Description

Colour Adult:

P.e. eupatria: Male-faint black strip from lores to eye; wide black stripe across lower cheeks; broad pink collar around hindneck; dark purple/red patch on inner secondary coverts. Thighs green/grey. Bill red. Eye pale yellow.  Female-duller, with no black under cheeks.
P.e nipalensis: Both adults overall colour more grey/green; broader black stripe across lower cheeks; occiput and cheeks washed with blue; larger in size.
P.e. magnirostris: Male-thin blue stripe on hindneck above pink collar; brighter red spot on wing; larger in size; heavier bill. Female-as in eupatria, but larger bill.
P.e. avensis: Male-as in nipalensis, but thin blue stripe on hindneck, occasionally absent; neck and underparts more yellow/green; smaller bill. Female-as in nipalensis, but smaller bill.
P.e. siamensis: Male-as in avensis, but occiput and nape suffused with blue; paler, more red spot on wing; face and neck yellowish. Female-as in avensis, but face and neck yellowish.

Colour Juvenile:

P.e. eupatria: As in female; shorter tail. Eye grey.
P.e. magnirostris: As in eupatria but larger heavier bill.

Call:

Harsh and loud in general; described as ringing, loud, deep and scolding. Shrieks accompany mobbing of predators when alarmed. Flocks will excitedly chorus together.