Getting to Know the Indian Ringneck Parakeet

If your ringneck seems tenacious, it's not your imagination. This is a resilient, resourceful bird. The ringneck is one of the few parakeet species on the globe to successfully adapt and thrive in the face of disturbed natural habitats. In India, they are commonly found thriving in large numbers in urban areas. In cities throughout Europe, escaped ringnecks have actually colonized quite a few cities! There's even a long-standing population of feral ringnecks soaring through the Japanese forests! The way these lovely birds can adapt to climates that are very different from their native climate in South Asia is a thing of wonder! In many ways, ringnecks bring that adaptability along with them when living in your home. Next, let's cover some ringneck parakeet stats. While these birds have larger-than-life personalities, they are relatively diminutive birds when compared to many other species.

It's truth time. Yes, the ringneck parakeet does have a reputation for being a little "hard to handle." Blame it on the fact that they were bred as ornamental birds for centuries. That means that building up trust with some one-on-one love is essential for forming a good relationship with your ringneck. Most ringneck owners find that these birds are absolutely delightful. With some work, they are easy to train with all kinds of tricks and talents. They especially love "brain" activities like puzzles and mazes. Ringnecks are also very affectionate and sweet once they feel at home with a human. Before you bring home a baby ringneck, it's important to know about something called the "bluffing" stage. Occurring between four months and 12 months, the bluffing phase is comparable to the teenage phase for humans.

During this time, hormonal changes can make your formerly docile ringneck more aggressive and opinionated. Don't be surprised if your ringneck suddenly hisses, nips or refuses to interact with you. When handled gingerly, this phase typically passes with the bird-owner relationship intact. While ringnecks aren't huge birds, they do require a little more room than one might expect. The longer tail on the ringneck requires a slightly larger cage than what you might use with a traditional parakeet. That's because ringnecks need a little extra room to navigate those extended tails! Additionally, ringnecks need that extra cage space because they are so active. A ringneck can quickly grow bored and stressed in a cage that doesn't allow them to feel "free." The chattiness of the ringneck parakeet is also something to consider before you bring one home. If you live in an apartment with thin walls, your neighbors might not appreciate the constant noise.

Do Ringneck Parakeets Talk? Yes! Ringnecks are actually known for being great talkers! In fact, these birds were once considered to be sacred animals due to their strong ability to recreate human speech. In places of worship throughout India, these birds repeated daily prayers while fluttering in ceremonial gardens. When trained, your ringneck can easily learn dozens of words! Most ringnecks will begin speaking during their first year of life. Some ringnecks become expert whistlers! Of course, there's no guarantee that any bird will learn to speak just because it belongs to a species with a reputation for learning words easily. It's important to go into bird ownership with the understanding that you will love your bird regardless of how quickly they can be trained to do things! How Much Exercise Does a Ringneck Parakeet Need?