Plum-headed Parakeet ( Complete Profile)
Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Ali Shahid
The Parakeet is one of the most widespread and widely popular types of parrot. Having a perfect combination of traits, a lovely appearance, and a very social personality, the Plum Headed parrot is a beloved pet and a valued member of the family around the world.
You will always realize that they are so smart and adorable, that they will make your day a little more enjoyable without a doubt. These little birds are playful and energetic in addition to generally being peaceful.
It’s because of this reason that these parrots are among the most popular pets on the market today! The following article will introduce you to one of the oldest domesticated parrot species!
Plum-headed Parakeet
History
There are several places on the continent of Asia where the plum-headed parakeet can be found and they include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Forested areas or woodlands are their primary habitat in most of the countries where they live.
In the past few decades, the Plum-headed parakeet, like many other bird species throughout the world, has lost some of its natural habitats, but the plum-headed parakeet is not currently considered threatened.
In some cases, the Plum-headed parakeet is mistaken for the blossom-headed parakeet, a member of the Psittacula family. It is considered that the intermediate parakeets, also known as Rothschild’s parakeets, are the result of the hybridization between Plum-headed parakeets and blossom-headed parakeets.
Appearance (Plum-headed parakeet male-female difference)
An average green parrot measures between 13 to 14 inches (33 – 35 cm) in length and two-thirds of its length is accounted for by the tail. On the male’s head, the color is red but changes into a purple-blue color around the back of the head, nape, and cheeks.
On its neck is a thin black collar and on its chin is a single stripe of black fabric. The top of the head and rump are a bluish-green color with white tips, and the tail is also blueish-green with white tips.
It is orange-yellow at the top and dark brown at the bottom of its beak. There is a gray head, a bright yellow upper beak, and a lack of black neck collars, chin stripes, and red shoulder patches on the female.
A green-headed immature bird will have a yellowish upper beak and a yellowish lower beak. This species can be distinguished from the similar Blossom-headed Parakeet by its different color on the head and its white tip to the tail.
A female’s plumage is fully developed at the age of 15 months, and a male’s full plumage is developed at the age of around 30 months.
Temperament
Plum-Headed Parakeets are calm, social, and affectionate pet birds towards their owners, but they tend to be hostile to strangers sometimes. For bird owners who live in apartments or other places close to neighbors, they might be a good choice because they’re relatively quiet.
A Plum-headed parakeet has been known to become very tame when being hand-fed at a young age and is also known to form strong bonds. It’s a bird that has a lower time requirement than many parrots, which makes it great for an owner.
To maintain a close bond with one another, however, there must be regular interactions. When it comes to Psittacula species, especially those that are newly hatched, those with little experience need to realize that during their period of adolescence, they undergo a period of being bluffs.
It’s clear that this phase of the bird’s life is solely hormonal and this doesn’t provide any clue as to how it will be when it reaches adulthood.
According to general wisdom, it has been stated that birds that are cuddled daily tend to become tame and a stronger bond is formed with their owners.
Sounds
In general, it is considered that a parakeet’s noise levels are relatively low. This species of bird has a variety of natural shrill and twittering calls that are not too loud or repetitious.
These birds won’t be able to mimic the Alexandrine parakeet’s sounds, but they’ll still be able to mimic some sounds and birds.
In particular, due to their high level of intelligence, they are capable of learning new words at an incredibly fast rate. You should try teaching them new words whenever you have the chance.
Plum-Headed Parakeet Caring
The plum-headed parakeet has a long tail, which is why he is better suited for a relatively large cage. I recommend housing these birds in a cage with a footprint of 24 inches by 36 inches and a height of 36 inches to meet minimum requirements.
The distance between the bars should not exceed 1/2 inch. There should be two different play gyms included within the cage, one that contains toys, and a different one that serves as an exercise area apart from the cage.
Provide your birds with a bigger aviary enclosure if you have a pair. The plum-headed parrot is one of the few species of bird that is capable of living in an aviary with other species that do not compete with it, such as finches.
Plum-headed parakeets must get out of the cage at least a few times each day, but they are not the kind of cuddlers you can pet and play with all the time.
There is, however, a risk of the bird withdrawing from this type of daily contact and even becoming wild again as a result of it.
Breeding
The plum-headed parakeet nests in trees in its natural habitat, where they make holes in the trunk of trees. There is one clutch of Plum-headed parakeets per year.
In aviaries, the parakeet tends to be more active compared to the cages where they can become passive. Ideally, these birds should be allowed to fly, and they should have access to an aviary or some setting where they can move around freely.
