Indian Ringneck Parrot
Ringneck / Long-tailed Parakeets ... Ringneck Photo Gallery
Overview
Description
Ringnecks as Pets
Understanding & Training Your Ringneck
Breeding
As the name suggests, the Indian Ring-necked Parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis) originates from India.
These birds are elegant, beautiful and make good pets for those willing to provide ongoing obedience training.
If not given sufficient attention, the Indian Ring Neck may become unfriendly and disobedient. In order to maintain their friendly personalities and tameness, regular handling and socialisation are a must for these birds.
The plumage of the Indian Ring Neck is apple green, although mutations in a range of other colors also exist. This includes buttercup yellow and the increasingly popular powder blue. (This information has kindly been provided by Dr. Rob Marshall, Avian Vet - http://www.birdhealth.com.au) ... Talking Ability (compared to other species)
| Indian Ring Neck Parrot Psittacula krameri manillensis |
| Size: 40-50cm in length |
| Pet Status: Moderate |
| Talking Ability: Low |
| Noise Level: Moderate |
| Lifespan: 25 years |
| Breeding Ability: Very Good, spring breeders |
| Number of Eggs: 4-5 eggs |
| Incubation: 22-24 days |
| Compatibility with other species: Not advised |
| Feeding: Seed and Fruit eaters |
| Health Programmes: Follow the Parrot Health Programme. |
| Sexing: Male exhibits neck ring at sexual maturity (3 years). Surgical or DNA sexing before this age is required. |
The Indian Ringneck Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), is a medium-sized bird with a hooked beak and long tail; it is classified as a parakeet. On average the birds are 14-16" inches (~40 cm) in length and up to 7 of these inches can be tail feather alone. Their average weight is 115 g or 4.1 oz.
Wild Indian Ringnecks are green featuring a red beak with a black tip on the upper beak. Beautiful blue, white, yellow and pied mutations have been bred in captivity. (Please refer to the photos on this webpage).
Males: Have a striking black ring with pink and pale blue outer rings.
Females: Also have rings but they are generally very pale and hard to see.
Immature birds: Lack the 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.
The Ringneck is highly intelligent and does make a good pet. They can be taught to speak, whistle, perform tricks (untying knots, stringing beads), and mimic other sounds. Be warned: for a smaller bird, they can be very vocal and painfully loud.
Indian Ringnecks (IRN) have stable personalities and can cope with minimal attention during busy times, this does not mean they are content alone however, and are great companions. These birds have a reputation of being difficult to keep. Avian breeders, who have had little experience with Ringnecks, are usually quick to point out that Ringnecks make unsuitable pets. This is not true however, though they can be more challenging than other types pf parrots.
The Indian Ringneck is classified as a parakeet. These birds have hooked beaks, long tails, and are moderately small. These characteristics classify them as parakeets; however, they are true parrots. These parrots are about 16 inches in length and they have a look that gives them a stealthy appearance.
Both sexes have large tails that are comprised of 12 large feathers. The two largest tail feathers, make up for a large part of the parrot’s size. These elaborate tails can extend as much as 7 inches outward, females usually 6 inches outward. Because these parrots are mostly green, they are very difficult to spot during roosting or perching in trees. Most of the time, the presence of these parrots can be given away through their contact or alarm calls.
Indian Ringnecks are native to Asia and Africa and can be seen in the forests or arid environments. It’s not uncommon to see them thrive in urban areas as well. They have established colonies in environments which are not native to them, some major points of interest include California, Florida, and the UK. These birds are believed to cause major damage to crops; however, little evidence has been published to prove this accusation. Rose-Ringed Parrots can be seen in rural areas feeding from bird feeders or relaxing in parks. In India, street vendors use them to attract customers, teaching them eyecatching tricks and elaborate songs.
Ringnecks are intelligent parrots and can make great pets. They learn concepts quickly and love to show off. Along with being intelligent, they are great at talking. Many people believe that males are more friendly and learn to talk more readily than females, but there is no real truth behind these statements.
The Indian Ringneck must be handled consistently in order to remain tame. Through constant interaction, they can become as tame as any other parrot species, but will quickly revert to their wild behavior if ignored or deprived of human contact.
Ringnecks are available from breeders in a wide variety of color mutations from the standard green to the very rare violet. They range in price from $100 (US) to up to $10,000 (US) for the rare variations. New color morphs are regularly being bred, though some argue that this corrupt the bloodlines.
A pet IRN should be fed a wide variety of foods, including a high quality pelleted staple food. Since they are very active birds, they can be fed a small amout of seed without detrimental effects. They should also get a good amount of leafy dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, and a small amount of fruit in their diets. Learn more about Bird Nutrition.
Handfed pets can be kept in medium size parrot cages as long as they are allowed time out of the cage each day.
As with all parrots, they require a variety of perches of different material and varieated widths to keep their feet healthy and must be provided with a good selection of stimulating toys, rotated frequently. (Source: "http://en.wikipedia.org"
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. The Indian Ringneck is known for its 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.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
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
- Illinois: Free Flying Aviaries - Julie Avila; Little York Illinois - (309)729-1149 - free_flying2006@hotmail.com www.freeflying2006.bravehost.com ... Specialize in: white face tiels and some of the rarer mutations Breeds tiels, lovebirds, indian ring necks, green cheek conures, sun conures, and occasionally amazons and b&g macaws
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- 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
Mandy & Paul - Breeder of Ringneck Parrots & Other Exotic Birds - Singing Wings Aviary - www.singing-wings-aviary.com
Indian Ringnecks are relatively easy to breed. They will reach sexual maturity at about 1 1/2 years of age, but may not breed for 2 or 3 years.
It is best to separate breeding pairs from other ringnecks (in a communal / aviary setting), as they may become aggressive during this time.
Ringnecks kept in an indoor aviary will usually begin breeding in December, while birds kept in outdoor aviaries may be tempted to start in February and in many parts of the world where temperatures are still pretty low -- this can cause problems such as egg binding, chilled eggs, etc. Depending on where you live, you may want to remove the nesting boxes until temperatures are more conducive to successful breeding outcome -- such as April or May. The average clutch size is 3 to 5 eggs. The incubation period lasts an average of 23 days and the babies usually fledge when they are about 7 weeks old
RIngneck Parrots do much better in a large flight or aviary then a cage as they can be active flyers.They are best housed one pair per flight in which pairs can not see each other. The reason for this is that ringnecks do not form very strong pair bonds and are known for flirting and distracting mates of other pairs.
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:
Taxonomy:
Species: Scientific: Psittacula krameri manillensis ... English: Indian Ring-necked Parakeet ... Dutch: Indische Halsbandparkiet ... German: Indischer Halsbandsittich ... French: Perruche à bande rose de l'inde
CITES II - Common in localities; however, rare in distribution areas
Distribution: Ceylon, Rameswaram Island, Indians Peninsula
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