Layard's Parakeet

Overview

Layard's parakeet, also known as the emerald-collared parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae), is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. The species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 29 cm long including a tail up to 13 cm, with a bluish-grey head and back separated by a green collar.
• Broad black chin stripe and a tail that is blue-tipped yellow.
• Males have an upper red and lower brown mandible, while females possess an all-black beak and less green on the face.
• Flight is swift and direct, accompanied by a raucous chattering call.

Habitat

Found in forests, particularly at the edges and in clearings, as well as in gardens across Sri Lanka. It is a local endemic and undergoes local movements driven by food availability.

Diet

The diet consists of fruit, seeds, buds, and blossoms. The bird is less gregarious than relatives and is usually found in small groups outside the breeding season, where it often feeds alongside brahminy starlings.

Did you know?

The bird features on a 50-cent Sri Lankan postal stamp and appears on the 500 Sri Lankan rupee bank note in the 2010 series.