Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.
The moustache parrot is a medium sized Asiatic parakeet named for the bold black stripe running from its beak along each cheek. Add a pink salmon chest and a soft blue wash over the head, and it’s one of the best looking parrots you can keep. A hand raised moustache parrot is playful, clever and capable of learning to talk. This guide covers everything you need to keep one healthy, from cage setup and diet to training, worming and spotting illness early.
Moustache Parrot Quick Facts
Scientific name: Psittacula alexandri
Also known as: Moustached Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet
Native range: South and Southeast Asia
Adult length: around 33 to 38 cm including the long tail
Adult weight: around 100 to 130 grams
Lifespan: commonly 20 to 25 years
Diet: quality seed, pellets, fresh fruit and vegetables, occasional nuts
Minimum cage: 90 cm wide x 60 cm deep x 90 cm high
Sexing: adults by beak colour, males red, females black
Talking ability: yes, a moderate vocabulary
Noise level: moderate, with short loud bursts
Experience level: best with some parrot experience
On This Page
Moustache Parrots as Pets
Essential Supplies for Moustache Parrots
Housing
Toys & Enrichment
Diet & Feeding
Providing Water to Your Moustache Parrot
Mineral Supplements and Vitamins
Behaviour & Handling
Training
Common Health Issues
Parasite Control
Health, Hygiene & Safety
Toxic & Dangerous Hazards
Sexing
Breeding
Record Keeping
Holiday Care
Transportation
Compatibility with Other Birds
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Vets and Links
Moustache Parrots as Pets
A hand raised moustache parrot makes an intelligent, playful pet that can learn to talk. It suits owners who can give it daily attention and some patience. They bond well with the people who handle them, but they tend to be less cuddly than many parrots. Most enjoy a head scratch but don’t like being petted all over. Vets at PangoVet note they can bluff and posture, which is one reason they’re often suggested for people with some bird experience (https://resources.pangovet.com/pet-breeds/birds/moustached-parakeet).
They’re highly intelligent, so they need daily mental work as well as food and a perch. A bored moustache parrot can develop problems like constant calling, feather plucking or even self mutilation. Those habits are far easier to prevent than to fix.
Many young birds go through a nippy stage a few weeks after weaning, when hormones kick in. This normal teenage phase shows up in most Asiatic parrots. Owners who keep training through it end up with a lovely companion, so never give up on your bird.
Essential Supplies for Moustache Parrots
Housing
A large cage with a lockable door
3 to 4 perches of different thicknesses, including a natural wood perch
3 dishes: seed, pellets and fresh food
A water dish or bottle
Food
Birdsville Blends Tropical Small Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-tropical-small-parrot-500g)
Vetafarm Nutriblend Pellets Small (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-nutriblend-pellets-sml-350g)
Fresh fruit and vegetables daily
Health
Cuttlebone with stainless steel clip (https://petsville.com.au/products/avi-one-cuttlebone-with-stainless-steel-clip)
Avitrol Plus Bird Worm Syrup (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-plus-bird-worm-syrup-25ml)
Avitrol Mite & Lice Spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml)
Enrichment
3 to 4 toys at a time, plus spares for rotating
A swing and a ladder
What You May Consider
Vetafarm Multivet vitamins (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml)
A calcium perch (https://petsville.com.au/products/avian-care-trimming-calcium-perch-140mm-small)
The Deluxe Parrot Carrier for vet visits, click and collect only (https://petsville.com.au/products/bono-fido-deluxe-parrot-carrier)
Avicare cage disinfectant (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-avicare-rtu-500ml)
A play stand for time out of the cage
Housing
A moustache parrot needs a cage at least 90 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 90 cm high, and bigger is always better. Your bird should be able to stretch and flap its wings fully without touching toys, dishes or the cage walls, and its long tail needs room too. The cage also has to hold 3 to 4 toys and 3 dishes without feeling crowded. A roomier cage keeps your bird happier, healthier and tamer.
Place the cage against a wall in a room where the family spends time, away from the kitchen, draughts and direct afternoon sun. Line the tray with paper so you can check droppings each day.
For an aviary, allow at least 1 metre wide and 2 metres long, with a fully covered section that protects from rain, wind and sun. Direct summer sun can overheat and kill a bird surprisingly fast, so shade is essential.
