Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Psittacula alexandri is a widespread species that occurs in several different habitat types, including highly modified areas. However, the species is targeted for trade almost everywhere is occurs, and trade of the species is reportedly causing declines in several regions, most acutely in Indonesia. Although there has been roughly 16% of forest loss over the last three-generations, the pervasive impacts of trade suggest population declines in the range of 20-29% and the species is consequentially listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
Psittacula alexandri is considered common across most of its range, however has undergone declines in Thailand, Lao PDR, Hainan (China) and more recently in Indonesia (Juniper and Parr 1998, Collar et al. 2020, Lewthwaite et al. 2021, Timmins et al. in press). However, the global population has not been quantified, nor have there been any surveys which allow an estimation of the population. Therefore, the population size is unknown.
Trend justification
P. alexandri has suffered from habitat loss across much of its range, with c. 16% of forest lost over three generations from 2000 and 2023 (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). However, forest loss data alone may overestimate declines in the population, as the species utilises secondary regrowth, as well as teak and coconut plantations, rural gardens, parks, and urban areas (Juniper and Parr 1998, Neo 2012, Collar et al. 2020). However, when forest loss or degradation from selective logging practices reduces the availability of tree cavities (required for nesting), declines are still suspected (Snyder et al. 2000, Berryman et al. 2024).
The biggest impacts however are incurred from the domestic and international trade of the species. In Indonesia, trade is thought to have contributed to rapid declines in the population on Java and Bali (Snyder et al. 2000, Eaton et al. 2015, Collar et al. 2020). The declines in the island populations, from trade or otherwise, also indicate a risk of local extinctions. Particularly, declines are apparent on the Kangean Islands, where the endemic subspecies kangeanensis was reported as ‘frequently seen’ in 2007-2008, occurring in flocks of three to ten individuals (Irham 2016), but was not recorded in 2016 (Budiman et al. 2018), and in 2023, several surveys in suitable habitat at dawn/dusk (when the species is most active) only recorded a total of five to seven individuals (Berryman et al. 2024). Trapping of the bird is suggested as the principal cause of declines on Kangean (the species is exported to mainland Java where it is heavily traded) but selective logging has also left few hollow-bearing trees remaining in the western half of Kangean’s central ridge forest (Berryman et al. 2024). Additionally, subspecies perionca on Nias Island (Collar et al. 2020) and dammermani on Karimunjawa Island are now considered rare (Susanto 2012 in Eaton et al. 2015).
The species’ prevalence in weekend trade markets also appears to have declined in Bangkok since the 1960s (McClure and Chaiyaphun 1971, Chng and Eaton 2016), suggesting declines, and the well-established parakeet trade in Lao PDR is thought responsible for the disappearance of the species from the north of this country (Duckworth et al. 1999, Timmins 2014, Collar et al. 2020, Timmins et al. in press). On Hainan, China, the species was significantly trapped for the pet trade in the 1960s, which appears to have contributed to its substantial decline on the island (Lewthwaite et al. 2021). Recent records of the species include seven in 2010 and four in 2017, when the species was previously recorded in the hundreds in the late 1800s through to the 1960s (Lewthwaite et al. 2021). There are also reports of the trade of this species from Viet Nam (Eaton et al. 2017, Leupen et al. 2022), Myanmar (Khaing 2019), Bangladesh (Khaing 2019, TRAFFIC 2024), India (Poonia et al. 2022, TRAFFIC 2024), Nepal (Thapa and Thakuri 2009 in Khaing 2019), and China (Dai and Zhang 2017), with international trade also a significant driver (Collar et al. 2020, TRAFFIC 2024).
Few data are available for determining the extent to which the above will have driven declines however. One study, focussing on Sundaic Indonesia, estimated a 90% reduction in the population over three generations due to hunting, as determined by estimating the proportion of the range within 5 km of a forest edge (Symes et al. 2018). Elsewhere, declines are likely to have been less severe, and the species does remain common in several parts of its range (eBird 2024).
Overall, declines are suspected to be ongoing at a rate of 20-29% over three generations.
Psittacula alexandri occurs in south and south-east Asia, from northern and eastern India (including the Andaman Islands), Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, ranging through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam and southern China (including Hainan), and on Sumatra, Java, Bali, and occasionally southern Kalimantan, as well as the islands Karimunjawa, Kangean, Simeulue, Nias, Lasia, and Babi, Indonesia (Juniper and Parr 1998, Collar et al. 2020). Also occurs as a non-native species in high abundance on Singapore (Neo 2012, eBird 2024) and Peninsular Malaysia (eBird 2024).
