Lineolated Parakeet
Bolborhynchus lineola
Also called Linnie, Barred parakeet, Catherine parakeet, Banded parakeet
From Mountain forests of the Neotropics, from southern Mexico through Central America to Colombia, north-western Venezuela and Peru (Lafeber also lists Bolivia), at roughly 1,500-3,000 m.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Feathered; small, stocky parakeet with a short pointed tail
A compact green parakeet covered in fine black or dark green bars, which become bolder with age. The bill is pale and peach-toned. Males tend to have heavier barring than hens.132
Personality what they are like
A calm, easygoing little parrot that murmurs and chatters softly rather than screeching. Many learn words in a small, squeaky voice. It often rests in a near-horizontal pose and prefers walking and climbing to flying between perches.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate. Loves climbing, so give many perches, ladders, ropes and swings plus foraging toys. Regular encouragement to move and play keeps it fit.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Most linnies love a bath or a gentle spray of water, sometimes hanging upside down with wings open to catch the drops. Offer shallow bathing bowls and chewable toys.21
Home where they are happiest
An indoor or outdoor enclosure at least 1.2 m long (outdoors only in warm climates), furnished with plenty of natural branches for climbing.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A varied mix of pellets and a small-seed blend with limited sunflower, plus spray millet, leafy greens, seeding grasses, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Wild birds eat catkins, bamboo seeds and fruit.12
Company who they like around
A strong flock instinct; it enjoys being kept in groups and does well with regular gentle handling. Wild birds gather in groups of about 6-30.23
The story where it all began
John Cassin described the species in 1853. Its common names come from the fine lines and bars across its feathers. It is now a popular companion bird, especially in Europe, known for its quiet nature and many colour mutations.31
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its barring gets bolder as it grows older.2
- 2
Linnies often pick up food with their feet, just like much larger parrots.2
- 3
When calling loudly to each other, they have been likened to the sound of a monkey.2
- 4
Pet linnies sometimes nap tucked into a fold of their owner's clothing.3
- 5
It lives in cool highland forests up to about 3,300 m and tolerates cold well.3
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern; estimated 50,000-500,000 birds with a stable trend.1
- CITES
- Appendix II.1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Cassin in 1853. Two subspecies: lineola and tigrinus.3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Lineolated Parakeet. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterevery day
- Cage linerevery 2 days
- Full cleanevery week
- Bath offerA shallow dish or gentle mistevery 3 days
- Nails checkevery month
- Toy rotationevery 2 weeks
- Out-of-cage timeAbout an hour a day, if tameevery day
- Vet check-upevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Barred Parakeet - World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia parrots.orgused for size, weight, lifespan, range, status, population, captive care, diet
- Lineolated Parakeet - Lafeber Company lafeber.comused for temperament, talking, bathing, social needs, lifespan, fun facts
- Barred parakeet - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, taxonomy, lifespan, mutations, temperament, fun facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.