Rose-ringed Parakeets

Ringneck / Long-tailed Parakeets ... Ringneck Photo Gallery

The Rose-ringed Parakeets (Psittacula krameri) - also known as Ring-necked Parakeets - are endemic to Northern and West Africa in Guinea, Senegal and southern Mauretania east to western Uganda and southern Sudan; as well as Southern Asia (depending on the sub-species).

These gregarious tropical parakeets are popular in the pet industry, and their numbers are decreasing in some areas due to trapping for the pet trade. The Rose-ringed Parakeet's population has dropped dramatically in many areas of the Indian subcontinent.

In India, the royals prized them as pets and for their ability to speak; and owning one of these birds, represented a popular status symbol in the Indian culture.

Bookmarks on this page:

• Description
• Feral Populations
• Rose-ringed Parakeets as Pets
• Nesting / Breeding
• Diet / Feeding
• Health / Diseases Susceptible to

Recognized Subspecies & Ranges:

• African subspecies:
  
  
  • African Rose-ringed Parakeet (P. krameri krameri)
    • Range: West Africa in Guinea, Senegal and southern Mauretania, east to Western Uganda and Southern Sudan.
  
  
  • Abyssinian Rose-ringed Parakeet (P. krameri parvirostris)
    • Range: Northwest Somalia, west across northern Ethiopia to Sennar district, Sudan.
  
  



• Asian subspecies:
  
  
  • Indian Rose-ringed Parakeet (P. krameri manillensis):
    • Range: Southern Indian subcontinent. Feral populations have been introduced worldwide.
  
  
  • Neumann's Rose-ringed Parakeet (P. krameri borealis)
    • Range: East Pakistan, northern India and Nepal to central India. Feral populations have been introduced worldwide.

Description:

Ringnecks in the wild mostly have a green plumage. The face, abdomen and under wing-coverts are yellowish-green. The nape and the back of the head is variably washed with blue. There is a broad chin / cheek-stripe and a black narrow line from cere to eye. There is a narrow pink band to nape. The upperside of the middle tail-feathers are blue with greenish-yellow tips. The outer feathers are green. The underside of outer tail-feathers are olive-yellowish. The middle feathers are blackish. The bill is blackish-red with black tips. The irises are yellowish-white and the feet are greenish-grey.

Numerous striking color mutations of Rose-ringed parakeets have occurred in captivity, including white (albinos), blue, grey and lutino (yellow).

The females look like males, except they lack the black stripe to the cheek and pink band to the nape. The nape is variably washed with blue and the middle tail-feathers on average shorter.

Juveniles resemble the adult females, but they have a pale pink bill. Their eyes are grey-white. The adult plumage starts to appear at 18 months, and is usually completed by 32 months.

Length, including Tail Feathers:

• The African Rose-ringed Parakeet measures about 40 centimeter or 15.7 inches in length. The tail accounts for a large portion of the length.


• The Abyssinian Rose-ringed Parakeet measures approx. 40 centimeter or 15.7 inches in length.


• The Indian Rose-ringed Parakeet measures approx. 42 centimeter or 16.5 inches


• The Neumann's Rose-ringed Parakeet measures approx. 43 centimeter or 16.9 inches

Feral Rose-ringed Parakeets

The Rose-ringed Parakeet has established feral populations in India and a number of European cities. There are stable populations in Florida and California, United States. Small populations are also found in Tehran, Iran (mostly concentrated in the northern parts of city).

Feral Indian Ringnecks also occur in Great Britain. The largest population of several thousand birds reside around south London, Surrey and Berkshire.

Smaller populations occur around Margate and Ramsgate, Kent, and Studland, Dorset).

Rose-ringed Parakeets as pets

Hand-fed, well socialized Rose-ringed Parakeets make excellent pets, provided they are given daily attention and good care.

The Rose-ringed Parakeet is considered one of the best talking parakeets and can learn a vocabulary of up to 250 words.

They are generally family birds and are less likely to bond to only one person, as some other parrots species might.

