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

Alexandrine Parakeets

Family: Psittacidae

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Larry is a male Alexandrine Parrot Psittacula eupatria Photo Courtesy Kristy

Joey is a female Alexandrine Parrot Photo courtesy: Kristy

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

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

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).

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.

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Latest Comments
We have just had our 3 year old male alexandrine parakeet fly away. It has been 3 days now. I don't think he will come back. He did this a few years ago but we were lucky as he stayed local and we found him in a tree in the next suburb. I am having the hardest time at his abscence as I am with him all the time. Usually, I can't even go to the toilet in peace! I hope he will return as we miss him terribly. He is a beautiful bird with an outstanding personality and he can dance! I hope he is safe wherever he is. His name is Simon. We are grateful we had 3 years with him and have lots of photos but I feel he is looking for a mate as he seemed restless and depressed just before he left. We will never forget him. M. Aubrey 2009-03-03
Our cutest feathered kid is called Priti. He is about a year old now. He dines with us on the dining table along with the other family members. Affectionately kisses. He hates to be unnoticed. He has become a part of our family now. We love him. He is amazing!! cynthia 2009-02-12
I have an Alex who is about 5 years old, she is just lovely, affectionate and clever. She sits on me like a little baby making little chirping/bopping sounds. I don't know whether she thinks I'm her mate or what the go is. I have had her since she was a dorky looking baby with her beak way too big for her head, and the second I saw her, that was it, I had to have her. Her vocabulary is not too big and consists only of a very sleezy "helloooo".... She has flown away a few times over the years (about 4 times) and every single time she has flown back home again. The last time she flew straight back into her cage. Each time she has spent 2 nights out in the "wild", calling to me periodically just so I know she is ok. There is no mistaking her call, although I can never quite work out which tree it is coming from! Then on the 3rd afternoon out she will start making her way closer and closer to home until she can glide back to me. She will then eat like she has never eaten before. Every time I have lost her I have spent the whole time worrying that this will be the one time she won't come back, but each time she comes home. I am amazed at how clever she is. Especially since each time she has flown away she has been in a completely different suburb or even state, and she still finds her way back! I used to clip her wings, but it made no difference to her ability to fly, so now I leave them alone so at least if she does manage to get out I know she is able to fly properly which will give her a good chance of survival. Rachelle 2009-02-05
My Alexandrine TUTU is a year old now. I got him when he was a baby. Within a very short time he became a part of our family, the youngest and the most lovable one. He has learned to pick up words even a few sentences within a very short period of time. He is my feathered son, actually he calls me Ma. He likes to play with us when outside of his cage. He gives a kiss when he is very happy. He feels a bit shy in front our guests but within half an hour will muster up enough courage to climb on their lap. I can go on writing endlessly about my feathered darling...! All I have learned from having him is that if you give your Alexandrine love, attention and time, you will have a wonderful companion who will enrich your life. Pounami Banerjee 2009-01-02
Our alexandrine "TRINI" is 7 months old. We bought her when she was 6 weeks old and hand fed her. She is the perfect pet. She is quiet, calm, and not afraid of anything or anyone. Whoever wants to hold her can, she has never bit anyone. I made a 6 foot high tree for her to climb in. The only time she goes in to her cage is to eat. She is so content she only squaks about once a week and not very loud. She trys to talk when you talk to her, but isn't saying any words yet. We acquired an 8 year old talking and tame severe macaw "SAMMIE" 5 days ago. I am hoping Trini will learn to talk from Sammie, who loves to talk. Dan 2008-12-09
Some of the coolest comments:
I have 12 Alexandrines, 8 of which are trained to do tricks, all started by my first boy Kasuku, he made it very clear he knew what I was saying. So for fun I started to train him and his buddies. This blossomed into the troup of eight clowns who love to show off and entertain folks. This we do every weekend. If you have an Alexandrine as a companion count yourself as one of the lucky people, I see lots of folks saying their Alex is agressive when in the cage, this is very normal. It is his very own piece of real estate and it belongs to only him. As long as he is sweet when out let him have that space. Hey, hey GREEN POWER to all the Alex lovers! Dail Malins 2005-02-19
I removed my three Alexandrines from their nest at two weeks. The three have totally different personalities. All treated the same with am and pm, one on one, as well as group attention. They love their baths and they demand I blow dry them afterwards (this was a daily occurance while I was hand feeding to keep their soft feathers from becoming so dry and mucky). The oldest one is the least friendly, very vicious inside the cage and mellow outside. The middle one, the smartest of all, picks up words constantly at 8 months old and the other two follow its lead. Middle one is very friendly and loves to kiss. Baby is simply a heart stealer. Baby is the clown of the group, extremely passive inside and outside of the cage. Loves to kiss and ride ATVs. Baby will stop playing and run over for a smooch then continue with playing. If a trainer takes a little time with these precious little bodies, marvelous beings can arise. CherokeeCandy 2005-01-01
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Author: Clarice Brough, CAS