Queen Alexandra’s Parakeet: Why Was It Named That Way?
The Queen Alexandra’s Parakeet is another Australian native parrot of extraordinary soft pastel colors. Their plumage is primarily green with a pinkish throat, bluish crown and rump, and bright green shoulders. The princess parrot is believed to be one of the most loving parrots in the world.
The first description of Queen Alexandra’s parakeet
This was the task of the English naturalist and ornithologist, John Gould. In 1838 the Goulds embarked for Australia with the purpose of studying the country’s birds and being the first to publish a book on the subject.
The result of the trip was the work The Birds of Australia (1840–1848). The book included 600 plates in seven volumes and 328 species that, at that time, were new to science. Over the years, the ornithologist proceeded to baptize the new species, such as Queen Alexandra’s parakeet.
Who was Queen Alexandra?
Queen Alexandra, single, was Princess Alexandra of Denmark. At the age of 16 she was chosen as the future wife of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, heir to Queen Victoria.
The royal couple married on March 10, 1863. Years later, in 1901, the Prince of Wales ascended to the throne as King Edward VII. Thus, Alexandra became the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British dominions. She also held the title of Empress of India.
Queen Alexandra is known to be extremely socially active and an animal lover. Continually, he attended dances, dinners, meetings, engaged in charitable works, and visited hospitals and orphanages. He went on to raise funds for important public charities.
Thus, Princess Alexandra of Denmark became much loved and admired in the United Kingdom. So much so, that his style and way of dressing was constantly imitated in his time.
How common are honorific names in birds?
It is quite common to designate a species in honor of a character in history ; it is another way to immortalize your memory. Among birds there are many examples that we can cite; In honor of the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield, a tan cuckoo and a lark were named.
Likewise, in memory of the Australian artist and illustrator John Lewin, a redfish and a honey maker were baptized. Another case is that of a finch and petrel designated to honor ornithologist John Gould.
In the present case, royalty, we can say that it is also represented by Queen Victoria’s bird of paradise and Queen Alexandra’s parakeet.
Politicians have also been included in this elite
Various politicians and heads of state are also represented in the designation of bird species. So far Barack Obama, Indira Gandhi and Nelson Mandela have received this honor.
Long before them, Sir Philip Gidley King, governor of New South Wales between 1800 and 1806, inspired the name King-Parrot or Australian parrot.
Fun Facts About Queen Alexandra’s Parakeet
It is striking that, unlike other species of parrots, the Queen Alexandra parakeet can form flocks to attack in coordination. This behavior is known as harassment ( mobbing ) and used to stop predators. During this harassment, birds dive, squawk, and even poop on that animal they consider a threat.
No wonder they have a powerful voice. One of its notable traits is its piercing call that can cross great distances. In indoor spaces, when they decide they need attention, they can be deafening.
