Known as Linnies, this little parrot is only six inches tall and supposedly therefore a joy to own. Most have a tendency to be friendly, kept as breeding birds and as pets. In essence, you couldn’t ask for a better bird.

The Lineolated Parakeet comes in green, which is its natural wild color, as well as turquoise, mauve, blue, and a couple of others. The genetics are directly recessive with the exception of Lutino, which is sex-linked.

Lineolated parakeets were imported to Europe in the 1970s, but have not become popular in the United States until the present year. There is a terribly robust population in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, but not many other places.

Since the various color mutations have become obvious, these birds are not only attracting collectors in the United States, but are also making their way into the domestic pet market. US citizens and others seem to prefer flashy birds, and this has something to do with why they are becoming truly modern pets.

Birds can be sexed by tail coloration, tail feather length, and shoulder coloration as well. This is something to the trained eye though, with even breeders turning to DNA as a more reliable mechanism for judging the sex of birds.

Lineolated parakeets can be bred in flocks and at a standard flying weight can weigh approximately 60g. They need a lot of exercise, so a larger than standard cage would be needed to raise them, compared to other cage-raised birds. As an example, a cage size of 24x24x36 inches is recommended for a breeding pair.

Linnie’s call is a chattering sound, and as a flock they can become extraordinarily loud. In the early and late hours of the day, the chattering sound seems to be much louder, but between these times, they are essentially silent, unless something is bothering them.

Linnies always seem to be aware of any presence and have a good interaction with people. Some try to chat, but so far there have been few reports of people hearing clear, precise words.

Lineolated parakeets are for someone who is trying to find something bigger than a finch, but smaller compared to a cockatoo.

They have growing needs, such as their toenails being able to lengthen and curl. When this occurs, they must be trimmed. They love to eat fruit, sprinkled seeds and some grain bread. Apples, blueberries, and grapes seem to be the favorites and are great for snacking. A good quality parakeet seed should be used, and a good quality fruit mix (from the superstore baking island) can be mixed with your seed.