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Long-tailed Parakeet  (Psittacula longicauda)

Also Known As: Red-cheeked Parakeet, Malayan Long-tailed or Red-cheeked Parakeet (P.l. longicauda), Andaman Long-tailed or Red-cheeked Parakeet (P.l. tytleri), Nicobar Long-tailed or Red-cheeked Parakeet (P.l. nicobarica)
 
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Long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula l. longicauda)

Credit: (c) Zahir T. Rana | http://www.psittaculaworld.com
 
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Did You Know?
The movements of the Long-tailed Parakeet are unpredictable; local numbers fluctuate widely between large noisy flocks and a complete absence of birds in any given area.

Status in the Wild
World Population:
Not recorded

Range:
P.l. longicauda: Malay Peninsula, south from Kedah and Anambas Islands, and on Singapore. Also offshore islets, Borneo, and Sumatra, including Nias and Bangka Islands.
P.l. defontainei: Natuna Islands, Riau Archipelago, Bintan, Karimata, and Belitung Islands, Indonesia.
P.l. modesta: Enggano Island, off SE coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
P.l. tytleri: Coco and Andaman Islands, in Bay of Bengal.
P.l. nicobarica: Nicobar Islands, in Bay of Bengal.


Habitat:
Found up to 300m (984 ft) in various types of habitat, mainly lowland evergreen forest from mangroves, swamp forest, rainforest, oil palm plantations and coconut groves. Also frequents parks and gardens, as well as cultivated areas.

Threat Summary:
Destruction of the forests in the Sundaic lowlands has been extensive; all primary forests are expected to disappear by 2010.

IUCN Rating:
Near-threatened

Wild Diet:
Feeds on camphor and Dillenia fruit, papaya, betel nuts, orchard and plantation fruit, grain and seeds.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Social; flocks of thousands of birds reported from Andamans and Borneo. Smaller groups more usually seen, particularly during the breeding season. Colony breeder.

Clutch and Egg Size:
2-4 rounded eggs, 30.5 x 24.5mm (1.2 x 9.5 in).

Breeding Season:
Dec-February, nestlings July, Malay Peninsula; February-March on Nicobar Islands and Andamans.

Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~awolfe/class/Biogeography/Readings/Spathelf%20article.pdf

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1439-0310.2002.00773.x?journalCode=eth

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=264547

http://www.stanford.edu/~cagan/PehDivDist2006.pdf

More Info Sites:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/psittaculaworld/Species/P-longicauda.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-tailed_Parakeet