The Indian Ringneck Parakeet is a subspecies of the rose ringed parakeet also known as the Ringneck Parakeet. The Indian Ringneck is a very outgoing tropical parakeet native to Southern India where they are found in large flocks.

Indian Ringneck Parrots can be indentified by a black ring that runs under the chin and upwards toward the cheeks and forms only in mature male birds, about three years old.

While there are many color mutations which makes owning and breeding Indian Ringnecks fun and interesting, the normal coloring is a green color with the back of its head having a blue tint and its lower abdomen a lighter green.

The tail feathers are bluish down the center of the tail and are generally tipped with a yellow green. The upper mandible of the beak is an orangey-red and the lower mandible is black.

Indian Ringneck Parakeets are extremely social birds that have an abundance of energy. They love flying, chewing and making lots and lots of noise. These are not birds for the weak at heart. To own an Indian Ringneck is to love one though it is highly recommended that you spend some time around one before you head to the pet store and purchase one. They are plentiful in pet stores and easily purchased, however it is the rush to buy that makes the Indian Ringneck parakeet a frequently re-homed bird.

Most parakeets breed for life; however the Indian Ringneck isn't most parakeets. That being said, they do breed easily. Each female lays two to six eggs. The incubation time is between 22 and 24 days and the young are independent at about six to seven weeks.

One of the common mistakes new owners make is not buying a cage that is large enough or tall enough for this sizeable bird with a long tail. Tip to tail they generally measure 16 inches and need plenty of space to move around and exercise in their cages. They also benefit from a daily shower or misting to keep their lovely feathers clean and shiny. Basic care and feeding consist of providing them fresh food and water daily and a weekly cleaning of their cage including cleaning and sanitizing all toys.

Speaking of toys, the Indian Ringneck is a chewer with a beak that is surprisingly strong. Provide your parakeet plenty of durable, chewable toys to keep them busy and your home free of destruction. Feeding your Indian Ringneck plenty of fresh fruits and veggies including berries, seeds, nuts and pellets will give them the nutrition they need.

The Indian Ringneck is considered a good family bird because they do not generally bond with one caretaker and instead become fond of all members of a family. They're incredibly good talkers and can learn a vocabulary of up to 250 words! Due to their incredible intelligence it is strongly recommended to provide your parakeet with plenty of mentally stimulating toys of all shapes, colors, sizes and materials. Toys that challenge them to solve a puzzle are particularly good.

It is also extremely important to spend time training your young Indian Ringneck Parakeet. Teaching them basic commands like step up and step down are helpful in the day to day routines, training also helps to curb any bad behaviors that creep up during sexual maturity. The most common of which is screaming. As they reach sexual maturity, like a typical teenager, they like to push the limits of your patience.

This 'testing' often includes charging, biting, and lunging at you to fake a bite. If you react to these early tests by screaming or pulling your hand away, you unintentionally reinforce this behavior. Instead train yourself to not react and instead hold your ground. If they don't get a reaction from you, the behavior will decline. Of course training helps to eliminate the biting behavior too.

What makes a perfect Indian Ringneck Parakeet? If allowed to interact with the family on a daily basis, given proper nutrition, sleep and caging environment as well as plenty of toys to keep them busy when you're gone and a good dose of regular training, you'll likely have a perfect parakeet, one that will become an ideal family companion for many years to come.