My very first pair of breeders, the Alexandrines will always hold a special place in my heart. I had heard all the negative; they are just aviary birds, something pretty to look at. They don’t make good pets. They are very loud. They have no personality. They are destructive. Well, none of these statements are really true with the exception of being destructive. And any parrot can be destructive if left unsupervised. Alexandrines are no where near the top of my list of destructive birds.

	I find Alexandrines not only be beautiful but to be very personable as well. Their oversized red-orange beaks and large heads are perfect. Their pastel colors remind me of spring and I’ve had people tell me they look as if they were painted.
		They are very friendly birds that love being with their people. I find them to be very sociable birds that do not require a lot of attention but certainly do like it. And although an alexandrine loves to play and interact with his family he or she will probably never roll over in your lap or play on their backs. They do not like head skritches but do allow and enjoy petting. Most love to play with all sorts of toys, with hand toys being a favorite! We also make sure they have wooden toys to chew. Some chew a lot and others hardly at all.

	Easter Sunrise

	Copyright 2003 Wendy’s Parrots

Alexandrines are excellent talkers and I do not find them to be loud at all. My breeders emit a very high pitched call when a stranger enters the aviary but other than that they are quiet as are their babies. Alexandrines not only talk but speak very clearly. My hen Easter Sunrise can be heard in the Aviary bossing her mate Ringo Starr around. Hello Ringo, Come Here! Ringo! Come Here! What Cha Doin? Come Here! He in turn makes laser gun noises at her. They also interact with us before, during and after breeding season. Both will eat treats from out hands, Easter will climb on my back and head as I clean her flight, sometimes preening my hair, and Ringo absolutely loves to drink out of the spout of a gallon water jug. Boy can he guzzle.

	Ringo

	These pictures are of young Ringnecks. Most don’t develop their adult coloring until close to their second year.  Males develop stunning colors and a bold black ring around their neck.  (See Ringo’s picture) Females tend to look much like juvenile ringnecks. (See Easter Sunrise’s picture)