Rose-Ringed Parakeet

Most of us will see this bird in a pet store or in a cage as someone’s pet. Along with other parrots, they have been imported into our country and other countries because people like them as pets. Not only are they beautiful birds but they are very smart and can be taught to talk.   Some of these birds have escaped captivity and have been able to find their way to an environment where they have formed  breeding colonies.  Bakersfield, California has  one of the largest colonies of Rose-Ringed Parakeets in North America. [SinglePic not found] We went to Bakersfield to try to find them, but discovered that they are camouflaged in the tree canopy most of the time. However, since they are very social birds, we were finally able to locate them from all the noise and squawking they were making.

Description

The Rose-Ringed Parakeet is bright green with a yellow wash on its under parts, wings, and tail.  The tail is very long, and makes up the majority of the bird’s length which is about 16″.  The tail has a blue central tail feather bordered by green feathers also washed in blue.  The male has a black chin and neck band, and a rose colored ring around the nape of his neck.  This ring doesn’t develop until he is about 18 month old.   He also has a red hooked beak with a black tip and a black mandible.  A line goes from his yellow-white eye towards his beak. He has a red eye ring.  His feet and legs are grayish-green.  The females and juveniles do not have the ring unless it is just a faint darkening of the green feathers.  The female has shorter tail feathers and her back is washed in blue.  The juvenile looks like the female but has a pinkish beak with a pale tip and a whitish eye.

Range and Habitat

Rose-Ringed Parakeets are native to Asia and Africa; they are not native to the United States.  We have feral birds that have escaped captivity which have established stable populations in Florida, Hawaii and California.   In the wild they can be found in forests and arid environments.  In the United States, they are found in forests, marshes, farms, and grasslands and city parks.

Behavior

They are very noisy in groups with much screeching, whistling and squawking.  They travel in small flocks to find food.  They eat fruit, blossoms, nectar, nuts, berries and seeds.   They are very social, roosting, feeding and interacting together. Their flight is fast and direct and is very distinctive, with the head and body held in a straight line. These birds have been captured as pets for hundreds of years.

Breeding and Nesting

These birds do not mate for life but are monogamous.  The male courts the female by swaying from side to side, repeatedly lifting one foot, and leaning towards her stretching his body and neck.  He utters soft, low notes. They nest in tree cavities, usually abandoned woodpecker holes.  The female selects the nest and lines it with wood chips.  She lays 3-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 22 days.  Both parents care for the young.  The young birds leave the nest in about 30 days.