Psittacula longicauda (Boddaert, 1783)

Common Name & Overall Plumage

Psittacula longicauda, the long-tailed parakeet, is mainly green with a long blue tail.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males have a black cap and red on the cheek or face; females lack the black cap and have less red on the cheek.

Habitat Types

This species can live in a wide variety of habitats, including swamp forests, lowland evergreen forest, oil palm plantations, coconut plantations, gardens, and public parks.

Elevation Range & Habitat Visitation

It is a frequent visitor to agricultural areas, especially those that produce tropical fruits and seeds, and is usually found at elevations up to 300 metres (980 ft).

Social Behavior

The long-tailed parakeet is an extremely social bird, always found interacting with other members of its own species.

Flock Size

Though small groups are most commonly seen, flocks of thousands have been recorded on the Andaman Islands and Borneo, and these large flocks typically form during the breeding season.

Breeding System

It is a colony breeder.

Breeding Periods

Populations on the Malay Peninsula generally breed from December to February, while populations on the Nicobar and Andaman Islands breed from February to March.

Clutch Details

Females lay a clutch of 2 to 4 eggs that measure approximately 30.5 x 24.5mm.

Incubation & Fledging

Eggs take about 23 to 24 days to hatch, and chicks fledge at around 7 weeks old.

Diet Composition

Its diet includes a variety of berries, papaya, areca nuts, a wide range of cultivated and wild fruits, seeds, and cultivated grains such as corn.

Play Behavior

It is a curious species, often observed playing with sticks or other materials found in its environment.

Nesting Site

Like other members of the Psittacidae family, this species nests in high tree trunks.