Long-tailed Parakeets
Please also see Ringneck Parrots
The Long-tailed Parakeet, Psittacula longicauda, is native to the regions of Andaman islands, Nicobar Islands, Sumatra, Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia (including Singapore).
This parrot preferes open and mature forest areas. Much of the forest has been destroyed and the bird is severely persecuted for the cage-bird trade, resulting in a marked decline, though locally still healthy populations of nominate longicauda persist. These parakeets are near-threatened and the survival of the various other subspecies are unknown.
It is allopatric with the congener, the Red-breasted Parakeet, Psittacula alexandrii, except in the Andaman islands where they occur together. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Description:
The general plumage green; throat, breast and abdomen greenish-yellow; lores bluish-black; crown darker green; sides to head and nape rose-red; black stripe to cheeks; upper back yellowish washed bluish-grey; lower back pale blue; under wing-coverts yellowish; upper and under tail-coverts as well as thighs pale green; middle tail-feathers blue with pale tips, outer feathers green; upper mandible red, lower brownish-black; iris whitish-yellow; feet grey.
Females have a green nape; stripe to cheeks dark green; upper cheeks dull orange-red; tail-feathers much shorter; upper and lower mandible brownish-black.
Young birds have a green head variably interspersed with orange-red; lower back on young males already with bluish tinge; tail-feathers shorter; upper and lower mandible brown; some young males with reddish tinge to upper mandible. Adult plumage attained by approx. 30 months.
Length: 42 cm (16.5 ins), wing length 142 - 155 mm (5.5 - 6 ins)
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Pet parrots generally present challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined parrots will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation.
- Web Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
Care and Feeding:
Long-tailed Parakeets love to climb and play and need to be provided with a cage that allows them to move around freely and toys to entertain themselves with. Please refer to the following websites for information:
- Purchasing a Parrot
- The 3 Key Elements That Will Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird
- Understanding your Parrot
- Caring for your companion bird
Taxonomy
Species: Scientific: Psittacula longicauda longicauda ... English: Long-tailed Parakeet ... Dutch: Langstaartparkiet ... German: Langschwanz Edelsittich ... French: Perruche à longue queue 
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Malay Peninsula south of Kedah, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra, Nias Islands, Bangka Islands, Anambas Islands ... Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
Andaman Long-tailed Parakeets:
Description: as longicauda, but back of head, nape and back yellowish-green washed with greyish-mauve; throat, breast and upper breast
with pale bluish tinge; lower back green; larger. Female and immatures as nominate type, but cheeks duller red; larger. Length: 44 cm (17.5 ins), wing length 166 - 182 mm (6.5 - 7 ins)
Species: Scientific: Psittacula longicauda tytleri ... English: Andaman Long-tailed Parakeet ... Dutch: Andaman Langstaartparkiet ... German: Andamanen Langschwanz Edelsittich ... French: Perruche à longue queue de Tytler
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Andaman Islands
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 4 - click on photo to view photo.)
Description: as longicauda, but rose-red to sides of head deeper with orange-red streaks; crown slightly more yellowish. Female and immatures as nominate type, but cheeks likewise deeper red and crown more yellowish. Length: 42 cm (16.5 ins), wing length 148 - 165 mm (5.8 - 6.5 ins)
Species: Scientific: Psittacula longicauda defontainei ... English: Natuna Long-tailed Parakeet ... Dutch: Natuna Langstaartparkiet ... German: Natuna Langschwanz Edelsittich ... French: Perruche à longue queue du Fontaine
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Natuna and Riau Islands as well as islands of Bintan, Belitung and Karimata, Indonesia
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on photo to view photo.)
Red-collared long-tailed Parakeet:
Description: as longicauda, but crown with reddish base and green edging to end of feathers, becoming pink on back of head and nape; because of this crown appears more brownish than green in many birds; black stripe to lores more clearly defined continuing in some birds to form narrow band to forehead; rose-red to upper cheeks deeper with orange-red streaking; much larger, but with shorter tail. Female and immatures as nominate type, but crown and back of head greenish-brown; ear-coverts edged with narrow greenish-blue band; cheeks deeper red. Length: 48 cm (19 ins), wing length 192 - 208 mm (7.5 - 8 ins)Species: Scientific: Psittacula longicauda modesta ... English: Red-collared Long-tailed Parakeet ... Dutch: Roodwang Langstaartparkiet ... German: Rotwangen Langschwanz Edelsittich ... French: Perruche à longue queue de Enggano CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Enggano Island, Indonesia
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 3 - click on photo to view photo.)
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
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