By Tony Mandarich
ird Name:
Plum-headed Parakeet
Latin Name:
Psittacula cyanocephala
Status:
Least Concern
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Psittacula
Species: P. cyanocephala
General Information:
The Plum-headed Parakeet is a species of parrot that occurs throughout South Asia. It lives in flocks and is considered a quite social species.
Physical Description:
This species is about 13 inches in length, with a tail that can measure nearly 9 inches. This parakeet weighs approximately 66 to 80 g. The breeding male has generally light green plumage with a black chin strap. It has a red head that fades into bluish purple on the back of the crown. Its rump and tail are bluish green and there are red/maroon patches on the shoulders. The female has a grayish colored head and no patches on its shoulders. Juveniles can be distinguished by their green heads and shorter tail feathers.
Diet:
The Plum-headed Parakeet feeds on a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers, and leaf buds.
Habitat:
The Plum-headed Parakeet occurs in forests, woodlands, plains, and farmlands. They generally favor terrain with an elevation range between 1640 ft and 4920 ft. Its range spans across the Indian subcontinent, including areas in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Rameswaram Island. The Plum-headed Parakeet nests in tree holes.
Reproduction:
Unlike many other parakeets, the Plum-headed Parakeet does not mate for life. The female lays an average of 4 - 6 white eggs per clutch. Incubation lasts about 19 to 20 days, and the young fledge at about 6 - 7 weeks of age.
Author Tony Mandarich has written many articles about one of his passions, rainforest animals and birds. He also has interest in quality bird cages cheap. He also uses stainless steel birdcages for some of his own birds.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Mandarich
Types of Birds: Raptors, Birds of Prey
By Dan Muldoon
Birds are sometimes classified by the type of food they eat. For example, birds that are carnivorous in nature are known as birds of prey or raptors. Differences also exists among these types of birds with regard to the animals they feed upon, however, one commonality is, the bigger the bird, is the bigger the prey it feeds upon. The size of animals that these birds feed upon is reflected in the bird's physical appearance. Those which feed on larger animals tend to have a bigger and strong beak and nails for tearing their prey.
Some birds feed on insects. These spend most of their time on the ground pecking around for larger insects such as praying mantises and grasshoppers. American kestrels, merlins, owl and Mississippi kites are examples of such birds. There are also some raptors that feed on aquatic animals like fish. These typically live near the coastlines. Bald eagles are an example of such birds of prey. Many of these birds even take the fish from other animals that also eat fish. Thieves!
There are some types of birds which feed on small mammals. Such animals as mice, shrews, gophers and voles constitute food to these birds of prey. Hawks of different types, such as red-tailed hawks, cooper's hawks and others are among the types of birds of prey that feed on such mammals. Other raptors that do feed on such animals include barn owls, merlins, and northern harriers to mention but a few. These birds catch their prey by skillfully hunting them from above. They either perch and watch out for their prey to appear or they hover in their air in search of their prey.
Surprisingly, there are some types of birds of prey that actually feed on smaller birds instead of on other animals. They can pursue their prey while they are flying, or alternatively, they can catch them on the ground. There are other types of birds of prey that feed on large birds like doves, ducks, pigeons, chickens and others. Such birds of preys include peregrine falcon, goshawk and others. Some other birds of prey feed on animals as large as rabbit, squirrels and others. There are others that feed on carrion, like vultures, who prefer to not take chances on live prey.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Muldoon