P. alexandri utilises a range of habitats, which may differ between regions, such as moist deciduous forest, secondary growth, dry forest, mangroves, teak and coconut plantations, woodlands adjacent cultivation and villages, and parks and urban areas (Juniper and Parr 1998, Collar et al 2020). It is generally found in the lowlands, below 2,000 m, but rarely occurs above 345 m in Nepal (Juniper and Parr 1998). In the Himalayan region, it avoids dense evergreen forest (Juniper and Parr 1998). Often seen in flocks of 6-10 birds, and occasionally flocks of 50, but may congregate in the thousands where suitable food is available (Juniper and Parr 1998). Will feed on wild and cultivated fruits, berries, flowers, nectar, nuts and seeds, leaves and cereals such as rice and maize, and frequently causes damage to crops (Juniper and Parr 1998).
The most prevalent threat to P. alexandri is the cage bird trade. Lowland species such as P. alexandri are also at increased risk from habitat loss as these areas are increasingly converted for cultivation, plantations, and timer crops (Snyder et al. 2000). As the human population in Indonesia has increased, capturing of parrots for the domestic and international trade, as well as sport hunting, has increased in prevalence (Snyder et al. 2000). The species is heavily traded across its entire range (Collar et al. 2020), and trade is heavily linked to declines in Indonesia (Snyder et al. 2000, Eaton et al. 2015, Collar et al. 2020), and Lao PDR (Duckworth et al. 1999, Timmins 2014, Collar et al. 2020, Timmins et al. in press). Specifically, the high export of the species from the Kangean Island has caused considerable declines in the population of the subspecies kangeanensis, and with cumulative impacts of habitat degradation, may result in the extinction of the endemic subspecies in the future (Berryman et al. 2024).
Additionally, although the species utilises secondary regrowth, as well as teak and coconut plantations, rural gardens, parks and urban areas (Juniper and Parr 1998, Neo 2012, Collar et al. 2020), forest loss and degradation is still likely to threaten the species by reducing nest site availability. The species nests in natural and excavated hollows (Juniper and Parr 1998, Namwong and Gale 2015), generally in taller, healthier trees (Namwong and Gale 2015), which are more abundant in remnant forest. The replacement rate of nesting trees lost by disturbance is likely slow. Observations of cavity excavation by any species was very rarely seen over five years of surveys of nesting birds in western Thailand, suggesting that cavity production is slow (Namwong and Gale 2015). The species largely uses cavities excavated by woodpeckers and barbets, so the nest site availability for P. alexandri will in part be dependent on the population trends of such species (Namwong and Gale 2015).
Conservation Actions Underway
Listed in CITES Appendix II and occurs in numerous protected areas; otherwise no dedicated conservation action is reported.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct regular range-wide surveys to monitor population trends and to determine the population size and number of sub-populations. Surveys of endemic subspecies on Islands are important to understand the risk of local extinctions in these areas. Determine the impact that habitat loss and degradation has on nest-site availability and how this may impact the reproductive success of the population/sub-populations. Quantify the level of trade and impacts of trapping on the population trend. Conduct awareness-raising activities to discourage trapping. Research the feasibility of establishing a captive-breeding program to support the recovery on the Kangean Islands of the endemic taxon kangeanensis (Berryman et al. 2024).
33–38 cm; 133–168 g. Bill red, tipped yellow; head pale blue-grey with thin black line from cere to eye, black chin and lower cheeks; underparts pink from throat to mid-belly, then pale green; sides of neck, nape and upperparts green, with yellowish wash on median wing-coverts. Female has duller pink underparts. Immature has green head and underparts. Race kangeanensis has less blue in head, yellower wing-patch; dammermani larger; fasciata has blue tinge to head, darker pink breast with light blue wash, lower mandible blackish; abbotti like fasciata but larger and paler; cala like abbotti but less blue suffusion in pink; major like cala but larger; perionca like major but slightly smaller, belly and vent brighter. Sounds: Commonest vocalization a short very nasal downslurred or overslurred squawk, often repeated in loose series or in fast bursts, e.g. “kyah…kyah..” or “keh-keh-keh-keh-keh..”. When perched, repertoire becomes more varied and includes a ringing “krrreeeah”, a scolding “screee” and various squabbling notes.
Text account compilers
Richardson, L.
Contributors
Baral, H.S., Duckworth, J.W., Fellowes, J., Inskipp, C., Laad, P.M., Mahood, S., Rainey, H., Robson, C., Round, P., Thompson, P., Yong, D., Butchart, S., Stattersfield, A., Martin, R., Taylor, J. & Ekstrom, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-breasted-parakeet-psittacula-alexandri on 04/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 04/12/2024.