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Two pairs of Red-breasted Parakeets (Psittacula alexandri) were spotted with a nest on the NIT-Patna campus in Bihar, marking the first confirmed sighting in the state.
About
- Scientific Name: Psittacula alexandri, also known as moustached parakeet.​
- Size and Weight: Medium-sized parrot, 33-40 cm long (including tail), weighs 100-156 g.​
- Distribution: Native to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia), parts of India, and Nepal; found up to 1500 m elevation.​
- Habitat: Forests, woodlands, mangroves, cultivated areas, parks, and urban zones.​
- Plumage (Adult Male): Green body, pink/red breast and belly, grey head with black facial markings, blue tail, red bill.​
- Juvenile Features: Greener overall, muted colors, shorter tail, pale red bill.​
- Diet: Seeds, fruits (figs, bananas), nectar, flowers, nuts, grains; forages communally.​
- Behavior: Sociable in flocks of 6-50 (up to thousands at food sources), roosts communally, crop raider.​
- Breeding: Clutch 3-4 eggs, December-April (varies), nests in tree cavities.​
- Conservation: The species holds Near Threatened status on the IUCN Red List due to habitat.
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