Sri Lanka Emerald-collared Parakeet (Layard’s parakeet) Psittacula calthrapae is a parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. The common name of this bird commemorates the British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard.
29-31 cm.
Grass green plumage with a short tail. Male : Head, nape and upper back bluish gray. Clear broad purple-green and black collar. Lower back rump and upper blue tail coverts. Tail deep purplish blue tipped with yellow. Bill red. Female : General plumage is duller. Head almost uniform green. Bill blackish. Juvenile : Uniform dull green above with dull cobalt blue rump.
Makes a sharp call. Somewhat in pitch but constant in length and tempo. A loud scream ak-ak-ak-ak-ak-ak. (H)- Is a loud, harsh, chattering scream ak ak ak ak ak.
January – May and July – September. Nest –closed, in an existing cavity, clutch 2-3. Eggs are white, measuring 25×20 mm
Small groups, associated with mixed feeding flocks of the low country wet zone. Can be spotted in forests and gardens . Mainly in Hill zone, and forested humid areas of low country.
Source – Birds of Sri Lanka – An illustrated guide by Sarath Kotagama & Gamini Ratnaweera -2017
