Psittacula derbiana — Details

Lord Derby's Parakeet learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Distribution

Range Description

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Psittacula derbiana occurs from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, India, to southern China, including south-eastern Tibet, western Szechwan and western Yunnan1,2. Local extinctions and locally falling numbers3,4,5,6 suggest that the species is in decline overall.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
The species inhabits coniferous and mixed pine-oak forests, Rhododendron alpine thickets and cultivated valleys, ranging from 1,250 to 4,000 m 1,2. It feeds on the seeds of Pinus tabulaeformis, poplar catkins, barley and orchard fruit. It is an agricultural pest, often destroying ripening crops, including maize1,2. It probably also feeds on invertebrates, leaf-buds and berries2. It has been observed to breed in June in south-eastern Tibet1 and females lay a clutch of 2-4 eggs2,6. The species nests in tree-holes, favouring Populus ciliata1. It is apparently resident in south-eastern Tibet, but occurs in north-eastern India as a summer visitor1. Away from north-eastern India, it undertakes some altitudinal movements but may persist at up to 3,300 m in mid-winter2.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Psittacula derbiana

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
NT
Near Threatened

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2011

Assessor/s
BirdLife International

Reviewer/s
Symes, A., Taylor, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s
Eaton, J., He, F., Hornskov, J.

Justification
This species has been uplisted to Near Threatened in reaction to evidence that it is disappearing and declining in some areas and subject to locally heavy off-take for the cagebird trade and is thus suspected to be experiencing a moderately rapid decline.

History
  • 2009
    Least Concern
  • 2008
    Least Concern
  • 2004
    Least Concern
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Population

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Population
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be fairly common (del Hoyo et al. 1997).

Population Trend
Decreasing
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
The species was formerly threatened by logging campaigns that resulted in the loss of much breeding habitat; however, this threat ended in the 1990s6. Today, old-growth trees, some of which provide nest-holes, are still felled for house construction and firewood, even in protected forests6. Recent observations indicate that this species is subject to heavy trapping pressure and egg-collecting for the pet trade5,6. Egg-collecting and the subsequent incubation, rearing of birds and onward selling is very organised and may take place through a network of people in some areas6. The species is openly sold and widely kept as a pet in its natural range4,5,6.
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 in India7 and collecting for the pet trade is illegal in China6. In some areas, such as Shachong valley (Szechwan), monks provide protection for wildlife, including anti-trapping activities6.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor population trends and trapping pressure. Tackle the threat of trade through the enforcement of legislation and awareness-raising activities. Increase the number of sites that are robustly protected. Support monks that carry out wildlife protection activities6. Assess the effectiveness of a nest-box scheme6.

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Wikipedia

Lord Derby's Parakeet

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The Lord Derby's Parakeet (Psittacula derbiana), also known as Derbyan Parakeet, is a monotypic[1] parrot species, which is confined to small pocket of moist evergreen forest in the hills of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the adjoining parts of Tibet. The species suffers from poaching for the illegal wildlife trade and fetches a high price in the black market. It is perhaps the rarest of all species of Psittacula in mainland Asia. As of the 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species its status was updated from Least Concern to Near Threatened.[citation needed] The adult male and female are easily distinguished because they have different beak colours and slightly different plumage.

The name of this bird commemorates Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby.

Lord Derby's Parakeets feed on fruits, berries, seeds, and leaf buds, occasionally foraging in gardens and fields.

Contents

Description

A pair at Wilhelma Zoo, Germany

Lord Derby's Parakeets average 20 inches (50 centimeters) in length and are sexually dimorphic. They have a mostly green plumage over their dorsal surface (i.e. from behind), black lores and lower cheeks, a bluish-purple crown and pale yellow eyes. The throat, breast, abdomen and under-wing coverts are greyish blue to lavender. The thighs and vent area are yellowish green with blue edging on some of the feathers. The tail feathers are shades of green, some edged with blue. Male birds have a red upper mandible with a yellow tip, while the lower mandible is black. The females have an all-black beak.

Immature Lord Derby's Parakeets are duller in colour than the adults. Juvenile birds have green crowns, orange-red upper and lower mandible (beak), and their irises are dark and do not lighten until they reach maturity between two and three years of age.

Sexual dimorphism

  • Adult male

  • The adult male has a red upper mandible

  • Male

  • Male pet kept in China

  • Adult female

  • A female pet in Tibet. The adult female has an all black beak.

  • A female pet in China

Reproduction

Juvenile playing with a bolt on a cage in Tibet. Juveniles have dark irises and both the upper and lower mandible are orange-red.

Breeding season usually begins between April and June. The female lays a clutch of two to four eggs (36.1x27.7 mm (1.42 x 1.09 ins) in nest holes of trees. The young hatch after an incubation period of about 23 days and will fledge after 8 to 9 weeks.

References

  1. ^ "Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.022)". www.zoonomen.net. 2009-03-31. http://www.zoonomen.net/avtax/psit.html. 
  • BirdLife International (2008). Psittacula derbiana. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 11 April 2009.
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