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Indian Ringneck Parakeets

Noble Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet

Family: PsittacidaeBlue Cinnamon Male RingneckPsittacula krameri manillensisPhoto Courtesy Jerome Ventress

   The Indian Ringneck Parakeet has been referred to as the "Noble Parakeet"! The species, Psittacula krameri, is also called the Rose-ringed Parakeet and contains four subspecies.

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

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

Scientific name: Psittacula krameri manillensis

Distribution:    The Rose-ringed Parakeet, which includes the Indian Ringneck and the African Ringneck subspecies, is the most widely scattered member of the race of parrots and is spread throughout Asia and parts of Africa. They are found in India, China, Ceylon, Africa, Tibet, Nepal and many adjacent islands.
   The Indian Ringneck Parakeet originated in Ceylon. The African Ringneck Parakeet, its close cousin, is found from west Africa to the Southern Sudan.

Description:    Indian Ringneck Parakeets, along with their close cousin the African Ringneck Parakeets, Psittacula krameri krameri, belong in the Psittacula genus that are known as Ringneck Parakeets. The species, Psittacula krameri, is also called the Rose-ringed Parakeet and contains four subspecies. The Psittacula 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 normal coloration of the male Indian Ringneck Parakeet is a general green with its lower abdomen area being lighter and the back of the head has a bluish tint. A black ring that runs thought the chin and along the cheek. There it blends into a pink collar with some blue on the nape. The central tail feathers are bluish, tipped with a yellow green, and the outer tail feathers are green. The upper mandible of the beak is a red-orange and the lower mandible is black. Through domestic breeding, there is a large variety of color variations, or mutations available.
  The female and immature male has no black ring, pink collar, or blue tint on the back of the head. Juveniles also have a coral pink beak with a pale tip. The young reach their adult plumage after their second full molt, at about 3 years of age. These birds grow to a length of 16" (40 cm).
   The African Ringneck Parakeet is very similar in coloration to the Indian Ringneck but the facial coloring and the rose collar is less prominent on the African males. They also have a smaller beak, with the upper mandible being a dark red becoming almost black on the tip. Though the African Ringneck has a smaller, shorter body than the Indian Ringneck they have a longer tail, so overall they reach up to a length of 17" (43.5 cm).

Care and Feeding:    Fresh food and water must be provided daily.
   In the wild, Indian Ringneck Parakeets eat a variety of seeds, berries, fruits, nuts, blossoms, and nectar. In addition to these foods, you can offer them vegetables and commercial pellets. 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. An occasional millet spray is a nice treat.
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 flocks and are very social. They have a pleasant nature but will develop a screaming habit if teased.

Handling/Training:    The Indian Ringneck Parakeet is smart! Besides learning to talk, these parakeets are known to be great at learning tricks. Some have been taught to string beads on a rope, twirl sticks about their head, ring a bell, and pick up selected objects.
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, Ringneck Parakeets do not bond with a mate for life, but they are easily bred. Each pair will need two nesting boxes to choose from. Once the nest box is selected the female will lay two to six eggs. The incubation time is between 22 and 24 days and the young will leave the nest about six to seven weeks after they hatch.
See About Parakeets: Breeding and Reproduction for more information.

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

Availability:    Indian Ringneck Parakeets are available at pet stores or from breeders at reasonable prices. They can be obtained in a variety of color mutations, including the Indian Ringneck Lutino.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Indian Ringneck Parakeet View all 91 comments on Indian Ringneck Parakeet Add Your Comment

K.Swapnil - 2012-05-20 I have a pair of Indian rose ringed parakeet .... and they are 2.3 months old...... I have two que. to ask: Q1.When the black lining/strip would appear around the male's neck Q2.one have them has a prob. that it produce a very low sound like if its throat is not well and by looking it closely i noticed when it opens its beak to make sound a very thin layer of water formed and burst.....Wat is the problem with it Please answer these and try to email me at swap.blue@gmail.com Reply

pauline penny - 2012-05-06 I bought a ringneck parakeet 2 years ago, he is a great guy makes me laugh, we have never spent time a part, I am due to go away for 3 days in July but I am unable to find anyone willing to look after him whilst I am gone. Is there such places like catterys for cats and kennels for dogs, WHAT about our beloved birds, please can anyone help Charlie Roche - 2012-05-06 Try looking for a PET SITTER. They usually advertise in newspapers or put up a brochure at a vets office. There might be a web site for a PET SITTER in your town. Vet will usually board as well. Reply

