Psittacula derbyana [Fraser 1852]

Derbyan Parakeet

1. Psittacula derbyana derbyana (Fraser 1852)

Tibetian Derbyan Parakeet

Description: General plumage green; lores and lower cheek area black; head violet-blue; breast, abdomen, under wing-coverts and parts of thighs greyish deep-blue; middle tail-feathers blue with green base; outer tail-feathers green with blue edging; upper mandible red with yellowish tips, lower mandible black; iris pale yellow; feet grey.

Hen with brownish band behind ear-coverts, slightly paler abdomen plumage and black upper mandible.

Immatures with green crown and nape; upper and lower mandible in both cock and hen pink changes to black; iris dark; young cocks with slightly paler Sabdomen plumage; adult plumage attained by two years.

Length: 50 cm, wing length 208 - 228 mm, tail length 207 - 266 mm.

Distribution: Northeast Assam, Southeast Tibet and Southwest China in provinces of Swechwan and Yunnan.

2. Psittacula derbyana chinensis (Rana 2001)

Chinese Derbyan Parakeet

Note: Psittacula derbyana chinensis is officially unkown as a subspecie of the Derbyan parakeet.

Description: As derbyana, but slightly smaller; head duller violet-blue, more greyisch; breast, abdomen, under wing-coverts and parts of thighs greyisch-brown; upper mandible slightly duller red with yellowish tips, lower mandible black; iris pale yellow; feet light grey.

Hen with brownish band behind ear-coverts, slightly paler abdomen plumage and black upper mandible.

Length: 50 cm, wing length 208 - 228 mm, tail length 207 - 266 mm.

Distribution: Unknown. Probably Southwest China in provinces of Swechwan and Yunnan and Northern Burma expected.

Habitat: Montane forest between 1,250 and 4,000 m; occasionally found in cultivated areas.

Status: Exact status unknown

Behaviour: In flocks of up to 50 birds outside breeding season, also ventures near settlements; noisy; annual migrations between altitudes; good flier.

Call: Call raucous, trumpet-like scream or shrill whistling.

Natural diet: Seeds, fruits, berries and leaf buds; occasionally forages in gardens and fields.

Nesting: Breeding period mid-June; nests in trees; seems to prefer poplar trees; no further information available; egg measures 36.1 x 27.7 mm.

Aviculture: Medium-noisy parakeet, but with placid personality; hardy once acclimatised; very hard chewer; provide regular supply of branches; likes to spend time on aviary floor, therefore regular worming necessary.

Accommodation: Outside flight 4.5 x 1.5 x 2 m with adjoining shelter; avoid wood constuction; mesh should be at least 1.5 mm; minimum temperature for newly imported birds 10°C; protect from frost; roosting log with 25 cm inside diameter and 60 cm high.

Diet: Seed mix of buckwheat, sunflower, safflower, various millets, canary grass seed, oats and hemp; fresh rowanberries; greenfood and vegetables; rosehips; half-ripe maize; sprouted pigeon food for rearing; some peanuts and pinenuts; eggfood and biscuit.

Clutch: 2 - 4 eggs.

Incubation: 23 days.

Breeding: Often achieved; breeding begins mostly in April; clutch 2 to 4 eggs; incubation 23 days; fledging period 8 to 9 weeks; young usually reared without problem; mature at 24 months, but usually then with infertile clutches.

Mutations: There are rumors about a Blue mutation in France.