Moustache parrots for sale
Common Names: Moustached Parakeets, Mustached Parakeets, Red-breasted Parakeet
Scientific Name: Psittacula alexandri
Origin: Indonesia, Andaman Islands, Southeast Asia
Relative Size: 13 inches
Weight: 120-130 grams
Average Lifespan: 20-30 years
Egg Clutch: 2-4 white eggs
Incubation: 22 days
Talking Ability: Excellent
Moustached Parakeets look very similar to their cousins, the Derbyan Parakeets. The most obvious differences are the sizes. Like the Derbyan Parakeet, the Mustache Parakeet is sexually dimorphic.
This simply means the males and females can be identified by how they look. The males have a bright colored beak tipped in yellow and the females have a black beak. These parrots have green bodies showcasing many shades of green.
Their most obvious trait is their salmon-colored chest.
The male’s chest usually tends to be a brighter colored pink than the females; nonetheless, she is just as stunning as her mate. Under their beaks and extended along the jaw line, a black bib can be seen.
Both sexes have a grayish blue cap, and like most Asiatic parrots a black line extends from the nostrils to the eyes. The wings have yellow patches intermixed with lime green.
These parrots do not have the typical large tail. Instead, their tails extend about 5 inches from the body. The tail and body are approximately about the same length; although, the younger Moustached Parakeets do have smaller tails.
All juvenile Moustached Parakeets resemble their parents but are not so colorful.
These young parrots exhibit a gray head and a solid green body with orange beaks. Their eyes are also black but soon change as the bird matures.
Most owners will start to see a change in five months and usually by eight months the eyes have changed into adult form. Their beaks will also change color as the parrot matures.
This change is usually seen between five and eight months. It can take up to 18 months or even up to three years for the parrot to come into full color.
These parrots are loud when together in flocks and can often be heard long before their arrival. Like most Asiatic parrots, these birds are sentinels and will make a loud call when danger is near.
These birds thrive in woodlands, hilly areas, and mountains. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction these birds have managed to survive in urban areas. They can be seen feeding from stations or eating bread crumbs left behind by people.
In the wild they feed on seeds, blossoms, and fruit. When breeding season approaches, around April, these birds will pair off and look for a nesting hollow cavity to raise their young.
The female will find an old hole inside a tree and will modify it to her liking before she lays her eggs. The male stands guard and feeds the female while she is incubating. If babies are successfully raised, they leave the nest around seven to eight weeks.
MOUSTACHED PARAKEETS IN CAPTIVITY
These parrots can be found in captivity but they are not as popular as their cousins, the Indian Ringneck and Alexandrine. These birds are most often found by collectors specializing in Asiatic parrots or by breeders scattered throughout the United States and Europe in bird clubs.
Sadly, these parrots are not seen as pets but rather seen as aviary ornaments. There are only a few mutations available for these birds. Those that exist are usually in blue, turquoise, or fallows.
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