Long-tailed Parakeet

Long-tailed Parakeet

Scientific Name: Psittacula longicauda

Malay Name: Bayan Melayu

Chinese Name: 长尾鹦鹉

Range: Found from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: tytleri, nicobarica, modesta, longicauda, defontainei.

Local Subspecies: longicauda

Size: 40-42 cm

Identification: Male has mostly green overall plumage with long purplish-blue tail-streamers, bright red bill, reddish-pink head-sides and nape, deep green crown and broad black malar band. Female resembles male but has shorter tail-streamers, brownish bill, greenish nape, dark green malar band and reddish-pink supercilium. Juvenile resembles female but has less red on head, indistinct malar band and no tail-streamers.

Similar looking species: Red-breasted Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Coconut Lorikeet

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, secondary growth, parks and gardens.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Very common resident

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2018)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Goldhill Avenue, Malcolm Park, Bidadari, Neo Tiew Lane 2 and Kranji Marsh.

Female Long-tailed Parakeet at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Adrian Silas Tay
Male Long-tailed Parakeet at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Long-tailed Parakeet at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Long-tailed Parakeet at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Long-tailed Parakeet at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Female and juvenile Long-tailed Parakeets at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Long-tailed Parakeet at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Long-tailed Parakeet at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Long-tailed Parakeet)

References:

BirdLife International. (2018). Belocercus longicaudus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685513A131365116.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Long-tailed Parakeet. Retrieved on June 17, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/long-tailed-parakeet.

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