Sydney seasonal tip: In summer, make sure outdoor birds have shade all day long and a shallow bath for cooling off. In winter, cover the windward side of the aviary to block cold southerly winds.
Toys & Enrichment
Moustache parrots need daily enrichment to stay healthy and well behaved. Toys, foraging and new things to explore all count. Before Ash took over Birdsville, he worked as a zoo keeper, where every animal gets daily enrichment, and a pet parrot needs the same. Perches, food and water alone aren’t enough for a bird this smart. Birds with good enrichment are far less likely to pluck feathers, self mutilate or scream. They also tend to be calmer, friendlier and easier to train.
Offer a mix of textures: wood, leather, rope, shreddable paper and cardboard, acrylic, bells and balls. Foraging toys that make your bird work for a treat are especially good. Try the Bainbridge Chew Me! Swing (https://petsville.com.au/products/bainbridge-chew-me-swing) and the large BeakJoy Natural Signature Foraging Box (https://petsville.com.au/products/beakjoy-peak-play-natural-signature-blend-s), or browse our Natural Bird Toys page (https://birdsville.net.au/natural-toys/).
Simple free enrichment works well too. Hide treats inside pine cones or small cardboard boxes, offer a tray of wheat grass, or hang a food kabob of fruit and vegetables.
Safe flowering branches include bottlebrush, grevillea, eucalyptus, melaleuca, hibiscus, marigolds, roses, violets and dandelions with their leaves. Only collect from areas that haven’t been sprayed, and wash everything well under running water before it goes in the cage.
Rotate toys every week or so. A toy that’s been out of sight for a fortnight feels brand new to your bird.
Diet & Feeding
A moustache parrot should eat a mix of quality seed, pellets and fresh fruit and vegetables every day, with nuts as an occasional treat. Seed alone or pellets alone isn’t a balanced diet. In the wild they eat seeds, fruits, berries, leaf buds, flowers, nuts and the odd insect, and a pet bird needs the same variety.
Our top seed pick is Birdsville Blends Tropical Small Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-tropical-small-parrot-500g), made with Asiatic parrots in mind. Birdsville Blends are bagged fresh on site from quality ingredients. Our turnover is high, so the seed never sits on a shelf, and buying from the people who mix it means better value. Avoid many chain store mixes, which are bulked out with low quality grain and filler seed that affects a bird’s health and vitality.
For pellets, we recommend Vetafarm Nutriblend Small (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-nutriblend-pellets-sml-350g), sized for medium parrots like moustaches, ringnecks and Alexandrines. Harrison’s Adult Lifetime Coarse (https://petsville.com.au/products/harrisons-adult-lt-formula-coarse-454gm) is a good organic alternative.
Feeding by Age
Young, recently weaned birds: give an all you can eat buffet of seed, pellets and fresh food so they’re never short while they learn to eat on their own.
Adults: cut back on fatty foods like sunflower seed and nuts. Here’s a tip from our team. Put seed in one dish and pellets in another, and don’t top either up until both are finished. Birds given a full seed dish every day pick out the sunflower seed and ignore everything else. Be patient, because your bird will eat the rest once the favourites run out. Within a few months you’ll notice brighter, shinier feathers and a healthier bird.
Offer fresh fruit and vegetables every day and remove the leftovers within a few hours.
Fruits & Veggie Guide
Fruits
Apple, rockmelon, orange, strawberries, pear, banana, grapes, berries and pomegranate.
Vegetables
Broccoli, spinach, carrot, sweet potato (cooked), corn, beans, peas, capsicum, zucchini and leafy greens.
Protein & Treats
Live mealworms (available in-store only), sprouted seed and small pieces of nut. Birdsville Blends Nut Magic (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-nut-magic-400g) makes a great training reward, in small amounts only, since it’s a rich mix.
Avoid Entirely
Avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion, garlic, and salty, sugary or fatty human food.
Petsville ships seed and supplies anywhere in Australia, except seed to WA and Tasmania because of quarantine laws.
