Ring-necked/Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Male
FemaleAlso called Indian/African Ring-necked or Rose-ringed Parakeets/Parrots, only the adult male parakeet has the ringed neck after
which the species is named: the ring is black at the front and pink on the nape, with a pale blue wash above. The female often has a light green shadow ring.
Both male and female have large hook-billed beaks, red on the upper part and usually black on the lower part.
Males with black and pink neck ring and blue wash.
Female with light green shadow ring.
They have pink eye rings and a thin black line from top of beak (cere) to eye which looks like a frown.
The long tails are blue-green on the topside and yellow on the underside. Males have longer tails than females.
Pair nesting on Hampstead Heath
They nest in holes in trees
Young male with pink nape band just forming but no black yet.
There are 2 main subspecies: the African Ringnecks (P. krameri kameri
),
which are slightly smaller (40 cm length) and the Indian Ringnecks
(P. krameri manillensis, 42 cm).
Female with light green shadow ring
The salute
The male's pink nape band with blue wash
Most feral populations, including those in the UK, are the Indian Ring-necked Parakeets originating from the Indian sub-continent.
Ironically, the Indian species is declining rapidly in the wild through trapping for the pet trade while the feral populations globally are increasing.
The under-tail feathers are yellow, as are the outside tops
Polly sits on an imaginary perch to show her yellow underwings
The heart shape
The V sign
The X shape (males have longer tail than females).
Links:
Behaviour
The red lower beak
Parakeets in the snow
Parakeets with other birds/wildlife
Confrontation with Magpies
Ringnecks in native India
Blue Ring-necked Parakeet
Yellow Ring-necked Parakeet
African Ringneck
Index of Parakeets/Parrots