Geographical distribution : Psittacula euparia is found in India, Pakistan, Myanmar. Sri Lanka and the United States. Eocene to Recent.
Habit and habitat: It is found on tall trees in flocks in city as well as in villages. It is also commonly found in the fruit trees, ripe crops and in jungles. Gregarious with loud voices. Feeds on fruits and crops.
Comments:
1. Commonly called as Indian Parakeet or Parrot. Its Hindi name is Hiraman tota.
2. It has brilliant blue-green plumage with massive, deeply-hooked red bill and a distinct maroon patch on each shoulder. P. krameri has no shoulder patches, while P. cyanocephala has a bluish-red head and maroon shoulder patches.
3.Body is divisible into head, neck, back. breast and abdomen. Head contains eye, nostril and horny beaks.
4. Beak stout, narrow, sharp edged and hooked at the tip and adapted for fruit
eating.
5. Upper mandible is movable on the frontal bone of the skull. It is so articulated that its lowering automatically raises the upper beak, which is curved at the tip.
6. Feet adapted for grasping, holding and climbing. Foot zygodactylous in
which I and IV digits are directed backwards and II and III forward to provide a firm grip on the branch of the tree.
7. Tail feathers elongated. Maroon patches on wing feathers.
8. Flight is graceful and voice powerful.
9. Female is green all over, but the male has a rose pink and black neck collar ring.
10. Nesting season December to April.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Vertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