Eugenio - 2012-04-25 I was just wondering if someone could help me with my Baby Ring Neck Parakeet? I bought him from a pet store in Medina, KSA about three weeks ago, and the feeding was going fine with a seringe and Cerelac (wheat baby formula), but for three days now, after he started flying around, he hasn't fed much! What can I do? How do these parakeets transition from formula to seeds eating? I have seeds, but he has not touched a thing! Please help!! Charlie Roche - 2012-04-26 Your little one is probably not eating the seed because you are doing such a good job feeding her. Being she is flying around (she has sorta fledged from the nest) and should be eating seed but she's full. Stop feeding her during the day and just give her something before she or you go to bed. Give her the amount she will take and then gradully reduce it a little every few days. She may not want the formula anymore at all and that is OK. Just watch and make sure she is eating the seed. You can give her little treats (cheerios) with your fingers too and then put a couple in the seed bowl so she gets the hang of it. Reply

Cindy - 2012-03-21 I just bought a female indian ringneck. I have had 1 week today. The breeder I bought her from said I need to hold her and rub her neck at least 2 times a day or more if allowed. I have been able to hold her 2 times in a week, for about 10 to 15 mintues. She will not let me touch her. Those 2 times I did I had to use a glove to get her. When I do get her she will step up from the hand with the glove to the hand without the glove, about 4 times then she flies off. I want to be able to hold her and her ride on my shoulder. But I feel chasing her around to catch is not good. Please tell me what to do. Thank you Cindy Charlie Roche - 2012-03-21 I am sorta surpirsed the little gal didn't freak out just with the glove. It would scare most birds. Chasing it is just not a good idea - again you will frighten it. You have only had it a week - give her more time. She needs to get used to your voice, the sounds of the home, TV etc. Right now, everything is new and scary to her. You need to just let her out of her cage and let her come to you. Use treats to feed her with your hand or let her out on the table when you eat. She doesn't have to walk in the food - just give her a little plate with some of what you eat on it. You are her flock and security. She will come to you. When she flies down - which she will - pick her up and say 'UP'. Then put her anywhere you are comfortable. Then do 'up' again. Practice 'up' on the bed. Just lay down on the bed and let her come to you. Go slow and wait till both you and she are comfortable and not nervous. Charlie Roche - 2012-03-22 OK she is being stubborn for sure. Let's try putting her food right outside the cage door. At least put treats and a small something to play with outside the cage door. Millet - they seem to know what it is and they love it. Ritz cracker, cracked walnut, cheerios or fruit loops - set it just outside the cage door and then slowly move it an inch or so further out every few days. Make a perch for her out of tree branches and put her on the cage with a food and water bowl. Cindy - 2012-03-22 Thank you for your reply. I always keep the cage door open during the day. I close it if I am going to be out of the room for more than a couple of minutes. But most of the time it is open, she never comes out. Maybe one day soon she will come out on her own. Reply

richard ramos - 2012-03-13 i just bought a male rose ringed 2 days ago. Is there anything I can do to help it trust me fast. It's not hand tame and gets scared when I put my hand into the cage. I don't know how old he is. Charlie Roche - 2012-03-14 You will probably have to sit by the cage and talk to him and try and give him treats for a few weeks - not just a day. You just sit there and leave your hand outside the cage and talk softly and let him come to you. Then whne he is comfortable taking it from your hand - open the door and give him treat at the door - your hand should block the door opening itself. Then step 3 is to let him come out. Make sure it is in a safe area without windows or mirrors and just let him out. He will settle and then you will have to start to train him to 'step up'. Ringnecks - not hand fed - are not easy to make PETS but they are social and will enjoy their human companion. But you have to go at his pace. Charlie Roche - 2012-03-13 Hi, putting your hand in the cage is not the way to go. You are a really big person next to that little bird and it scares him. King Kong jumping into your bedroom at night while you are sleeping. Talk to him, sing, laugh - let him see you and get used to your voice and movements. Wait till both you and he are relaxed and that might take a few weeks. Start giving him treats through the bars of the cage and let him get used to the closeness of your hand. Let him come out. You can put some food just outside his cage door or just open the door and see if he comes out. Ringnecks on more sit on your shoulder or arm bird than they are 'PET' bird. You are going to have to go slow and let him warm up to you. Can't go fast. Richard ramos - 2012-03-13 If I put my hand by the cage to give it treats it justs moves to the other side. And what if it does come out of the cage -- how do I put it back in without scaring it? Reply

Milica - 2012-03-11 Hello, I have a 6 year old female. She wasn,t hand fed, but, now she is very tame and likes to play with me. I have an offer for a 3 years old male but he is wild. How difficult would it be to tame him? And more importantly, would she change her behavior? Is it wise to buy this bird to be her companion? Thank you Milica Charlie Roche - 2012-03-11 It isn't terribly difficult to - tame them and you have already done it once. However, now you are going to have a male and a female and most likely they will pair bond so unlikely they will be tame and if they are to some extent - probably won'g be during mating season at all. Doubtful you would be able to play with either of them. Reply

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