Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Psittaciformes (Parrots)

Psittaculidae (Parrots)

• Psittacula Cuvier, 1800 Leçons d'anatomie comparée 1 endtable Psittacus alexandri Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Mathews, 1917, The birds of Australia, 6, p.169)
  • 609. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766)
    Alternative Names: Large Indian Parakeet
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 609a. Psittacula eupatria nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) [HB#545]
      Original Description: Palaeornis Nipalensis Hodgson, 1836 Asiatic Researches; or, Transactions of the Society instituted in Bengal, for enquiring into the history, the antiquities, the arts and sciences, and literature of Asia 19 p.177
      Taxonomy: Includes indoburmanicus Hume 1878 from Sikkim.
      Distribution: Kashmir, Jammu, along the Himalayan foothills through Himachal, Uttarakhand, N Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, W Bengal, Sikkim and Brahmaputra plains of Assam and adjoining Arunachal and Nagaland, extending west through E Rajasthan, Gujarat, C India, and NE Ghats of Andhra and Odisha.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, FTLB
    • 609b. Psittacula eupatria eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#546]
      Original Description: Psittacus Eupatria Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.140 (Gingi, Tamil Nadu)
      Distribution: Mumbai region south through Goa, Karnataka along the outer edge of W Ghats as well as SE Ghats in the Deccan extending to Nallamala hills.
      Specimens: HYD
      Notes: 18°N kept as the northern limit for this population (AR2001). It has also been suggested that the populations of this species in western India may have been established by cage escapees (RA2012).
    • 609c. Psittacula eupatria magnirostris (Ball, 1872) [HB#548]
      Original Description: Palaeornis magnirostris Ball, 1872 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 41 p.278 (Andaman Is)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman Is., Narcondam and Barren Is., also islets of North Reef, Interview, Long, Havelock, Neil, Ross, Tarmugli, Alexandra, Red skin, Boat, South Sentinel, and Rutland Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, ROM, USNM
    • 609d. Psittacula eupatria avensis (Kloss, 1917) [HB#547]
      Original Description: Palaeornis eupatria avensis Kloss, 1917 The Journal of the Natural History Society of Siam 2 no.3 p.219
      Distribution: Cachar.
      Specimens: BNHS, BNHM
      Notes: Reports from Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram not evaluated.
  
  
  • 610. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769)
    Original Description: Psittacus krameri Scopoli, 1769 Annus I Historico-naturalis. Descriptiones avium musei proprii earumque rariorum, quas vidit in vivario Augustiss. Imperatorus, et museo excell. Comitis Francisci Annib. Turriani p.31
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 610a. Psittacula krameri borealis (Neumann, 1915) [HB#549]
      Original Description: Palaeornis krameri borealis Neumann, 1915 Ornithologische Monatsberichte 23 p.178 (Assam)
      Taxonomy: Includes fragosa Koelz 1954 from Anadra, Sirohi, Rajasthan.
      Distribution: Kashmir south through the subcontinent about the latitude of Mumbai; east into Assam, adjoining Arunachal as well as NE hill states.
      Type Specimen: ZMB#130849 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, ZMB, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, YPM, FTLB
    • 610b. Psittacula krameri manillensis (Bechstein, 1800) [HB#550]
      Original Description: Psittacus Manillensis Bechstein, 1800 Naturgeschichte der Stubenthiere oder Anleitung zur Kentniss und Wartung derjenigen Thiere, welche man in der Stube halten kann: 1. Band. Die Stubenvögel. Zweite vermehrte und verbesserte Auflage Ed.2, 1 p.612, note
      Distribution: Throughout southern peninsula below the latitude of Mumbai; Lakshadweep Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, HYD
      Notes: 20°N kept as the northern limit for this population (AR2001).
  
