The vibrant and colorful ringneck parrot species are visually appealing and tame easily. Most of them readily breed in captivity resulting in an ample supply of young birds for the pet trade.
Owners describe them as smart birds that learn concepts quickly and love to show off. Many of them are very talented talkers, speaking with a clarity that can easily be compared to that of the Quakers, Grays and Amazons – species well known for their talking abilities.
Contrary to rumors, both the male and the female are capable of speech. They learn words and phrases in a very short span of time without any training for the most part. They just learn by listening. Of course, should training be provided, their vocabulary can be significantly increased.
Australian Ringneck Parrots … Ringneck Photo Gallery
Common Species:
- Alexandrine Parakeets
- Indian Ringnecks
- Moustached / Mustached / Java Parakeets
- Plum-headed Parakeets aka Plumheads
- Rose-ringed Parakeets
- Slaty-headed Parakeets
- Complete index of ringneck parrot species
Ringneck Parrots as Pets: Typical Behavior, Training and Care
Nesting / Breeding
Within their natural range, Ringnecks mostly breed between February and March, although some breeding activities have been observed in April.
Most parrot species mate for life; however, this is not the case with the Ringnecks.
They nest in tree cavities – either natural or excavated by the birds themselves using their beaks and claws. If they excavated the nest cavity themselves, the entrance hole is usually a circular, ~2 inch + opening. They may use the deserted nests of Woodpeckers and Barbets. They may even take advantage of holes in old walls and buildings to make their nests in.
The average clutch consists of 2 – 6 whitish eggs. These eggs are incubated for about 22 – 24 days.
The young fledge when they are about 6 – 7 weeks old.
Aviculture
Ringnecks reach reproductive maturity when they are about 1 – 1 1/2 years old. However, they may not breed until they are 2 to 4 years old. Females may successfully start breeding as early as 1 year and males at 2 years.
These beautiful parakeets are generally hardy once established in an aviary. They are generally good parents and can be a good choices for those wishing to start breeding larger birds.
Since they don’t form close pair bonds, they are easy to pair up, split up and re-pair, if necessary. The actual act of mating is preceded by a long and involved courtship that involves the male feeding the female, “dancing” and bowing.
Ringnecks will interbreed with related parrot species (for example, Indian Ringnecks may hybridize with Alexandrine Parakeet and the Moustached Parakeet).
Diet / Feeding of Ringneck Parrots
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:
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