Wildlifeof Bhutan
Slaty-headed Parakeet
Parrots
Photo: (c) Jagdish Singh Negi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Psittacula himalayana
Basic stats
Diet
Fruits (wild and cultivated), nuts, pine nuts, seeds, nectar and acorns
Habitat
Descends to valleys in winter; an altitudinal migrant
Range
Pakistan and the western Himalayas in India through Nepal and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh; western Bhutan, most of Nepal
Clutch size
4–5 eggs
Incubation period
About 23–24 days
The slaty-headed parakeet has a dark grey, slate-coloured head with a light blue tint where it meets the neck. Males have long central tail feathers, shorter in females, and the tail is green at the base becoming deep blue and widely tipped bright yellow. The upper mandible is bright red-orange and the lower pale yellow, and the eye is pale yellow (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is the only parrot to make altitudinal migrations, descending to the valleys in winter, around the last week of October. Its range runs from Pakistan through the western Himalayas of India, Nepal and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, and it is found in western Bhutan. It is seen in small flocks searching for fruit, nuts, seeds and acorns. It breeds March to May, laying four or five eggs that incubate for about 23 to 24 days.
Quick answers
- What does the Slaty-headed Parakeet eat?
- Fruits (wild and cultivated), nuts, pine nuts, seeds, nectar and acorns
- What habitat does the Slaty-headed Parakeet live in?
- Descends to valleys in winter; an altitudinal migrant
- Where is the Slaty-headed Parakeet found?
- Pakistan and the western Himalayas in India through Nepal and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh; western Bhutan, most of Nepal
- How many eggs does the Slaty-headed Parakeet lay?
- 4–5 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Slaty-headed Parakeet incubated?
- About 23–24 days