Skip to content
THE PARROT SPECIES FIELD GUIDE · Psittaculidae

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Meet the plum-headed parakeet: its taxonomic place, natural range and conservation record.

Plum-headed Parakeet — Psittacula cyanocephala
Plum-headed Parakeet
SPECIES NOTES

A closer look.

Scientific names follow AviList v2025b. Read the taxonomy and source notes for changes in classification.

About this species

The plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a species of parakeet in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and was once thought to be conspecific with the blossom-headed parakeet (P. roseata) before being elevated to a full species. Plum-headed parakeets are found in flocks, the males having a pinkish purple head and the females, a grey head. They fly swiftly with twists and turns accompanied by their distinctive calls.

Where it occurs

Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka.

Conservation record

AviList v2025b records this species as least concern. Assessments and taxonomy can change; follow the source checklist for updates.

Sources & image credit

Names, family, range and conservation record: AviList Core Team (2026), AviList v2025b, CC BY 4.0. Species summary: Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Image: Giles Laurent. Original file and full credit · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display size and encoding adjusted.