Care guide
Plum-headed parakeet care
- Typical lifespan
- 15–25 years
- Size
- Medium
- Noise level
- Moderate
- CITES
- Appendix II
Plum-headed parakeets are graceful, intelligent parakeets with long tails. Many talk, and they need daily handling to stay tame, plenty to chew and room for that tail.
Taming and handling
Young birds go through a nippy stage (bluffing) and can become less tame without regular, calm handling. Short daily training sessions with treats work best.
With good care many live 15 to 25 years, so plan for who will care for your bird if your life changes.
Housing
A cage at least 75 cm wide and tall enough for the long tail, with 1.3 to 1.9 cm bar spacing, plus several hours out of the cage and lots of safe wood to chew.
Diet
A quality pellet as the base with vegetables, greens and some fruit every day, and seeds or nuts as treats.
Further reading
General information to help you prepare, not veterinary advice. Every animal is different: ask an experienced vet about yours. Reviewed by PerfectPal on October 14, 2026.