Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Blossom-headed parakeet

Psittacula roseata

Biswamoy Biswas, 1951

In Thai: นกแก้วหัวแพร

The blossom-headed parakeet (Psittacula roseata) is a parrot which is a resident breeder in Eastern Bangladesh, Bhutan, Northeast India and Nepal, eastwards into South-east Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam) and also China. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit and blossoms which make up its diet.

It has two subspecies, nominate and juneae

Blossom-headed parakeet is a bird of forest and open woodland. It nests in holes in trees, laying 4-5 white eggs.

This is a green parrot, 30 cm long with a tail up to 18 cm. The male's head is pink becoming pale 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 yellow. The upper mandible is yellow, and the lower mandible is dark.

The female has a pale grey head and lacks the black neck collar and chin stripe patch. The lower mandible is pale. Immature birds have a green head and a grey chin. Both mandibles are yellowish and there is no red shoulder patch.

The different head colour and the yellow tip to the tail distinguish this species from the similar plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala).

Blossom-headed parakeet is a gregarious and noisy species with range of raucous calls.

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Category / Seasonal Status

BCST Category: Recorded in an apparently wild state within the last 50 years

BCST Seasonal status: Resident or presumed resident

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittacidae
Genus
Psittacula
Species
Psittacula roseata

Common names

  • Thai: นกแก้วหัวแพร

Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (BirdLife)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (ONEP)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (BCST)

Photos

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Blossom-headed parakeet
Blossom-headed parakeet (male)

Copyright Robby, L.

Blossom-headed parakeet (male)

Range Map

Distribution map of Blossom-headed parakeet, Psittacula roseata in Thailand
  • Bang Pu Recreation Centre
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
  • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • In Buri District, Sing Buri
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Laem Pak Bia
  • Mae Ping National Park
  • Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi
  • Mueang Tak District, Tak
  • Nam Nao National Park
  • Op Khan National Park
  • Phatthana Nikhom District, Lopburi
  • Sakaerat Environmental Research Station
  • Samut Prakan Province
  • Si Racha District, Chonburi
  • Thap Lan National Park
  • Wat Phai Lom & Wat Ampu Wararam Non-Hunting Area
Range map of Psittacula roseata in Thailand