These parrots are regular visitors to my front garden. They consider it their sacred duty to wake me up early every morning with their raucous chattiness. When I rush out to watch their antics and take a few quick snapshots, they study me critically, even while posing for my camera, which obviously tickles their vanity. Not very trusting by nature, these birds. With all their dazzling green splendour, they always seem to have a fixed frown on their spherical little foreheads. Frowning crossly at all and sundry, warning them to keep a decent distance or else!

Basically inquisitive creatures, they exhibit a sense of curiosity and an uptight attitude. The characteristic physical features of these parrots are powerful curved bills and strong legs with claws you want to stay away from. They have a high opinion of themselves and love to flaunt their vividly coloured plumage. They fancy gorging on seeds, nuts, fruits, buds and other plant material.

These garrulous birds love a nice chat. They are evidently intelligent, like crows and magpies. Always moving in pairs, and usually in groups, they are often found consulting each other on important issues. Given to domestic bonds, they are fussy about selecting their tree hollows and go about looking meticulously at every available nesting option. In fact, I’ve given up waiting for them to settle down in one place which would finally be to their liking.

Such parrots like imitating human voices and are known to make lovable pets. I confess, I do nurture a secret desire to convert them into my pets some day.