African Ringneck Parrot.
This beautiful parrot resides at the Maleny Botanic Gardens and shares his home with a variety of other colourful, noisy and entertaining birds; mostly from the parrot family. I was able to get inside the aviary and interact with them closely which they didn't seem to mind. In fact, they insist on it, much to my delight.
These beautiful parrots are characterized by the black ring around their necks which take approximately 18 months to develop. Although it can take up to three years. The females have a less prominent ring and is more green than black and their feathers are a lighter green than their male counterparts. They are a native of Africa and often found in small flocks of 20 – 50 birds. African Ringnecks thrive in warmer climates and search for food on the ground. They are most at home perched in trees and when alerted will make a loud call to alert their mates.
African Ringnecks and their cousins, the Indian Ringnecks are very similar in appearance, but the Indian ringnecks are a more vibrant green whereas the African Ringnecks are lime green. Also, the black ring around the African Ringneck is more prominent than on the Indian Ringneck and much thicker toward the base of the beak. The other noticeable difference is that the Indian ringnecks beaks are larger and red in colour and the African Ringnecks beak is more of a plum colour.
If the African Ringneck is handfed just after weaning, they become much more docile than the Indian Ringnecks. They enjoy being petted around the neck area but not on their bodies. African Ringnecks make wonderful pets especially when young. They are wonderful talkers but just like the human species the males are a lot more vociferous. (lol)
They begin talking between the ages of eight – twelve months. For best results, owners should talk often to their birds and when well tamed, an African Ringneck becomes extremely responsive to human voices and concentrate on a person’s mouth when they are speaking to them. It really helps to talk in an excited way as the birds respond well to this.
Their diet consists of a variety of foods such as pellets, seeds, fruits, and vegetables with their favourite being, steamed carrots, pumpkin, or corn. Protein foods such as chicken beef or cooked eggs should be kept to a minimum and thrown out if left uneaten to avoid spoilage. Owners should be aware that avocado, fruit seeds, onions, and chocolate, could result in death so it is better to be informed.
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.