Animal-World > Birds > Parakeet: Types of Parakeets > Alexandrine Parakeet

Alexandrine Parakeets

Family: PsittacidaeLarry is a male Alexandrine ParrotPsittacula eupatriaPhoto Courtesy Kristy

   The Alexandrine Parakeet, like most of the ringnecks, is a very striking bird.

The two Alexandrine Parakeet pictures on this page show the differences in feather coloration characteristic to the ringnecks. Once they have finished their second full molt, the male will have the colored ring going around his head which immature males and females will not have.

To learn more about Parakeets and their needs visit:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Parakeet

Geographic Distribution Psittacula eupatria Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Scientific name:

Psittacula eupatria

Distribution:

   The Alexandrine Parakeet is found in Ceylon, eastern Afghanistan, western Pakistan, through India to Indochina, and the Andaman Islands. They live in lowlands and wooded areas such as forests, jungle, and coastal mangroves.

Description:

   The Alexandrine Parakeet belongs in the Psittacula genus, that are known as Ringneck Parakeets. This genus has the distinguishing characteristic of a colored collar going around the head in the males, or a pronounced stripe running through the chin area.
   The Alexandrine Parakeets have a large head and bill, a sleek body and a long tapered tail. The male has a general green plumage with some grayish-blue on the cheeks and a dark purple-red patch on the wing. There is a faint black stripe from the cere to the eye, a black stripe across the lower cheek, and a wide rose-pink collar. The inner tail feathers are bluish-green with light yellow-white tips and a yellow underside. The beak is a deep red with a paler tip. Their average lifespan is 40 years.
   The female is lighter than the male. Females don't have the rose-pink collar or the black stripe across the cheek patches, and they have shorter central tail feathers. These birds grow to a length of 23" (58 cm).

Joey is a female Alexandrine Parrot Photo courtesy: Kristy

Care and Feeding:

   Fresh food and water must be provided daily.
   In the wild, Alexandrine Parakeets eat a variety of seeds, fruits, nuts, blossoms, leaf buds. In addition to these foods, you can offer them vegetables and commercial pellets. They like nuts with the shells cracked, such as walnuts, pecans and almonds. They also enjoy the same nutritional foods humans eat, including cooked chicken. Cooked beans, rice, and grains are also enjoyed, but soft foods like these will spoil in about 4 hours.
See About Parakeets: Care and Feeding for more detailed information.

Housing:

   A a roomy cage is required as these are large parakeets.
See About Parakeets: Housing for more extensive housing information.

Maintenance:

   The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.

Social Behaviors:

   In the wild, these birds live in small flocks during the day, and roost in very large flocks at night.

Handling/Training:

See About Parakeets: Handling and Training for detailed information.
  

Activities:

   Parakeets are very energetic birds! Besides flying, which is important for all parakeets, these birds love to chew! Be sure you provide them with lots of assorted toys and wood chews, perches and swings.

Breeding/Reproduction:

   Unlike many parakeets, the Alexandrine Parakeets do not bond with a mate for life. Each pair will need two nesting boxes to choose from with wood shavings as a bedding. Once the nest box is selected the female will lay two to four eggs. Both parents will sit on the eggs. The young leave the nest about six weeks after hatching. The males don't reach their adult plumage until the second year.
See About Parakeets: Breeding and Reproduction for more information.

Potential Problems:

   These parakeets have a loud call.
See About Parakeets: Potential Problems for more information.

Availability:

   Alexandrine Parakeets are available from time to time, usually from breeders.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Alexandrine Parakeet View all 69 comments on Alexandrine Parakeet Add Your Comment

kevin milkins - 2012-04-30 We've just got an alexandrine parrakeet, she's 11 months old called LouLou, Well we think she's a girl, she's quite vocal and says 'hello' and also mimicks ambulance sound, wolf whistles. We can feed her by hand and give her commands such as in and out of her cage but she will not step up onto our hand and tries to bite us when we try, any advice on maybe getting her to trust us more, thanx Reply

shilpa sarkar - 2012-05-02 I have 2 parrots one male 8 years old and a female 2 years old. They are lovely and attached to all my family members though i do all the cleaning work.I just love them as my own kids. kainat - 2012-05-08 I'm raising 3 month parakeets pair since 2 months and I lov them like babies, they are fully attached to me and love my company, the reason I think is that I give them my finger often to chew and play with and the male one don't leave it unless I force him to leave. Let them climb on you put your hand in cage so that they get familiar with your hand and your voice ,always call them and talk to them with soft voice,put them on your shoulder or lap, and most important try to hand feed them, my parakeets still love to eat from my hand althought they can eat with their own Reply