Rose-ringed Parakeets are generally hardy and require less interaction than most other parakeets of their size. However, they require at least half an hour of interaction a day to remain friendly.

They require a relatively tall cage because of their long tails. A Rose-ringed Parakeet who will be spending most of his/her day inside the cage needs a larger cage that can also accommodate lots of toys and perches. An appropriate cage would have ...

• Dimensions: 60 cm (24") wide x 45 cm (18") deep x 90 cm (36") high, though the larger the better
• Barspacing: between 1.25 cm (1/2 inch) and 1.875 cm (3/4 inch).

Rose-ringed Parakeets are avid chewers and climbers and should have access to chewing toys in their cages.

The cages should be in a place out of direct sunlight and free of drafts. A pet or captive Rose-ringed Parakeet should be kept in a bird-safe environment.

Diet / Feeding

Captive Rose-ringed Parakeets should be fed a nutritionally balanced diet of pellets* and unfortified / organic seeds, and fresh fruits, vegetables and greenfood should be made available. They love nuts - but those should only be given as treats.

Please visit this webpage to learn about their nutritional needs.

They should always have access to fresh water in their cages.

*Please note: When feeding pellets to your pet, please be aware of the fact that overly feeding citrus fruits (including oranges) or vitamin-C-rich foods to your birds can lead to "Iron Overload Disease" as vitamin C increases the amount of iron absorbed from foods and supplements.

Nesting / Breeding

Rose-ringed Ringnecks are cavity nesters. In nature, they will seek out tree holes for nesting and in captivity they freely accept nesting boxes. The average clutch size consists of 3 to 6 eggs which are incubated for about 23 days.

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Ringneck parrots are less demanding than other parrot species, which makes them an excellent choice for someone who wants to "step up" from an easy-going and easy-care cockatiel or budgie.

Consistent training and behavioral guidance from a young age is recommended to ensure potential owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits.

Behavioral challenges that ringnecks present include:

• Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined ringnecks may chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a parrot what is "off-limits."

• Jealousy / Aggression: The ringneck parrots can be jealous of other family members and pets. They can develop a bond with only one human and refuse to interact with other people, even attacking them in some cases. Although this is a small bird it does not seem to believe so, and will attack larger birds and even dogs if it feels it or its human is threatened. Owners should be cautious in multiple-pet homes.
  
  Continuing to socialize the hand reared pet bird from a young age and letting many people handle and interact with it can prevent single-person bonding and allow it to become an excellent family pet.


• Noise: They can be noisy - albeit not as noisy as their larger cousins. Not everybody can tolerate the natural call of a ringneck parrot, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet. Ringnecks are known for their talking and whistling ability, and teaching and encouraging your pet to talk is one way to reduce undesirable screeching in your pet.
  

Continuous obedience training is recommended ...

• AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.


• If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
  
  • the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
    • Stop Biting
    • Perform Tricks &
    • Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
  • and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.

If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:

• Procuring your Parrot


• Click here for a Breeders Listing


• Ringnecks love to climb and play and need to be provided with a cage that allows them to move around freely and toys to entertain themselves with. Info on Housing Your Bird


• The 3 Key Elements to Your Pet Bird's Happiness and Health


• Training Your Bird


• Bird Nutrition


• Parrot Products

Ringneck Parrots are generally hardy birds. However, the following diseases have been reported in this species:

• Polyoma
• Sarcocystosis
• Aspergillosis (fungal disease)
• Bacterial infections (pneumonia)
  
• Hypovitaminosis A
  
• Psittacosis

Relevant Resources:

• Identify a sick bird
• Sick bird care

Diet

In the wild, Rose-ringed Parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds.

Taxonomy:

Species: Scientific: Psittacula krameri krameri aka Palaeornis docilis ... English: Rose-ringed Parakeet, African Ring-necked Parakeet ... Dutch: Rose Halsbandparkiet, Afrikaanse Halsbandparkiet ... German: Afrikanischer Halsbandsittich ... French: Perruche à bande rose

CITES II - Endangered Species

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