Birds Active during the day

Blossom-headed Parakeet

Psittacula roseata

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

Adorned with a delicate rose-colored crown and a vibrant lime-green coat, the Blossom-headed Parakeet is one of Southeast Asia's most charming forest dwellers. These social parrots bring a splash of color and a lively soundtrack to any backyard they visit.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

30 to 36 cm (11.8 to 14.2 inches) in length; wingspan of 40 to 45 cm (15.7 to 17.7 inches); weight 80-100g

palette

Colors

Lime-green body; males have a rosy-pink head and maroon wing patches; females have a pale bluish-grey head and no wing patches.

visibility

Key Features

Rose-pink or bluish-grey head distinct from green body
Long slender tail with blue central feathers and white tips
Male has a small maroon patch on each shoulder
Yellow upper beak and dark lower beak

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-6 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet Primarily granivorous and frugivorous, feeding on wild fruits, seeds, grain, nectar, and flower blossoms. They are particularly fond of figs and cereal crops.

park

Habitat Open deciduous forests, secondary growth, forest edges, and well-wooded suburban parks or gardens.

Behavior

Blossom-headed Parakeets are highly social and energetic birds often seen in small family groups or larger flocks of up to 30 individuals outside of the breeding season. They are remarkably fast flyers with a direct, darting flight path, often making sharp, musical whistling calls while in transit. Unlike some of their more urban-adapted relatives, they tend to be slightly more cautious and shy around human settlements, though they will readily colonize suburban areas that offer significant tree cover.

These parakeets spend much of their day foraging in the forest canopy, though they are known to descend to lower branches for water or specific fruiting plants. Their social structure is complex; they often roost communally and can be seen engaging in mutual preening, which helps strengthen pair and group bonds. While they are generally peaceful, they can become quite vocal and territorial near their nesting cavities during the breeding months.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the stunning colors of the Blossom-headed Parakeet, place your camera at an elevated vantage point. These birds rarely spend time on the ground, so mounting your camera 10 to 15 feet high on a tree trunk, angled toward a known perching branch or a high-hanging fruit feeder, is essential. If you are using a birdbath, ensure it is placed in an open area but near protective foliage, as they prefer to have a quick escape route into the trees.

Baiting is most successful with native fruits like guava, papaya, or sunflower seeds. Because they are attracted to blossoms, placing a camera near a flowering 'Bottlebrush' or similar nectar-rich tree can produce spectacular results during the blooming season. Set your camera to a fast trigger speed or a high-frame-rate video mode; these birds are quick to arrive and depart, and their social interactions are often too fast for standard photo intervals to catch.

The best time for recording is during the 'golden hours'—shortly after sunrise and just before sunset. Their pink and green plumage pop beautifully in warm, low-angled light. If your camera has adjustable settings, prioritize a high shutter speed to capture the detail in their tail feathers during flight. During the monsoon season, they may visit garden feeders more frequently as wild food sources become harder to access, so keep your batteries charged during rainy months.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Blossom-headed Parakeet.

Plum-headed Parakeet

The Plum-headed male has a much darker purple head and the tail feathers have yellow tips instead of white.

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Larger and entirely green-headed; the male has a distinct black and rose-colored neck ring.

Browse all Birds arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Blossom-headed Parakeets are most active during the early morning hours (7-10 AM) and the late afternoon (3-6 PM). They usually spend the heat of midday resting and preening in the shade of dense tree canopies.

To attract them, provide a high-mounted feeder with sunflower seeds and fresh tropical fruits like papaya or apple. Planting native flowering trees and maintaining a clean, elevated water source for bathing will also encourage them to visit.

Their diet consists of wild fruits, seeds, nectar, and blossoms. In suburban environments, they are known to visit gardens for grain, sunflower seeds, and various cultivated fruits.

Yes, they are becoming more common in wooded suburban areas, though they remain more elusive than the Rose-ringed Parakeet and prefer neighborhoods with many mature, fruit-bearing trees.

The male Blossom-headed Parakeet has a lighter, rose-pink head compared to the deep purple-red head of the Plum-headed Parakeet. Additionally, the Blossom-headed has white tips on its tail feathers, whereas the Plum-headed has yellow tips.

Record Blossom-headed Parakeet at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo