Rose-ringed parakeet

Rose-ringed parakeet or ring-necked parakeet
Male P. k. krameri, Tendaba, Gambia
Male P. k. borealis, Jaipur, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Psittacula
Species:
P. krameri
Binomial name
Psittacula krameri
(Scopoli, 1769)
Original (native) range
Synonyms
  • Alexandrinus krameri

The rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the ring-necked parakeet, is a medium-sized parrot in the genus Psittacula, of the family Psittaculidae. It has a disjunct native range in tropical northern Africa and the Indian subcontinent, and is now introduced into many other parts of the world where feral populations have established themselves having been bred for the exotic pet trade and then escaped.

The species is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because its population appears to be increasing, but its popularity as a pet and unpopularity with farmers have reduced its numbers in some parts of its native range.

One of the few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in disturbed habitats, it has withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation. As a popular pet species, escaped birds have colonised a number of cities around the world, including populations in northern and western Europe. They can live in a variety of climates outside their native range, and are able to survive low winter temperatures in northern Europe.