Breeding season usually begins in April and lasts until the end of July. The incubation period is from 19 to 23 days, and on average there are 4 – 6 eggs in each clutch. At the age of about 6-8 weeks, the chicks will start to fledge.
There may be occasions during the breeding season when there may be aggression among the females towards the males.
Diet
Parakeets usually feed mostly on seeds and fruits when they are in the wild. It is recommended that you feed your parakeet a quality pellet and seed mix formulated specifically for parakeets when it is in captivity.
It is important to ensure, with this method, that the nutritional needs of your bird are met. The food is not necessary to be divided into individual portions when you are feeding the food to your pet bird.
When it is hungry, it will start eating as soon as possible, and when it is full, it will stop. The amount of food that your parakeet eats per day is roughly the same as one tablespoon.
When you are giving your parakeets a snack, you can provide them with fresh fruits, lightly cooked vegetables, as well as grains such as millet as well as their pellets, and seed mix.
There are certain foods that your parakeet should not eat, so be sure you know what they are.
Common Health Problems
In general, plum-headed parakeets tend to be hardy, healthy, and able to handle life’s rigors as they settle in. However, it is important to know what symptoms your bird presents so that you can take appropriate measures if necessary.
A sick bird is characterized by many symptoms, such as dull, unfocused eyes, feathers that are rumpled or ruffled, or discharge that comes from the bird’s eyes, nose, or mouth.
When you are observing the way your parakeet breathes, eats, and drinks, you will be able to inform if it is ill or not. Does it appear that it is having a harder time breathing? If so, is it eating less than it normally would?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, it might be a good idea to take your parakeet to a veterinarian for a check-up.
Exercise
It is well known that Plum-headed parakeets are extremely active and aggressive in the wild. Consequently, these birds require adequate exercise and play areas while in captivity.
Birds confined to cages should be given a minimum amount of time outside, in a safe and properly-proofed area, each day, for at least 3 to 4 hours. Make sure that you are always supervising this time so that they do not get injured.
Keeping a Plum-headed parakeet healthy and well socialized requires spending a considerable amount of time playing and interacting with other birds.
The Plum heads as Pets
It is common to find Plum Headed Parakeets as pets. Some of the smaller parrots may learn to talk, although they are not as good at speaking as the larger parrots. The plum-headed parrot is not considered a cuddly bird since it doesn’t like to be petted.
Generally speaking, parrots are afraid to be approached at first, but if you have enough time, patience, and daily interaction with them, it is possible to tame them.
Parrots that live in an aviary setting tend to be more active, and those that live in cages become apathetic and inactive.
For a bird to reach its highest potential, it should be placed in an aviary, or be allowed to move and fly as freely as possible within a safe setting.
They are well suited to living in an aviary that is communal since they are friendly and can easily get along with their fellow animals.
From Where to Get a Plum-Headed Parakeet
Consider a bird sanctuary or animal shelter in your area if you are interested in one of these animals. It is also possible to use online services to find birds in your area.
The best part about adopting instead of buying from a pet store is that not only do you save money but also you are kinder to the animal. When people realize how much work their birds will require, they often abandon them and leave them homeless.
In some cases, you can find older birds in bird shelters or bird sanctuaries, but keep in mind that these animals can live for as many as 20 or even 30 years.
It is important to remember that a 10-year-old parakeet still has a lot of life left to live, so it is worthwhile to adopt one.
Therefore, if you’re determined to get a Plum-headed parakeet but are not able to locate one in a shelter, you will most likely need to find a breeder to achieve your goal.
It is estimated that if you do decide to go this route, you can expect to spend between $400 and $700. If you are choosing a breeder, you have to make sure you do a lot of research before making a decision.
As with any other market, not everyone operates in the animal’s best interests. It’s a good idea to ask plenty of questions when you’re shopping around. Your breeder should be willing to show you around.
Conclusion
Bringing a Plum-headed parakeet into the house can provide you with a multitude of benefits. They will remain your constant companion for a long time and add some cheer to your day. However, there are those people who do not appreciate these birds.
They indeed are one of those birds that require an extended period to care for. It’s a good idea to reconsider purchasing a pet if you do not intend on committing to it for the next 20-30 years.
Keeping a bird requires you to spend a considerable amount of time caring for it and paying attention to its health; if you do not take the time to socialize with it, this might cause your bird to withdraw.
Consider these factors carefully before deciding to buy a plum-headed parakeet for yourself or your family. You will not regret your decision to add a bird to your family if you decide this is the bird for you.
