpecker and barbet nests.

Egg Laying Timeline

Breeding activity begins in December, and eggs are laid in December and January.

Clutch and Incubation Details

A typical clutch contains 4 eggs, which hatch after approximately 23 days of incubation.

Parental Brooding Behavior

Initially, the female broods the eggs while the male brings food; later the male takes over brooding duties.

Chick Fledging Timeline

Chicks fledge around one month after hatching and leave the nest.

Threat to Chicks

Blue-winged parakeet chicks are sometimes trapped to be sold for the pet trade.

Observed Diet Item

Individual birds have been observed feeding on the leaves of Loranthus longiflorus.

Closest Relative

The closest living relative of the blue-winged parakeet is Layard's parakeet, a species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Core Distribution Range

This parakeet is found only in the Western Ghats of India, ranging from south of approximately 19°N (near Kasa, north of Bombay) to Kerala.

Extended Distribution Range

Its range extends into the hills of the Palnis and Nilgiris, as well as the adjacent Eastern Ghats including the Biligirirangan range, and possibly further east into India's Kolli Hills.