  
  • 611. Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana (Lesson, 1832) [HB#562]
    Original Description: Psittacus (Conurus) Himalayanus Lesson, 1832 Voyage aux Indes Orientales par le Nord de l'Europe, les provinces du Caucase, la Géorgie, l'Arménie et la Perse (etc.). Zoologie pt4 p.239
    Taxonomy: Rothschild's or Intermediate Parakeet P. intermedia Rothschild 1895 (HB#561) now considered invalid and the specimens were of hybrid origin; specifically P. himalayana x P. cyanocephala and P. krameri x P. cyanocephala (Rasmussen & Collar 1999, Bulletin of the Natural History Museum. Zoology series 61 (1): 31).
    Alternative Names: Himalayan Parakeet, Himalayan Slaty-headed Parakeet
    Distribution: W Himalaya from Kashmir all the way till Uttarakhand; and in Sikkim and N Bengal as well. Straggler to Ladakh.
    Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, USNM, YPM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 612. Grey-headed Parakeet Psittacula finschii (Hume, 1874) [HB#563]
    Original Description: Palaeornis Finschii Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.509
    Alternative Names: Finsch's Parakeet, Eastern Slaty-headed Parakeet
    Distribution: Historically from N Bengal east through Assam and NE hill states; presently restricted to E Arunachal, adjoining Assam, Nagaland, Cachar, Manipur, and Mizoram.
    Specimens: UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, YPM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 613. Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) [HB#557-558]
    Original Description: Psittacus cyanocephalus Linnaeus, 1766 Systema Naturæ. Editio duodecima reformata. Tomus I [part 1] 12, p.141
    Taxonomy: N Indian bengalensis Foster 1781 (Type locality: Kolkata) sometimes recognised. Includes rosa Boddaert 1783 from Mahe – restricted to Malabar coast.
    Alternative Names: Blossom-headed Parakeet
    Distribution: Throughout Indian peninsula from Kashmir through the Himalayan ranges till Uttarakhand, N and NW India excluding the Thar, hills of W and C India, east till Sikkim and W Bengal, hills of S India including W Ghats and the adjoining midlands, SE Ghats and Deccan hillocks. Sporadic in Deccan plateau and E coastal plains.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, RBINS, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, MCZ, ROM, USNM, TNHM, HYD, LKO, FTLB
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
  
  
  • 614. Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata Biswas, 1951
    Alternative Names: Eastern Blossom-headed Parakeet, Rosy-headed Parakeet
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 614a. Psittacula roseata roseata Biswas, 1951 [HB#559]
      Original Description: Psittacula roseata Biswas, 1951 American Museum Novitates no.1500 p.4 (Gunjong, Assam)
      Taxonomy: Though Tripura birds trend towards juneae Biswas 1951, true juneae do not occur within our limits.
      Distribution: N Bengal, Sikkim, through Assam, adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, and Tripura.
      Type Specimen: AMNH#621495 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK, AMNH, FMNH, TNHM
      Notes: Mizoram records not evaluated.
  
  
  • 615. Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides (Vigors, 1830) [HB#564]
    Original Description: Palaeornis columboides Vigors, 1830 The Zoological Journal 5 p.274 (Anachady [=Aneichardi], Kollam district.)
    Alternative Names: Blue-winged Parakeet
    Distribution: W Ghats, including the midlands, from south of Tansa (NW Maharashtra) till the southern tip of the W Ghats in Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu). Also, SE Ghats reaching almost till Bengaluru as well as Severayan, Kolli, and Sirumalai hills and the eastern slopes of W Ghats in Karnataka.
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMZC, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, USNM, YPM, TNHM, LKO
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Western Ghats.
  
  
  • 616. Derbyan Parakeet Psittacula derbiana (Fraser, 1852) [HB#554]
    Original Description: Palaeornis Derbyanus Fraser, 1852 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London Part 18, no.216 p. 245 pl.25
    Alternative Names: Lord Derby's Parakeet
    Distribution: Restricted to Walong region (Arunachal).
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    Notes: See Stoner (1952, Ibis 94 (1): 162), Singh (1995, FT 10: 66), Singh (2013, IB 8 (5): 133), Sharma et al. (2014, IB 9 (4): 90), Praveen et al. (2015, IB 10 (5):131).
  
