Bird Guide

Alexandrine Parakeet vs Plum-headed Parakeet

Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

Medium214 gUrban

The Alexandrine parakeet is one of the largest parakeets, measuring 56 to 62 cm (22 to 24 in) from the top of the head to the tip of the tail and weighing 200 to 300 g (7.1 to 10.6 oz). The tail measures 28 to 35 cm (11 to 14 in). It is predominantly green with a light blue-grey sheen on the cheeks and nape (back of the neck), yellow-green abdomen, red patch on the shoulders and massive red beak with yellow tips. The upper-side of the tail passes from green at the top to blue further down, and is yellow at the tip. The underside of the tail is yellow. Adults are sexually dimorphic.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Alexandrine Parakeet
Recorded by Sudipto Roy · Flight call · Kankrajhore, India · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nishant Purushottam Berde · CC BY 4.0
Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala)

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Medium66 gForest

The plum-headed parakeet is a mainly green parrot, 33–37 cm (13–15 in) long with a weight of 55–85 g (1.9–3.0 oz). Its tail has a length of up to 22 cm (8.7 in). The male has a red head which shades to purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks, while the female has a blueish-gray head. There is a narrow black neck collar with verdigris below on the nape and a black chin stripe that extends from the lower mandible. 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Hari K Patibanda · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Alexandrine Parakeet and Plum-headed Parakeet.