The Incipient Establishment of the Near Threatened Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) (Linnaeus, 1758) in Patna, Bihar: First Evidence of Occurrence

Abstract

The Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri), a Near Threatened psittacid traditionally restricted to the sub-Himalayan and North-eastern tracts of India, is here documented for the first time in the urban landscape of Patna, Bihar. This extra-limital record and incipient establishment were confirmed through opportunistic field observations and fixed-point counts conducted at Patna University and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna between November 2nd 2025 to 5th December 2025. A stable population of up to four individuals, including at least one confirmed male and one female, persists within these institutional green spaces. Ecological data confirms a dietary reliance on the fruits of Neolamarckia cadamba (Kadam) and documents active interspecific competition with the House Crow (Corvus splendens). These sightings represent a significant southward range expansion in Bihar, identifying urban university campuses as functional refugia and biological corridors for this species within the Gangetic plains. The study provides definitive evidence of the species’ ability to navigate and utilize fragmented urban matrices outside its historical distribution range.