Blossom Headed Parakeet General Info
With their unique appearance, friendly nature and charming behavior, the Blossom Headed Parakeet is well-loved with a good reason. These parakeets belong to a family of popular pet parrots, and they can be found all over the world. Owing to their similar appearance, these birds are often confused with Plum Headed Parakeets, but they’re not the same breed. Read on to find out what sets the Blossom Headed Parakeet apart!
These birds are often confused with the Plum Headed Parakeet, but they’re a completely separate breed.
Native Region/Natural Habitat
These parrots inhabit a very large region in southern and southeastern Asia, including parts of Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan. Going further to the east, they are also thriving in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and others. They prefer light forests, secondary growth and savannas, clearings, and plantations. One of the interesting details about this breed is the fact that they have been a pet parrot for centuries. Ever since the first colonization of Southeast Asia, these parrots have been heavily imported into Europe, flooding the pet markets.
Overall Description
Sharing most of the physical traits with other closely related breeds in the highly popular Psittacula family, the distinct feature of these birds is their color. The extremely long tail, the smooth feathers, and a slender figure are all telltale signs of the species they belong to. The adults reach an average length of 12 inches (30 centimeters) and will weigh only around 3 ounces (90 grams). Luckily, the males and females have visible differences, so identification and selection are easy.
Speech and Sounds
Blossom Headed Parakeet is a vocal breed, yet not exceptionally noisy. Their natural calls might be repetitive or shrill, but they are not overly loud. One thing stands out, though- their ability to talk and repeat words. Even though they’re might not be as talented as the Alexandrine Parakeet, they can still learn to repeat a few words. Usually, the first one they learn is the name you give them. Provided that a certain amount of noise is tolerated in your building and that there is enough room for your pet to fly around when out of the cage, this breed can be a good choice for an apartment.
Colors
The Blossom Headed Parakeet is an eye-catching parrot that leaves no one indifferent. Male adults are almost entirely green, with darker, tropical shade on the wings and tail, and a much lighter, lime green on the rest of the body. The head is a pale reddish pink, that grows paler towards the crown and turns into light blue. This lovely hue is similar to the color of a cherry blossom. Their crown is what gives them their name and separates them from the Plum Headed Parakeet. Of course, the iconic black ring around the neck is present. The females are slightly different, their head being pale bluish grey and no ring present.
These parrots are closely related to the Alexandrine Parakeets – perhaps the most popular of all pet parrot breeds.
Care and Feeding
A pet parrot will need a well-balanced diet in order to thrive. For the Blossom Headed Parakeet, their nutrition has to be centered around a commercial seed or pellet based mix designed for Ringneck Parakeets. These mixes contain all the important proteins found in safflower, oats, maize and millet seeds. Furthermore, you should add a healthy dose of fresh fruits and vegetables, in order to add some extra vitamins to the mix. For parrots of this size, baths will also be important to maintain stable health and prevent diseases.
Health and Common Conditions
One of the hardiest parrot breeds, the Blossom Headed Parakeet will easily adapt to common conditions and will be easy to look after. With a lifespan of twenty or more years, you can count on a long commitment and a feathered friend to keep you company for decades. Of course, to make sure your pet thrives, you’ll have to provide attention, care, and love. Plenty of room to exercise, social interaction and a good diet are all prerequisites for a healthy and happy pet parrot.
These affectionate parrots will often create bonds that last for a lifetime.
Personality & Behavior
In a sense, the personality of a Blossom Headed Parakeet is full of surprises. These friendly and fun birds have so many adorable quirks and interesting traits that make them great pets. Count on always seeing some new tricks performed, or hearing a new word repeated – these goofs are experts at fun. They also have an affectionate side, and they will enjoy cuddles or the company of a mate. They usually get along well with other parrots, especially in an aviary setting.
Photo credit: akablackswan/Shutterstock; Syedabbas321/Wikimedia Commons; Jyotirmoy Golder/Shutterstock
