Parakeet Available Parrots

Indian Ringneck (Rose-ringed Parakeet)

Psittacula krameri occurs naturally in a belt across sub-Saharan Africa and throughout the Indian subcontinent, and it is one of the most successful naturalised birds in the world - established feral populations thrive in London, Brussels, Cologne, Amsterdam, Israel and Japan. Adults reach around 40 cm, much of which is tail, and weigh 110-140 g.

Males develop the black-and-rose neck ring at roughly three years old; before that the sexes look alike, which is why DNA sexing matters if pairing is intended. Ringnecks are among the clearest talkers of any parrot, often producing crisp, well-articulated speech that surpasses birds five times their size. Their natural call, however, is a loud, piercing screech, and it is used freely.

Adolescent Ringnecks pass through a well-documented "bluffing" phase at around six months to a year, in which a previously sweet bird lunges and bites. It is a developmental stage, not a personality change, and consistent, non-reactive handling carries most birds through it.

• Minimum enclosure 61 x 61 x 91 cm (24 x 24 x 36 in); longer is better, as Ringnecks are strong direct fliers with a long tail that needs clearance.
• Lifespan 25-30 years.
• Legally, Psittacula krameri is one of only four parrot species exempt from CITES listing, so no CITES permits are involved. Local rules on keeping and release still apply, and in some regions release is a serious offence because of the feral population problem.

Quaker (Monk) Parakeet - check your local law first

Myiopsitta monachus comes from temperate and subtropical South America - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - and is the only parrot that builds a large communal stick nest rather than using a cavity. Those nests, built on power infrastructure and in orchards, are the reason for its legal problems: feral colonies are treated as an agricultural and utility pest.

In the European Union, Myiopsitta monachus was added to the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern in August 2022. Under Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 that listing prohibits keeping, breeding, transporting, selling and releasing the species within the EU, subject to transitional arrangements that member states applied differently for animals already in private ownership. In the United States, several states including California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wyoming restrict or prohibit ownership. Do not acquire a Quaker anywhere without confirming the current position with your own national or state authority - this is one of the few parrots where the legal question can override every other consideration.

Where they can be kept lawfully, Quakers are confident, comic, highly social birds that talk well for their size and live 20-30 years. They are loud chatterers rather than screamers, and they are strongly territorial about their cage.

Diet and health for both species

Both do well on roughly 60-70 per cent formulated pellet with daily fresh vegetables, leafy greens and modest fruit, with seed and nut reserved for training. Both are prone to obesity and fatty liver disease on seed-only rations. Quakers in particular have a documented tendency to feather-destructive behaviour when under-stimulated, and both species are susceptible to psittacine beak and feather disease, so quarantine any new arrival for 30-45 days.