There are eight recognized sub-species of the Moustache Parakeet, which can be divided into two groups, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The nominated Psittacula a. alexandri as well as P.a. kangeanensis and P.a. dammer\u00admani. In this group the upper and lower mandibles of both males and females are red, although the females\u2019 beaks are not as bright red as the males\u2019, neither is the pink on the breast of the female is as bright as that of the male. The females can also be distinguished from the males by the pink stripe that runs from the chest to under the ear. This stripe is not seen in the male at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. In the other five sub-species, the upper mandible of the male is red while the lower mandible is blackish. The female\u2019s entire beak is black. The pink stripe on the face is also only present in the females. These five sub-species are P.a. perionca, P.a. major, P.a. cala, P.a. abbotti, and P.a. fasciata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distribution:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These birds occur in a large natural range in South-East Asia from Vietnam through Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, northern India, the Hainan Island and into the south of China. They also occur in Java and the surrounding islands like Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In nature, these parakeets occur mostly in low-lying areas, seldom higher than 2000 metres, and are relatively abundant through most of their distribution area. In the wild, they eat seeds, nuts, berries, nectar, flowers, and also cultivated rice, which makes these birds unpopular among farmers, with the result that they are being eradicated in areas where grain is farmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Moustache has a shorter tail than Ring\u00adnecks, with the result that they are just 33 cm long as opposed to the Ringneck\u2019s 40 cm, although they weigh more, coming in at 155 grams to 128 grams for a Ringneck. The measurements here are taken from P.a. fasciata since that is the most common sub-species available in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because the Moustache Parakeet\u2019s natural habitat consists largely of dense forests, they are not very good flyers and can therefore be kept in smaller aviaries than the Australasian parakeets. Cages of 2 metres long will work well and hanging cages and conventional cages work equally well. Always bear in mind that a cage can never really be too large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always take heating into account when planning your cages. Don\u2019t place your nests too close to metal roofs because overheated eggs never hatch, and overheated chicks die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breeding:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the wild, these birds normally breed in hollows of tree trunks or in branches of large trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nest boxes of 20 cm x 20 cm x 50 cm deep with an entrance hole of 7.5 cm work well. Place a layer of nesting material approximately 7.5 cm deep at the bottom of the nest. The nesting material should not be too light, as the eggs can sink into it and be lost. This happens often with pine shavings. Wood chips work best in my experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The female normally lays 4-5 eggs in September and October, and she will incubate them 21 days before they hatch. The babies stay in the nest for 6 weeks and can remain with the parents for a long time as these birds seldom breed twice in a season. If you are breeding with a rare mutation, if the female will not sit on the eggs, or if she breaks the eggs, they can be removed and hatched and raised by foster parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provided that such eggs are kept in a cool place and turned twice a day, they can be kept for up to 14 days before they need to be placed under another hen. Ringnecks make excellent foster parents for Moustache chicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hand-rearing is also an option, but I don\u2019t recommend it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Moustache](\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Moustache-Parakeet-Mutations-Blue.jpg\")