Plum-headed Parakeets aka Plum Head (Cyanocephala)
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The Plumheads as Pets
The Plum Headed Parakeet are popular pets. They are intelligent birds and many may learn to talk, although not as good as some of the larger parrots. Most Plum-headed Parrots enjoy being close to their owner, however, they are not considered "cuddly birds" and don't like petting.
As with just about all parrots, they are likely to be timid initially; however, given time, patience, and daily interaction, they should become tame quite easily.
Compared to other parrots, they are considered quiet. They can, however, make shrill noises when alarmed or scared.
These parrots tend to be more active in an aviary setting and may become apathetic in a cage environment. Their preferred environment should be an aviary, or a setting that allows them to fly and move around freely in a safe environment.
They do well in a communal aviary setting, getting along well with other birds -- however, may be assertive to larger birds in the aviary.
Care and Feeding:
A roomy cage is required, as Plumheads need to be provided with a cage or aviary that allows them to move around freely. Special care needs to be taken to protect them from cold temperatures. Toys and safe branches should be provided to them to allow them to entertain themselves. 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
- Caring for your companion bird
Breeding:
Plum Headed Parakeets produce one clutch a year. The breeding season typically begins in April. The average clutch size is 5 eggs and the incubation period lasts from 19 to 20 days. The chicks will fledge at about 6 to 7 weeks of age. The females may become aggressive towards the males during the breeding season.
Description:
This is a green parrot, 33 cm long with a tail up to 22cm. The male's head is red, becoming purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks. There is a narrow black neck collar and a black chin stripe. There is a red shoulder patch and the rump and tail are bluish-green, the latter tipped white. The upper mandible is orangish-yellow, and the lower mandible is dark. The female has a grey head, corn-yellow upper-mandible and lacks the black neck collar, chin stripe and red shoulder patch. Immature birds have a green head and both mandibles are yellowish. The different head colour and the white tip to the tail distinguish this species from the similar Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata).
Birds attain the adult plumage at 15 months; young male attains full adult male plumage at 30 months. 
Length: 33 cm (13 ins)
Plum-headed Parakeet is a gregarious and noisy species with range of raucous calls. The usual flight and contact call is oink, repeated now and then.
Distribution / Habitat:
The Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a parrot which is a resident breeder in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit and blossoms which make up its diet.
Though this species is not exploited as heavily as the sympatric Alexandrine Parakeet the trade takes its toll on local populations across the range. Population is reduced in urban areas and heavily inhabited zones.
Plum-headed Parakeet is a bird of forest and open woodland. It nests in holes in trees, laying 4-6 white eggs.
Trivia
Bhutan, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka have issued stamps depicting the Plumheaded Parakeet. (Adapted from Source: Wikipedia.org)
Species: Scientific: Psittacula cyanocephala ... English: Plum-headed Parakeet ... Dutch: Pruimekopparkiet ... German: Pflaumenkopfsittich ... French: Perruche à tête prune CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Ceylon, Rameswaram Island, most of India, Rawalpindi in West Pakistan, Nepal east to Bhutan and West Bengal
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
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