Originating from tropical lands, the ring-necked parakeet, also known as the rose-ringed parakeet, has become the UK’s only naturalized parrot. The local population is believed to have formed through the gradual establishment of escaped domestic birds creating their colonies.
The UK-residing ring-necked parakeet holds the distinction of being the northernmost breeding parrot globally.
Renowned for their raucous calls, these parakeets are also adept mimickers, capable of reproducing various sounds, including human voices. In flight and during roosting, their cacophony can be quite noticeable, characterized by medium to high-pitched screeches, squawks, and even occasional whistles.
While their diet primarily consists of fruits, these parakeets also indulge in seeds, grains, nuts, and berries, along with scavenging household scraps. They’re usually active feeders during the early morning and late afternoon hours.
Sightings of individual ring-necked parakeets have been reported in nearly every county of the UK. However, they are predominantly concentrated in the Greater London and Home Counties region. More recently, small populations have emerged in the Midlands, East Anglia, and Lincolnshire. These birds are commonly spotted in suburban parks, gardens, and orchards, often forming flocks of around thirty individuals during roosting.
Rather than building their own nests, these parakeets favor repurposing old nests from other birds, especially woodpecker nests found in tree cavities. They also make use of medium to large-sized nest boxes. Their breeding season can commence as early as January, with nesting wrapping up by June. Clutches typically consist of 2 to 4 eggs, and the young birds usually fledge around forty to fifty days after hatching. Both parents actively care for their offspring in the nest, and these birds might even produce multiple clutches within a single season.
In the wild, their lifespan is estimated to be around nine years, while captive individuals have been known to live up to thirty-four years.
