Nicobar Parakeet
Psittacula caniceps
Avilumen editorial team ·

The Nicobar parakeet, also known as Blyth's parakeet, is a parrot in the genus Psittacula, endemic to the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean. It is one of the largest parakeets, measuring 56 to 60 cm from the top of the head to the tip of the tail and weighing about 224 g.
The Nicobar parakeet (Psittacula caniceps), also known as Blyth's parakeet, is a parrot in the genus Psittacula, endemic to the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean. It is one of the largest parakeets, measuring 56 to 60 cm from the top of the head to the tip of the tail and weighing about 224 g.
Description
It is predominantly green with a yellowish-grey head and prominent black facial markings. It has a black stripe from the forehead to the eyes and a broad black band extending from the lower mandible to the sides of the neck. The iris is reddish-orange. The upper mandible is red in males and black in females, while the lower mandible is black in both sexes. Females, in addition, have a higher presence of blue hinted facial feathers.
It is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Very little is known about its ecology. However, it is known that these species reside in the tall leafy trees on these islands and have a preference for the fruit of Pandanus palms trees. Its conservation status is near threatened as human settlement is increasing resulting in a decline of resources for their habitats and also because of the popularity of including them in the caged bird trade.
Text adapted from Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Psittacula
- Conservation status
- Near threatened
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Care guide
Budgie, Conure and Parakeet Care Guide
How to care for budgies, conures, parrotlets, ringnecks and other parakeets: diet, cage setup, health, behavior, breeding and legal status for owners.
Read the guide →Illustration gallery
6 illustrations of Psittacula caniceps (Nicobar Parakeet) in different styles, true to its real plumage. Shown watermarked; the art pack includes the high-resolution originals, ready to print.

Watercolor 
Vintage plate 
Ink 
Oil 
Realistic 
Colored pencil
Illustrations based on the photograph by John Gould (Public domain), from Wikimedia Commons.
Digital editions
HD Digital Art Pack — Nicobar Parakeet
Digital download: 6 high-resolution illustrations of the Nicobar Parakeet (Psittacula caniceps), print-ready. This is a digital file; no animal or physical item is included.
AI Avatar — Nicobar Parakeet
Generate an avatar fusing your face with the Nicobar Parakeet (Psittacula caniceps). Delivered digitally in 8K, watermark-free. Digital product; no animals are sold or brokered.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Psittacula caniceps (Nicobar Parakeet) endangered?
- The IUCN Red List places Psittacula caniceps, commonly known as the Nicobar Parakeet, in the «Near threatened» category. «Near threatened» means it is not threatened yet, but is close to becoming so.
- What family does Psittacula caniceps (Nicobar Parakeet) belong to?
- Psittacula caniceps (Nicobar Parakeet) belongs to the family Psittaculidae, in the order Psittaciformes.
- What colour is Psittacula caniceps (Nicobar Parakeet)?
- The plumage of Psittacula caniceps (Nicobar Parakeet) combines these colours: Green and Grey.
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