Lineolated Parakeet

by Angela Vuckovic

Published: July 8th, 2018

About Lineolated Parakeet

Size

6 inches

Lifespan

10-15 years

Bird Species

Parakeet

Colors

Various colors

Sounds

Quiet, Mimics, Natural singing

Interaction

Social, Affectionate, Fun, Cuddly

Comparable Breeds

Sun Conure, Budgerigar Parakeet

Lineolated Parakeet General Info

Lineolated parakeets, or linnies for short, are definitely a parrot you should choose if you want a low-maintenance pet. These little goofy birds have so many great and lovable traits that it can easily be said that they are a perfect pet parrot. Playful, quiet, cuddly, and incredibly silly, these feathery goofballs are a source of endless entertainment. If you’re looking for a small and lively bird to keep you company, then look no further – linnies are here!

These tiny parrots are lively, silly and cuddly- Lineolated Parakeet is loved worldwide with good reason.

Native Region/Natural Habitat

This is a South American parakeet and is found in large, separated regions that span from southern Mexico and Panama to the Andes, parts of Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. They nest in highland forests and prefer mountains and high altitudes. They are often seen as high as 3000 meters above sea level, where they live in tree canopies. Although they are small, they have a great resistance to the cold temperatures of these high altitudes and have adapted to thrive in their natural home.

Overall Description

These pocket parrots are one of the smallest pet birds you can buy. Their tiny features will quickly charm you. The adults reach an average length of up to 6 inches (16 centimeters) and weigh only around 2 ounces (50 grams). With their miniature looks, they resemble lovebirds more than other members of the parakeet family. The short tail feathers, the rounded head, the ruffled plumage and the short stubby beak are all distinguishing features of linnies.

Speech and Sounds

One of the chief traits that make these parakeets such a loved and popular pet is their quiet and peaceful personality. They are not at all noisy as some other breeds, and this makes them great for apartments. The cute voices of linnies are often heard as they mimic simple sounds and human speech. They are also well known for memorizing melodies and repeating them in their bright and cheerful chirp. Their natural and soothing tweets are pleasing to the ear, and the cute whistling of popular melodies will undoubtedly brighten your day.

Colors

The Lineolated parakeet is a simply colored bird with just a few distinct details. The body is mainly green, with lighter tones on the cheeks and the belly. The wings are darker, with black detail on feather tips, as well as some small blue details on the lower wings. However, there exist various color mutations of linnies in captivity. Some of these are yellow, violet, white, turquoise and olive green. Whatever the color, this little bird is as pretty as its personality.

There are numerous color mutations you can choose from. Some of these colors are even prettier than the natural.

Care and Feeding

Due to their small size, the Lineolated parakeet won’t eat as much as the larger parrots. Pre-made commercial seed mixes designed for parakeets and small parrots are a great basic diet to begin with. In the wild, they feed on various seeds, fruits insects, and larvae. Linnies are great lovers of bathing. A bathing dish with fresh water should always be in their cage, and water sprays are a great pastime. Of course, they do a lot to eliminate any potential feather diseases.

Health and Common Conditions

Don’t be fooled by the tiny, cartoonish size of these parakeets. While they might be easy to lose sight of, and that can be a dangerous thing, they are still quite hardy and strong. Their great ability to adapt made them thrive in their often harsh natural habitat. With enough basic care, exercise and a balanced diet, your Lineolated Parakeet will have no troubles at all. On the other hand, they might not be the best choice for a lifelong friend and companion, since their lifespan is around 10 to 15 years.

Linnies might be tiny, but they sure are strong. With good care, they will live happily and healthy.

Personality & Behavior

You will quickly become yet another person to fall in love with the charming personality of linnies. These silly, energetic cuddling machines are full of things to love. From their whistling and singing, the goofy tricks, all the way to the burrowing under the blankets – the fun never stops when you have a Lineolated Parakeet pet. They are great around people and with their sociable behavior, they will always be at the center of attention. This is the perfect pet parrot – a friend, an entertainer, comforter and family member. Linnie has it all!

Photo credit: tatianaput/Shutterstock; Sylvie Bouchard/Shutterstock; Peter Valentino/Shutterstock

Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Mark your calendar because May 2024 marks the end of a 5-year clinical trial that may put an end to many canine cancers.

How Can I Reduce My Dog's Environmental Pawprint?

In today’s day and age, with the climate and environment at great risk, we want to do anything we can to minimize our own carbon footprint and the damage we do to Mother Nature. Of course, our pets also have an environmental impact – and eco-conscious pet parents are always on the lookout for simple ways to reduce their pet’s carbon footprint (or pawprint if we’re being precise). Luckily, there are a lot of small but important steps that you can take in order to make your pet’s lifestyle and care much more eco-friendly without compromising the quality of life they are used to. Here's where to start if you want to become a more eco-friendly, sustainable dog owner!5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Dog's Environmental PawprintCaring for your pet can be challenging, and that’s no secret. However, the things that make it easier are not often very good for the environment, and can make your pet’s environmental pawprint significant. Luckily, it does not take too much of a change to turn that completely around and start improving that environmental impact, day by day. What follows are just a few of the basic steps you can take as a caring and responsible owner.#1 Be Responsible About Your Pet’s Waste Disposal:

Scientists May Have Found a Better Way To Trim a Cat’s Nails

Trimming a cat’s nails is often a daunting affair for everyone involved. Most cats should have their nails trimmed every two to three weeks. Failing to do so leaves you and your furniture at the mercy of your kitty’s sharp claws.Specially designed to be smaller, cat nail clippers or scissors are commonly used to trim a cat’s nails, but they can be difficult to handle, especially if your cat doesn’t want to cooperate or is anxious. Additionally, there’s always a risk that you’ll end up scratched, bitten, and bleeding.This is where science can come in handy! Researchers from the University of California, Davis, are working with Sacramento SPCA to make nail trimming less stressful for cats and their owners. Jennifer Link, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis, Animal Welfare Epi Lab, is working on a multistep protocol designed to desensitize the cats to handling and nail clipping. In mid-July, Link started to visit the Sacramento shelter five days a week for two hours to work on socializing rescued and surrendered cats to help them adjust to new people, situations, and environments. By the end of September, she had worked with more than 70 cats. “When people hear that I study cats, many ask if I can help them with nail trims,” said Link. According to Dan Marple, the animal welfare manager at the Sacramento Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this research is vital to staff, donors, and volunteers because it can reduce the stress caused by nail trimming.“Any new protocols that increase the comfort and safe handling of the cats in our care will also improve their overall well-being and adoptability,” he added. Link’s research is promising because it incorporates cooperative care. This means that cats are allowed to decide how much they want to interact with the handler during the training process. Depending on their willingness to participate, the cats go through one of three scenarios with Link: a handling-only training protocol, a handling and nail-trimming protocol, or a control with no training and only a nail trim. Each interaction is recorded to be analyzed later. On the days when Link visits the shelter, the cats are removed from their cages and brought to a quiet room where Link is waiting, with a mat laid out before her. If a cat puts their front paws on the mat, they are given treats and cuddles. The idea is for cats to learn that Link interacts with them only when they put their paws on the mat. Once the cat leans this, Link proceeds with training protocols. Slowly, Link touches the cat’s legs, then the paws, and then the paws are gently squeezed. If the cat doesn’t resist, one nail is trimmed. The protocol builds on past steps and works up. When a cat goes through all the steps, they get a nail trim. If a cat doesn’t place their paws on the mat or rejects any step, Link stops the handling.“I think with cooperative care, it does seem to almost improve their trust in me,” Link explained. “They are more comfortable if we let them decide.”This research could make nail trimming at home much more comfortable for the cats and their owners. It can also decrease the number of visits to veterinary hospitals and clinics, where owners often seek help trimming their cats’ nails. The researchers still need to analyze the video sessions to finalize the protocol. And if the protocol is deemed helpful, they will share it with other shelters for more data.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

What is Red Light Therapy for Dogs?

When your dog gets injured or is recovering from a routine surgery, it can be difficult to keep them comfy and to help heal their injuries faster at the same time. However, innovative red light therapy for dogs proved to be a safe and efficient treatment for a variety of ailments, from skin inflammation to wound healing, and much, much more.Red light therapy is also known as photobiomodulation therapy, and it involves the use of red or near-infrared light to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. The reason for its effectiveness is the specific wavelengths that are absorbed by the mitochondria in cells, which are considered the cell’s powerhouse. As the mitochondria absorb the “red light”, the absorption stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is popularly called the “energy currency of cells”. The entire process then increases blood flow to the treated area, stimulating faster healing, and pain relief. What’s so great about red light therapy is that it is not invasive, and all that is needed is a specialized device that emits specific wavelengths of light.Red light therapy treatment sessions usually last from a few minutes to around 20 minutes, depending on the condition being treated and the specific device used. The frequency of sessions may vary, with some dogs benefiting from daily treatments initially, followed by less frequent “maintenance” sessions. Of course, your veterinarian can advise you on the appropriate treatment procedure for your dog's needs – if you’re unsure if red light therapy is the right choice for your dog, be sure to consult an expert before taking any steps.Of course, while you shouldn’t do anything without your vet’s approval, a great thing about this treatment is that it is entirely safe. When used appropriately, it has no risks for your dog. The secret is in the light energy that does not generate heat at all, eliminating any risk of burning or tissue damage. Naturally, it goes without saying that you should closely follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the specific device you are using. 

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