Boreal Rose-Ringed Parakeet

There are four subspecies of the rose-ringed parakeet. I've previously posted on the Indian rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri manillensis) which we saw in Sri Lanka. On our trip to India in December 2024 we saw another subspecies, the boreal rose-ringed parakeet (P. k. borealis) which is found in northern India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The main difference between manillensis and borealis is that manillensis has a black lower mandible and borealis has a red lower mandible. 

Range map of the rose-ringed parakeet from Birds of the World. As is apparent from the map, the other two subspecies are found in Africa.  

Illustration of female Indian rose-ringed parakeet (manillensis) with black lower mandible from Birds of the World. 

Illustration of female borealis rose-ringed parakeet from Birds of the World. Note the red lower mandible.

Male Indian rose-ringed parakeet with a black lower mandible. 

Male borealis rose-ringed parakeet with a red mandible. 

I saw quite a few borealis rose-ringed parakeets in northern India, most of those in cities. Photos are below:

In the Central Range of Kaziranga NP. A good view of the red lower mandible.

 

In the Eastern Range of Kaziranga. An apparent nesting pair: a female in the cavity of the tree looking down at the male.

In the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri. 

At the Red Fort in Agra.

A beautiful bird at the Buddha Temple in Sarnath, near Varanasi.