Is An Indian Ringneck Parrot Right For You?

May 27, 2021

These beautiful birds are becoming more and more popular in North America and it’s no wonder. They are talkative, smart and extremely sociable, making them the ideal companion pet.

Their popularity has grown in part due to the large number of YouTube videos you can find showing their antics and escapades. But are they a difficult bird to live with?

Also known as the Rose-Ringed Parakeet, these birds require a fairly large cage. From head to tail, they can measure as much as 16 inches, so ample room is needed to strut their stuff. They like to be out of the cage during the day and enjoy an open perch near a window, where they can stretch their wings and soak up some sunshine.

Ringneck Parrots can be quite demanding and need a lot of interaction and attention from their owners on a daily basis. It’s best to find a Ringneck that has been hand-raised and hand-fed as a chick, otherwise they tend to be quite aggressive. It’s not unusual for a Ringneck to nip and bite at their owners at first, but with a little patience and perseverance, they can be tamed.

Because they are such intelligent birds, they like a lot of distraction in the way of toys. They also enjoy puzzles and learning new words and phrases. With the proper care and training, a Ringneck can learn to speak up to 250 words. 

They have delightful almost comical voices and very clear speech, making them highly desirable as talking birds. But once they learn new words, they can become quite obsessive, talking non-stop and screeching if they don’t get their way.

Like all birds, they love reflective surfaces and mirrors and can easily fall in love with their own image.

The Ringneck originates from India, hence the name, and are excellent at mimicking humans. In the wild, they are green with a red bill, blue tail feathers and a ring around their necks made up of black, pink and blue. Only the males have this ring around their neck. While the females are not known as talkers, some of them do chirp out a word or two. 

Hundreds of years ago, the Ringneck Parrot was considered sacred. Found in the grounds of ancient temples, they could be heard to be reciting daily prayers said by the holy peoples of these dwellings. They usually start to talk around eight months to one year old.

Pet Ringneck Parrots come in a variety of colours from yellow with a pink ring to indigo, turquoise blue and white. They weigh around four ounces and can live anywhere from 25 to 30 years. They do well on a varied diet of mixed seeds, nuts, fruits and veggies. 

They do well with experienced bird owners and make an excellent companion bird. You’ll never get lonely with this amazing talker.