Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) (above left), a feral resident, is breeding and making its presence felt. Slowly but surely, it is replacing the resident Long-tailed (Psittacula longicauda) (above middle) and the other feral, Rose-ringed (Psittacula krameri) (above right).

The bird was first recorded in 1943 as a feral species, after which there were more sightings. However, there were no reports of breeding until the 1980s.

Parakeets usually pair for life. Courtship occurs mostly around nest entrances or in trees nearby. This may take the form of allopreening. The birds nest in tree cavities and several pairs may nest in the same or nearby trees. They often make use of nesting cavities once used by woodpeckers and barbets, frequently enlarging them before use. Three to four eggs are laid on a layer of wood dust at the bottom of the hollow.

A small colony of Red-breasted has established a permanent nesting site in Changi Village among the old angsana trees (Pterocarpus indicus) along the main road. The image on the left shows a nesting pair, with the male perching outside and the female just emerging from the cavity.

The male is a possible nominate P. a. alexandri but the subspecies of the female is questionable. Why? Her lower mandible is black while the upper is partially black. The female of this subspecies alexandri has coral red bill.

The images above show a chick in the nesting cavity being fed by a female Red-breasted. The chick peeping out of the nest cavity (above left) has red bill, as is the case with this subspecies. However, the female has coral red upper but blackish lower mandible (above centre and right). This is very unlike the female in the other image.

In a further posting, the subspecies of the Red-breasted will be further discussed.

Images by Chan Yoke Meng.

The Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) is a feral resident that is currently getting more and more common and slowly replacing the Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), another feral species, as well as the Long-tailed (Psittacula longicauda), a resident.

The parakeet was first reported as far back as 1943 without any sign of breeding taking place. Through the years there were further reports of sightings and later, reports of breeding, until now these birds are increasing in numbers and slowly replacing the other two species. The image on the left shows a male Red-breasted Parakeet.

The parakeet nests in tree cavities and several pairs may nest in the same tree or adjacent trees. A small colony can be seen in Changi Village where they nest in angsana trees (Pterocarpus indicus).

Robson’s Birds of South-east Asia lists the subspecies of this Red-breasted as fasciata.

The recent report of mating of the Red-breasted at Changi, accompanied by images of these birds has cast doubt on the identification of the subspecies.

Two of the males in the image have been identified as nominate P. a. alexandri by Joseph M. Forshaw, the world’s leading expert on parrots. The third male, the one mounting the female, shows a slight tendency toward fasciata as the breast is slightly darker (see below).

And according to Joseph, “Presumably the population in Singapore originated from birds that escaped from captivity, and so it is possible that both alexandri and fasciata could be present, as well as hybrids between the two. I would identify all males in your photograph as nominate P. a. alexandri, though the mounting male is slightly darker on the breast and so does show a slight tendency toward fasciata.

“As you so rightly point out, there is uncertainty about subspecific identity of the female. I suggest that there are two possibilities - she may be a alexandri x fasciata intermediate, or she could be a younger bird (first or early second year) that has not acquired the all-red bill of the adult. I am of the opinion that she is a younger bird of alexandri, and would point out that adult males mating with females in subadult plumage is not uncommon among parrots; the reverse, involving males in subadult plumage is quite uncommon.

“This is indeed interesting, for it indicates that the population in Singapore may be alexandri, not fasciata as had been claimed. Further investigations are needed to settle this query.”

Yes, birders should pay more attention to the Red-breasted Parakeet. We have yet to establish whether the subspecies fasciata exists. And if so, are there hybrids around? The mounting male whose plumage is darker than the other males may hint to their presence.

Images by Chan Yoke Meng.

The Family Psittacidae incorporates the parrots, to which the parakeets also belong. These birds are characterized, in many cases, by their colourful plumage, prominent curved beak and short legs. They have zygodactylous feet in that of the four toes, digits 2 and 3 point forwards and digits 1 and 4 point backwards. Such a foot pattern is well suited for grasping branches and moving along the branch. Parrots thus move sideways in slow and deliberate steps, their feet often turning inwards, grasping the branch and moving along.

The antics of the Long-tailed Parakeets (Psittacula longicauda) eating rambutans (Nephelium lappaceum) (top), or attacking oil palm fruits (Elaeis guineensis) (bottom) at the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Visitors Centre, are amusing to watch. Their feet and beak are very manipulative. The fruit is first wrenched free from the bunch with the help of the bird’s beak. Standing on one foot, the fruit is transferred to the other foot, usually the left foot. The left foot is then raised while the beak is lowered so that they both meet half way. With the help of the powerful beak, the flesh of the rambutan or the oil-rich fibrous outer layer of the oil palm fruit is torn off.

This zygodactylous feet also enable the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus) to hang upside down to reach otherwise inaccessible fruits or flowers. It detaches an item and perching on one foot, transfers it to the other foot, again usually the left, which is held up to the beak for ease of access. As in the case of the parakeet, the beak is lowered and the foot is raised to meet each other half way.

Now we return to the question of why parrots use their left feet to handle food. Frankly I have no idea! Do you?

Contribution and images by YC.