  
  • 617. Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Original Description: Psittacus alexandri Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.97
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 617a. Psittacula alexandri fasciata (Müller, 1776) [HB#551]
      Original Description: Psittacus fasciatus Müller, 1776 Des Ritters Carl von Linné ... vollständigen Natursystems Supplements- und Register-Band über alle sechs Theile oder Classen des Thierreichs p.74
      Distribution: Uttarakhand, W Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal, as well as all the NE hill states.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, UMMZ, AMNH, FMNH, ROM, YPM, LKO, BNHM
      Notes: Introduced or even naturalised populations exist in several large cities including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
    • 617b. Psittacula alexandri abbotti (Oberholser, 1919) [HB#552]
      Original Description: Conurus fasciatus abbotti Oberholser, 1919 Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 32 p.29 (S Andaman Is.)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman as well as all islets including North Reef, Interview, Long, Inglis, Henry Lawrence, Havelock, Neil, Ross, Alexandra, Jolly Buoy, and Rutland Is.
      Type Specimen: USNM#178825 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, ROM, USNM
  
  
  • 618. Nicobar Parakeet Psittacula caniceps (Blyth, 1846) [HB#553]
    Original Description: Palaeornis caniceps Blyth, 1846 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 15 p.23 (Nicobar Is)
    Taxonomy: ZSI#35470 also listed as Holotype in ZSI register.
    Alternative Names: Blyth's Nicobar Parakeet
    Distribution: S Nicobar Is group including Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, Menchal, and Kondul Is.
    Type Specimen: ZSI#30001 (Syntype).
    Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, NHMUK, MCZ, USNM
    IUCN: Near Threatened. SoIB: Moderate. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    Endemic: Andaman & Nicobar Is.
    Notes: Reports from C Nicobar Is. group requires confirmation.
  
  
  • 619. Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda (Boddaert, 1783)
    Original Description: Psittacus longicauda Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.53
    Alternative Names: Red-cheeked Parakeet
    IUCN: Vulnerable. SoIB: High. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 619a. Psittacula longicauda tytleri (Hume, 1874) [HB#555]
      Original Description: Palaeornis Tytleri Hume, 1874 Stray Feathers 2 p.454 (Andaman Is)
      Distribution: N, Middle, S, and Little Andaman Is., Narcondam and Barren Is. as well as all islets including Paget, North Reef, Interview, Long, Inglis, Henry Lawrence, Havelock, Neil, Ross, Tarmugli, Alexandra, Boat, and Rutland Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, USNM
    • 619b. Psittacula longicauda nicobarica (Gould, 1857) [HB#556]
      Original Description: Palaeornis Nicobaricus Gould, 1857 The birds of Asia pt9 pl.13 (Nicobar Is)
      Distribution: Car Nicobar Is., C Nicobar group (Tillonchong, Teresa, Kamorta, Trinket, Nancowrry, and Katchal Is), and S Nicobar group (Meroe, Treis, and Great Nicobar Is.).
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, MCZ, ROM, USNM
  
  
• Loriculus Blyth, 1849 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 19 p.236 Psittacus galgulus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1855, Catalogue of the genera and subgenera of birds contained in the British Museum, p.88)
  • 620. Vernal Hanging-Parrot Loriculus vernalis (Sparrman, 1787)
    Alternative Names: Indian Lorikeet
    IUCN: Least Concern. SoIB: Low. WLPA: Schedule-II. CITES: Appendix II.
    • 620a. Loriculus vernalis vernalis (Sparrman, 1787) [HB#566-567]
      Original Description: Psittacus vernalis Sparrman, 1787 Museum Carlsonianum, in quo novas et selectas aves, coloribus ad vivum brevique descriptione illustratas (etc.) fasc.2 no.xxix,pl. (Cachar, Assam)
      Taxonomy: Includes rubropygius Baker 1926 of W Ghats (Type locality Belagavi [=Belgaum] district). Andaman birds may represent an undescribed subspecies.
      Distribution: Occurs as four disjunct populations. (1) Sikkim, N Bengal through Assam, adjoining Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. (2) NE Ghats of Odisha, NE Andhra, and Chhattisgarh extending to E Maharashtra. (3) W India from Mumbai south till Kanyakumari, extending along SE Ghats to Sirumalai, Servarayan, and Biligirirangan till Melagiri. (4) Andaman Is. – all major islands and islets. Sporadic elsewhere.
      Specimens: BNHS, ZSI, AMNH, ROM, TNHM, BNHM
      Notes: Movements not completely worked out.