Psittacula exsul [A. Newton 1872]

Newton's Parakeet

Psittacula exsul (A. Newton 1872)

Description: Psittacula exsul was probably green, with red wing-patches in the cock, which also occurred in a bluish variation; only two skins remain of species, both belonging to blue form; general plumage greenish-blue with grey hue; breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts slightly paler; head darker and without grey tinge; fine black line between cere and eye; black stripes to cheek and black narrow band to neck adjoining bluish-green band; primaries greenish-blue; upperside to tail feathers bluish-green, underside grey; upper mandible red, lower mandible black; iris yellow; feet grey.

Hen with narrow black stripe to forehead; black stripes to cheek not extending to side of neck; crown washed with grey; upper mandible black.

Immatures; no information

Length: 40 cm, wing length 192 - 199 mm, tail length 207 - 212 mm.

Distribution: Probably Island of Rodriguez, Indian Ocean.

Habitat: Forest

Status: Extinct; probably through combination of hunting and habitat destruction; disappeared beginning of 20th century.

Behaviour: Nothing known of habits, natural diet and breeding behaviour; only two skins exist, one shot by a Mr. Vandorous on 14th August, 1875 and sent to a Mr. Caldwell, who sent it on to E.Newton and reported in a publication he had seen more birds, but could not approach them; a Mr. Slater wrote to Professor A. Newton to report he had seen solitary bird in forest of southern end of Rodriquez on 30th September, 1874.

Aviculture: No information known of keeping or breeding in aviculture.