Alexandrine Parakeet: Species Characteristics & Care

Known for their beauty, intelligence, and excellent talking abilities, Alexandrine parakeets have been popular as pets for centuries. Named for Alexander the Great, who is said to have had many of these birds, it was an exotic pet owned by nobility and the elite. This medium-sized parrot is the largest of the Asiatic parakeets. It is an affectionate bird that tends to be a one-person bird, forming deep bonds with its human keeper.

Origin and History

This species originated in India and Sri Lanka. The Alexandrine parakeet lives in forests, woodlands, agricultural lands, and mangrove forests of up to 3,000 feet in elevation.

The parrot is named after Alexander the Great, who transported numerous birds from Punjab to European and Mediterranean regions. These birds were prized by royalty and nobles. Feral populations currently live in Spain, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Iran, and Hong Kong.

Temperament

Tame, handfed Alexandrine parakeets can make loving and affectionate pets, although they tend to become "one-person" birds. They strongly bond to a favorite family member while shunning others within the household.

Like other Asiatic parakeets, many Alexandrine parakeets go through a hormonal, aggressive bluffing phase during adolescence (age 4 months to 1 year), which can be difficult for less seasoned bird owners to handle. This period can last from two weeks to two years, depending on the bird.

With proper socialization and the use of bonding techniques, Alexandrine parakeets generally settle nicely into their new home environment and thoroughly enjoy interacting with their owners. These birds are highly intelligent and are known to be excellent talkers, making them very popular pets.

Speech and Vocalizations

Alexandrine parakeets can be quite noisy and loud, so they are probably not the right choice for those who live near neighbors. Their powerful vocalizations carry over a long distance in the wild, so it can be challenging to keep one in an apartment or condominium setting.

This bird has an excellent capacity for imitating human speech clearly. The Alexandrine parakeet has a variety of calls, including ringing sounds, loud and deep "klak" sounds, and a resounding "gr-aak" call. Its calls are deeper than the Indian ringneck parakeets, and it's alarm calls are louder, too.

Alexandrine Parakeet Colors and Markings

Slender Alexandrines can reach a length of 25 inches, and most of this length is due to its long, elegant tail feathers. They are slightly more stocky than Indian Ringneck parakeets.

Coloring is predominantly green with blue-grey on the cheeks and back of the neck, yellow-green abdomen, red patch on the shoulders, a massive red beak with yellow tips. The underside of the tail is yellow; the top of the tail is green and blue with yellow at the tip.

Alexandrine parakeets are a dimorphic bird species, meaning you can tell males apart from females. Adult males have a black and rose-colored ring around their necks. Females are the same color without the neck rings.

Caring for an Alexandrine Parakeet

Known for their beauty, intelligence, and excellent talking abilities, Alexandrine parakeets need a lot of space, hours of interaction, and supervised out-of-cage time every day. Care for this bird can be a decades-long commitment.

This bird may be a medium-sized parrot, but it still needs a large cage to accommodate its long tail feathers. At the minimum, provide a cage that is at least 3 feet tall and 2 feet long and wide.

These birds love to bathe frequently and play in the water. Provide a large water bath at least once a week. Your bird might also like an occasional misting.

Common Health Problems

Alexandrine parakeets are relatively healthy birds; however, they are susceptible to several conditions:

• Polyomavirus: A deadly virus; hatchlings and juveniles are most at risk
• Psittacosis: Also known as parrot fever, this disease in humans caused by the chlamydia bacteria
• Aspergillosis: A fungal respiratory infection caused by the aspergillus fungus

Diet and Nutrition

Most pet Alexandrine parakeets do well on a diet consisting of fresh vegetables, leafy greens, grains, some healthy seed, tree nuts, and a high-quality, commercially-made, formulated pelleted diet. Fresh vegetables are the cornerstone of a good diet for parrots.

Offer your bird 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fruits and vegetables daily. Increase or decrease the amount according to your bird's appetite. Remove the uneaten foods to prevent spoilage.

Exercise

Alexandrine parakeets are very active birds. They need plenty of exercise to maintain their physical and emotional health. A large flight cage is preferable for these birds. They need space to be able to move around without damaging their long, beautiful tail feathers.

These birds require a minimum of 3 to 4 hours a day to stretch, play, and exercise outside of its cage. Supervised playtime needs to be in a safe, "bird-proof" area. Alexandrines are very curious and can get into trouble if left to roam unattended. These intelligent birds get bored quickly, so provide plenty of chewable, bird-safe toys.

Where to Adopt or Buy an Alexandrine Parakeet

Contact local adoption and rescue organizations to see if there is one that might be for you and spend some time with them and their birds. Observe how the birds interact with their caregivers and other family members.

Alexandrine parakeets can cost from $500 to $1,500. Rescues, adoption organizations, and breeders where you can find Alexandrine parakeets include:

• Northeast Avian Rescue
• Bird Breeders
• Companion Parrots Re-homed

If you're going the breeder route, make sure that the breeder is reputable by asking them how long they've been breeding and working with Alexandrine parakeets. Also, make sure that the bird you want to take home is alert, active, and exhibits all the signs of a healthy bird, such as bright eyes, clean feathers, and full crops.

More Pet Bird Species and Further Research

If you are interested in similar species, check out:

• Indian Ringneck Parakeet Species Profile
• Quaker Parrot Species Profile
• Rainbow Lorikeet Species Profile

Otherwise, check out all of our other medium bird species.