Ring-necked Parakeet Profile
It’s easy (and justified) to get a bit disillusioned by the relative inaction of our species in the face of total ecological collapse. Species are dropping off the chart all over the world, and conservation is faced with innumerable extra challenges set by bad actors with financial incentives.
So, when a species like the ring-necked parakeet, also known as the Rose-ringed parakeet or Kramer parrot, starts showing up and thriving amid the chaos, especially one as pretty as this, it can come as a breath of fresh air.
But the success of a new species isn’t always the good news that it might seem.
Ring-necked Parakeet Facts Overview
| Habitat: | Varied: Urban, deserts, savanna and grasslands, forests, and rainforests |
| Location: | Native to India and equatorial Africa, introduced in Europe, Japan, New Zealand |
| Lifespan: | 34 years |
| Size: | 40 cm (16 in) long |
| Weight: | 140g (5 oz) |
| Colour: | Green, with red beaks, pink eyes and blue tails |
| Diet: | Buds, nectar, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, seeds, grains, and insects |
| Predators: | Squirrels, crows, raptors, snakes, humans |
| Top Speed: | Not listed |
| No. of Species: | 1 |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern (ICUN) |
Ring-necked parakeets are a beautiful addition to the European landscape, having been artificially introduced in the previous century and spread like wildfire.
Originally from Africa and India, their status as a pest is varied across their new range, and the deeper ecological effects of their invasion are yet to be determined truly.
Meanwhile, they are generally quite pleasant to be around, able to talk, survive the cold winters and flock together in large, chattery groups above urban settings.
Interesting Ring-necked Parakeet Facts
1. They’re parrots
These medium-sized parrots are members of the Psittaculidae family, commonly known as the Old World parrots, and represent a different branch from the New World parrots like the iconic Macaws from the family Psittacidae.
But these names are a little misleading, as there are several Old World parrots found in the New World, and perhaps the most old world of all, the African grey, is a member of Psittacidae, and not the so-called “Old World” parrot family.
Regardless, ring-necked parakeets are Old World parrots, and are native to a narrow band of equatorial Africa, just North of the equator, as well as a large portion of the Indian subcontinent.
These two populations are taxonomically distinct, but only at the subspecies level. Both Indian and African varieties contain two subspecies each, though aside from both Indian subspecies being larger than their African cousins, they don’t differ a lot.
2. They can “talk”
These little parrots are highly skilled at mimicking sounds. And since humans love to make sounds with their mouths, the parrots they do it at can quickly learn to copy them.
Hand-raised parakeets are exceptionally tame and social with humans and will readily learn human words and sentences.
This isn’t true speech, as the parrot doesn’t use it to form sentences or communicate directly in that way, but it is very funny.
3. They’re cold weather adapted
Richmond Park in London is quite a contrast to the equatorial forests around Sub-Saharan Africa, yet these parrots appear to handle European winters with ease, and that’s in large part because the population that invaded the green and pleasant land, along with much of Europe, appears to have originated from the foothills of the Himalayas.
But parrots are hardy animals in general, and this has allowed the species to achieve what Genghis Khan never could and sweep up through Europe from Asia. 1
4. They’re adaptable eaters
Wild rose-ringed parakeets are opportunistic eaters and will adapt their diet based upon what they find.
They will feed on nectar, buds, berries fruits and insects. They will also quite happily take food from bird feeders or grab food scraps outdoors in parks!
5. Ring-necked parakeets are squatters
This species loves to nest in cavities but doesn’t have the hardware of the woodpecker or squirrel to carve out one of their own.
So, instead, they steal holes from other animals. This isn’t so much of a problem in ecosystems where they’re native, but in regions where the parrots have been introduced, it’s causing all kinds of trouble.
The great spotted woodpecker and the green woodpecker are two of its main victims, as are the bluetits, starlings and Eurasian nuthatch, and it’s only getting worse. 2
6. They’re colonisers
There are now feral populations of this species in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and the UK, and they show no sign of stopping. There’s thought to be over 30,000 in the UK!
However, how exactly they arrived in these locations is a mystery. There are innumerable myths around the London population alone, ranging from Jimi Hendrix to ‘80s hurricanes.
It’s unlikely they migrated into the continent on their own – for one thing, they are generally non-migratory, but it’s also more likely they originated from escaped pets, having been captured from the wild. 3
7. They can be jerks
Like all colonisers, these birds have a history of bad attitudes toward the locals. The greater noctule bat is a cute and native species that has borne the brunt of the feathered invasion.
The parakeets are seen attacking and killing the bats inside their nesting cavities, and with the rise of the parrots, a rapid decline in the bat species was witnessed. Other bat species, the red squirrel and the black rat are all known victims of the invasive parrot’s aggression.
And like all jerks, their numbers appear to be on the rise lately.
8. Their population is increasing
These birds lay a lot of eggs, have remarkable breeding success and live for a very long time. Add to this a warming climate in Europe and they may now be a permanent fixture on the continent.
While they usually lay four, up to seven eggs can fill a nest and they only take three weeks to hatch. Most will survive to adulthood and this species can live for upwards of 35 years.
So, it’s unsurprising that their numbers are on the rise in Europe and elsewhere. This is a tough old bird. 4
Ring-necked Parakeet Fact-File Summary
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Genus: | Psittacula |
| Species: | Psittacula Krameri |
Fact Sources & References
- Tamaras Blue Chicken (2022), “Funny Talking Indian Ringneck Parrot”, YouTube.
- “Psittacula krameri rose-ringed parakeet”, Animal Diversity Web.
- “Ring-necked parakeet”, New Scientist.
- Nick Hunt (2019), “The great green expansion: how ring-necked parakeets took over London”, The Guardian.