Helen - 2009-10-22 We live in Brisbane and we bought our Alexandrine (Honey Girl) when she was 3 months old from a pet shop. I am the main carer. I am home all day with her, I feed her and clean her cage. She is out of the cage when we are home. I am so dissappointed as she seems to hate me. She attacks me everytime I put food in her cage. If she is on top of her cage and I go near her she skittles back into her cage. Yet she loves my husband. He is away all day and when he comes home she gets all excited. She runs to him when he goes near the cage. Jumps on his shoulder and nibbles affectionately at his ears and hair, chatters to him... grrrrr. I bought her for me! Jayde Kilby - 2010-05-02 We also bought our Alexandrine at about 3 months old and he seems to have moods with both me and my partner where he will favour one of us more. Generally though I am home with him all day but he seems to prefer being with Kyle and often nibbles at his ears and chatters in his ear. Like you I clean and look after him, give him food all day. Once he even tried to attack me for cuddling up to my partner on the couch whilst he was sitting on his shoulder! Jealous! A lady we spoke to told us that they tend to choose one person whom they consider their 'partner for life'. So unfortunately this might be the case. Not much we can do about it! sriprasanna - 2010-05-05 Don't worry just give he sun flower seeds by your hand every she will become normal. Coral - 2010-09-21 Don't worry I have one the same I bought it for me but she bonded with my husband if he is at home she doesn't want me at all if he is not home she will come to me and sit on my shoulder. I feed her clean her cage the same as you but they just bond to one person and that is that. Mine has bitten me a couple of times which really hurts but I have learned they just love one person. Nadine - 2011-01-05 Ok the same thing happened to me and my husband. Now first things first don't let your parrot on your shoulder he will dominate you and will think he is high in the pecking order, he probably loves your husband because he is taller or seem like the pecking order leader. I advise that your husband start ignoring the bird and you only pet it or play with it. Even when the bird gets excited and flys on him he must ignore the bird. As for getting him out of the cage I just let the bird come out when he want its this is the only way that worked for me because my bird is very territorial of his cage. After we purchased a standing perch everything seemed to get a lot better, a standing perch is awesome because it's a place for the bird to hang out out of the cage. But your husband must ignore the bird it worked for me now my 6 month old alexandrine loves me. Birds are such hard work and I feel your pain hope it all works out. Marsha - 2011-06-15 I am not an expert as we only own a lovebird (male) and female cockatiel. The female bird loves my husband and the male bird is my buddy by their own choice even though we both interact with the birds and I am primarily the one feeding them. I have been told it is very common for birds to bond with their owners of the opposite sex. Both birds are adopted and I intended for them to be my pets. Fortunately my husband has come to love "his" cockatiel. Andrea - 2011-07-06 A good way to start is by watching your husband and seeing what he's doing to make her happy. Then walk up with your husband to the bird cage and if the bird knows your husband won't hurt her, than she will know that he thinks this is fine and the bird will actually start a bond with you too if she understands that your not going to hurt her either. Aisha - 2012-01-03 I am experiencing the same behavior with my Alexandrine, Meetu, as well. She loves my husband and ignores me (he bought her for me as a pet too). I do all the cleaning and feeding. But she is attached to him and will just get so excited and start to shriek when ever he leaves the room and follow him all over the house. She sits with her tail up and nudges his hand with her beak to pet her back. This is what I have come to know as initializing mating. She has laid infertile eggs! When the female starts to initiate mating behavior, put her into the cage and eventually she will learn this is a no, no. But opposite sexes do attract! :) Cristina - 2012-04-09 I have an Alexandrine also and I have studied a lot on these types of birds. I did learn that they get along better with their opposite gender. I'm so glad I happen to get a male cause he is the sweetest little guy. He was given to me by a friend and my bird did not like my friends dad or brother at all! Lesley - 2012-04-10 My partner and I bought an Alexandrine. I do everything for her and she hates me and loves my partner. He bought her for me. I have cried once or twice from her disregard for me and her bites. I feed her and clean her cage and care for her completely. I am very stubborn and keep on trying. Now when I ask her for a kiss she nips my nose, not too hard. I am ridulously happy about that. In time I am sure she will understand that I love her too and allow me to become close to her. Shrinka - 2012-04-27 I have so far had experience with 2 ring necks and one alex all females and the first one bonded with me and the second one bonded with my mother and the Alex and I share a special bond. Even though the Alex is young only 2 months and will sexually mature in over a year she is a completely adorable baby no inhibitions of climbing hands of males or females in the house. I think its a huge misconception that parrots only bond with the opposite sex. Reply

michelle flegg - 2006-06-19 Hi, l'm from Australia and l have an 8 month old Alex and love him to bits. His name is Archie. Not quiet talking yet but coming out with some really funny noises. He dances in his cage and on my shoulder. He loves music. I can pat him and scratch him on his chest and under his wings. His favorite thing is having a shower, he loves it. He is just spoiled rotten. We have other parrots too but he is the best. I would recommend them to anyone. Anyway, lol to all you Alex owners, they are the best. michelle flegg 43 and Archie Charlie Roche - 2012-04-19 Glad you enjoy - awesome Reply

Kev morris - 2005-11-10 I received my Alex about 6 months ago. Oscar (because he was a bit of a grouch when we got him) is now talking, calling like our Sulphur Crested Cocky, squarking like the wild Minor Birds and he's just beginning to dance when asked. He's fascinated with the TV (especially Aussie Rules Football) and loves loud music. My only regret is that I can't spend as much time with him as I would like. He's on my shoulder right now grinding his beak as we speak. Loves chewing anything he can get his beak around, and he even grabs at our Cockys tail from time to time! Loves a bath, but not too fond of a pat. They are great pets - intelligent and faithful - but I really wish I could get those claws trimmed sometimes!!! Jan - 2012-04-12 Yes, I know about those claws, I think they sharpen them when they get bored. Alex birds are one of the most faithful birds around, we have two. Our first Max, he was hand fed from the beginning, he is one of a kind. Nice to hear your story. Reply

Yulonda - 2012-03-14 I just recently got a female Alexandrine parrot. Right now she does not make any noise. She just sits quiet and moves the moment I come to the cage. I try to hand feed her to make her a little more comfortable but she just starts climbing the cage. How long does it take for them to adjust? I've had her for 2 days now. Charlie Roche - 2012-03-14 It takes around a week or two. Talk to her, leave music or TV on, let her get used to sounds. Reply

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