Classification
Order — Psittaciformes.
Family — Psittaculidae.
Subfamily — Psittaculinae.
Tribe — Psittaculini.
Genus — Psittacula.
Species — Psittacula krameri.
Habitat
The rose-ringed parakeet prefers lightly wooded country in the lowland plains of tropical Asia and Africa, but it occurs up to 6,600′ in the Himalayas and the Ethiopian highlands. In rural India, the parakeet lives in areas of lush vegetation, breeding in deciduous forests. In much of its African range, however, the species is found in savannah woodland and arid, thorny scrub. The rose-ringed parakeet lives near human habitation, since farmland, parks and gardens provide it with easy pickings. A huge parakeet population lives in the cities of northern India and Pakistan.
Outward appearance
Length: 16 in (40 cm).
Weight: 4.5 oz (130 g).
Plumage is green.
Face, abdomen and under wing-coverts are yellowish-green.
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.
Middle feathers are blackish.
Bill is blackish-red with black tips.
Irises are yellowish-white.
Feet are greenish-grey.
Numerous striking color mutations of Rose-ringed parakeets have occurred in captivity, including white (albinos), blue, grey and lutino (yellow).
Male or female: 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.
Character
Although the Ringneck has something of a reputation for being nippy and hard to tame, it is largely undeserved. Because they are so smart, Ringnecks get bored very easily, and will often resort to chewing and other destructive behavior if left to their own devices. They also go through a bluffing stage during adolescence that is difficult for some owners to manage. Ringnecks that are handled often and properly cared for, however, generally have sweet, charming personalities that make them a favorite of bird enthusiasts everywhere.
Maintenance care
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. To this end, it is important to provide plenty of bird-safe chewable wood (toys made from wood or bird-safe tree branches) and pine cones that were cleaned / heat sterilized to allow them to satisfy their natural urge to chew. Additionally, they enjoy vegetable tanned leather toys, push and pull toys, foot toys, climbing ropes, ladders and swings.
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.
Other than drinking water, they should also have access to shallow water bowls for bathing and outside birds would benefit from overhead misters.
Feeding
Small seed mixture such as: canary, millet, small amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower, sunflower; spray millet, green leaves, seeding grasses; variety of fruits such as: apple, orange, banana if accepted; complete kibble.
Enrichment:
Provide bird-safe chewable wood and heat sterilized pine cones, vegetable tanned leather toys, foot toys; climbing ropes, ladders, swings, push and pull toys. Also provide overhead misters or shallow water bowls for bathing.
Features
Roosts and feeds in hundreds-strong flocks, which can devastate fruit and cereal crops.
Thrives in cities and in countries far from its normal tropical range, including Britain.
Pairs mate for life and make their nest in a snug hole in a tree or wall.
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.
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. Even though pets are commonly kept in cages, breeders or small groups of them do best in walk-in aviaries. The minimum size of the flight should be 14.7 feet (~4.5 meters). Captive birds readily accept nest boxes. They favor vertical (tall boxes). A suitable nest box size would be box: 12" x 12" x 18" (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 45.7cm).
The average clutch consists of 4 – 6 eggs, which are incubated for about 23- 24 days.
The hatchlings weigh about 0.2 oz (5 g) each, but they grow fast and are able to leave the nest seven weeks later.
Diseases
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.
