Lineolated Parakeets
Pet Owner Experience with the Lineolated Parakeet
Lineolated as Pets
The Lineolated is a good choice for the person who wants a smaller, easy-to-care-for pet.
The Lineolated Parakeet is relatively quiet - chattering rather than screeching. However, as a flock, they can get noisy. They like to chatter in the early and late hours of the day -- as birds generally like to do. Other than those times, they usually remain quiet unless something strange happens or someone unfamiliar enters into their sight, or when trying to get your attention - at feeding times, for example. They are not known for their talking abilities.
This charming species requires a larger cage, as it likes to flutter and fly rather than climbing. Therefore, they need a extra flight room. A cage suitable for a conure work well for them. Larger is always better when it comes to the size of the cage. Always remember that you have to accommodate various perches, toys, food dishes -- and allow for room to move around and fly.
They do require regular grooming. Their toenails can grow long and will curl, which can cause them to get hung up on the cage wire, causing injury and maybe even death. A "grooming perch" will help keep them in shape. If no grooming perch is available, then regular nail clipping is necessary.
They love fruits, such as apples, cranberries and grapes.* They also like soaked seed and some grain breads. They enjoy a quality grade of parakeet seed, some of the better quality cockatiel mixes and spray millet. They should be supplied with them with cuttlebone and mineral block.
- It is recommended not to feed more than one grape to a LARGE parrot a day. Less for smaller birds. Some birds have developed renal failure because of grapes. For parakeets, no more than 1/4 of a grape a day is advised.
Care and Feeding:
Parrots love to climb and play and need to be provided with a cage that allows them to move around freely and toys to entertain themselves with. Please refer to the following websites for information:- Sources for Purchasing or Adopting your Companion or Aviary Birds
- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird / Fun & Safe Toys
- Caring for your companion bird
Background
The Barred Parakeet (Bolborhynchus lineola, also known as Lineolated Parakeet or Catherine Parakeet) is a bird found in western Panama, south Mexico, northern Colombia, Venezuela and the Andean mountains in Peru. Their habitat is the forests and mountains up to 2000 m above sea level or so. They spend some of their time on the ground, but sleep high in the trees. They are not affected by cold and have been seen taking snow baths. They are found in the wild in groups of 6 to 30 although bigger groups (up to 150 birds) are known. They eat fruit, dry seeds, germinated seeds and even insect larvae. They are green and black birds with little difference between males and females except in tail color. They are roughly 6¾ inches (170 mm) in length. They weigh on average, a petite 47 to 55 grams. Oddly, they prefer to run and climb rather than fly. There are many color mutations which are: blue, cobalt, mauve, lutino (bright yellow with red eyes), creamino, cinnamon, golden, pied, silver and violet. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Species: Scientific: Bolborhynchus lineola lineola ... English: Barred Parakeet, Lineolated Parakeet ... Dutch: Catharina Parkiet ... German: Katharinasittich ... French: Perruche rayée 
Description: Green, forehead yellowish-green; crown with bluish tinge; feathers to back of head and nape of most birds with narrow black edging; flanks and sides of breast olive-green, each feather edged greenish-black; back and upper tail-feathers with broad black edging; thighs yellowish-green; bend of wing black; feathers to wing-coverts with black tips; under wing-coverts bluish-green; tail upperside dark green with broad black tips, underside dirty-green, bill horn-colored; skin to narrow periophthalmic ring grey, iris dark grey; cere whitish and feet flesh-colored. Female on average with less blacking edging to feathers; tail upperside generally with narrow black tips,
occasionally absent. Immatures with duller plumage and less intensive black markings; crown with more marked blue tinge. Length: 16 cm (6 ins) CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Southern Mexico, western Panama
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots ... Observations of Handraising a Baby Lineolated ‘keet by Joan Smith ... Lineolated Parakeets - Joan Smith; Whispering Wings ... Basic Color Genetics - Joan Smith; Whispering Wings ... Visual Wings
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