(Psittacula alexandri fasciata)
Range
Found on the islands of Java and Bali, Indonesia.
Inhabit all types of open woodland in lowland areas and in foothills to 2000 m (6700 ft.).
They occur regularly in localities in mangroves, coconut palm grooves, cultivated areas, parks, gardens, and urban areas.
Size
Length: 33 cm (14.5 in. long with tail)
Wingspan: 14.5 - 16.6 cm (5.5-6.5 in.)
Weight: up to 8 ounces (140 g)
Diet
Wild figs, other wild and orchard fruit, flowers and nectar (especially Parkia speciosa and Erythrina variegata flowers), small nuts, chestnuts, buds, berries, seeds, leaves, and cereals.
Description
The moustache parakeet is also known as the banded parakeet, bearded parakeet, rose-breasted parakeet, pink-breasted parakeet, Indian red-breasted parakeet, and Javan parakeet.
It is a small, slender parrot with a long tail. It is green with a grey head marked with bluish tinge. The eye area is washed with green, and the chin, broad cheek-stripe, and narrow line over the forehead to the eye are black.
The throat, breast, and upper abdomen are salmon-pink and the lower abdomen and under tail coverts are green with a variable blue tinge.
The median wing coverts are green-yellow, the under wing coverts are pale green, and the upperside of the middle tail feathers is blue with green-yellow tips.
The outer tail feathers are blue-green, the tail underside is a dirty olive-yellowish, and the upper and lower mandible are red with a pale tip.
The iris is pale yellow and the feet are grey.
The female resembles the male with the red upper and lower mandible, but the salmon-pink breast is duller and the middle tail feathers are shorter.
Immature birds are green with a whitish forehead and an incomplete black cheek stripe.
The median wing coverts have a yellow-green tinge and the tail is noticeably shorter. The bill is pale red.
Natural History
Moustache parakeets are typically seen in noisy flocks traveling in slow flight.
They are gregarious, usually in flocks of 6-10 birds. Occasional flocks may be much larger, up to thousands, especially where their favorite foods are found.
This may occur during rice harvest season, when paddy fields are foraged. They often cause serious damage to rice fields.
Nomadic groups of 10 - 50 birds may be seen flying low over open country, then rising and settling in tall trees.
The species is considered noisy except for when feeding and tends to remain in one area. Local migration is determined by availability of food. They form communal roosts in tall trees, bamboo thickets, and sugarcane.
Occasionally, they will form mixed flocks with Slaty-Headed Parakeets (Psittacula himalayana).
They nest in natural tree cavities in hollow branches or dead trees; or in old woodpecker and barbet nest holes which the parakeets will enlarge. Nests are lined with decaying wood.
Breeding season in India, Burma, and the Andaman Islands is from December to April.
In Java, breeding happens all year except April.
Breeding season varies depending on altitude and climatic conditions. They clutch 3 to 4 eggs measuring 29.5x24.2 mm (1.16x0.95 in.).
The lifespan is 15 - 20 years.
They are considered common to very common. Some populations have been reduced by trapping for the pet trade.
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