Providing Water to Your Moustache Parrot
Give your moustache parrot fresh, clean water every day. Scrub the dish each time you refill it, because food and droppings quickly turn water into a breeding ground for bacteria. Aviclens (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-aviclens-water-cleanser-100ml) helps keep water clean between changes. Many moustache parrots also love to bathe, so offer a shallow dish of water a few times a week, especially on hot days.
Mineral Supplements and Vitamins
Every moustache parrot needs a calcium source, and indoor birds also need extra vitamin D. Keep a cuttlebone or calcium perch in the cage at all times. Birds kept indoors miss out on sunlight, and window glass filters out the UV they need to make vitamin D, so add Vetafarm Soluvite D (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-soluvite-d-25g) to an indoor bird’s water. Every bird also benefits from a regular vitamin boost, whatever its diet, and Vetafarm Multivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml) is an easy option. Read our Calcium and Iodine Perch page (https://birdsville.net.au/calcium-iodine-perch/) for more.
Behaviour & Handling
Give a new moustache parrot a day or two to settle in before any handling. After that, handle it in a quiet, relaxed setting. Sitting with your bird while you watch TV or read is ideal. Babies need plenty of rest, so keep sessions short for the first few weeks. The more calm time you spend together, the tamer your bird becomes.
Handle your bird every day. A moustache parrot left alone for weeks can quickly lose its tameness, while one handled daily stays sweet natured. If your bird nips, stay calm and don’t react. Read our Parrot Biting page (https://birdsville.net.au/parrot-biting/) for more help.
Training
Moustache parrots train well with short, reward based sessions. Keep three rules in mind:
When your bird does something good, reward it.
When your bird does something you don’t want, ignore it.
Never punish your bird.
Start with “step up”. Hold your bird on one hand, then place your other hand gently against its chest and say “step up” while applying light pressure. Your bird will lift one foot onto your hand. Lift slightly and the other foot will follow. Reward straight away with a favourite treat like a piece of fruit, a seed or a small bit of nut. As your bird gets the hang of it, ask for a few step ups before each reward, then switch from food to praise.
Keep training short and frequent, a few minutes several times a day. Stick with it through the nippy teenage stage and you’ll end up with a fantastic parrot that may also learn to talk well. Our How to Train Your Parrot page (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-bird-advice-and-training/bird-training-clicker-training-parrot-body-language/) goes further, covering tricks, station training and carrier training.
Common Health Issues
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)
PBFD is a viral disease that attacks feathers, beak and immune system. Watch for feathers that grow in deformed, fall out or don’t replace properly, and a beak that looks overgrown or flaky. There’s no cure, so any bird with these signs needs testing by an avian vet. It seems to be very rare in this species so much so that I personally haven’t seen it effect one of these birds in 20 years in the industry.
Psittacosis
This bacterial infection can spread from birds to people. Signs include fluffed up feathers, sleepiness, eye or nose discharge and green watery droppings. See an avian vet promptly, and wash your hands well after cleaning the cage.
Diarrhoea
Watery, discoloured droppings that last longer than a day are a warning sign, especially in a young bird adjusting to a new home. Get your bird checked by an avian vet if it doesn’t settle quickly. Our team can also talk you through Inca Sulfa 3 (https://petsville.com.au/products/inca-sulfa-3-125ml), which we sometimes recommend for young birds during a move.
Obesity and Fatty Liver
Birds that fill up on sunflower seed and nuts gain weight and can develop fatty liver disease. Signs include a heavy body, an overgrown beak and less energy. Following the adult feeding method above helps prevent it. For a bird that’s overweight or has been diagnosed with fatty liver, we often recommend switching to Birdsville Blends Healthy Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-healthy-parrot-500g), a lower fat blend, mixed with Birdsville Blends Budgie Gourmet (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-budgie-500g). Have an avian vet confirm fatty liver before changing the diet, as it can only be diagnosed properly with a check up.
Feather Plucking
Plucking usually starts with boredom, stress, a poor diet or parasites. Our Feather Plucking page (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-bird-advice-and-training/feather-plucking/) explains the causes and what to do. For a broader list of conditions, see Common Bird Illnesses (https://birdsville.net.au/common-bird-illnesses/).
Red Flags to Watch For
Fluffed up feathers for long periods, sleeping on the cage floor, tail bobbing while breathing, discharge from the eyes or nostrils, loss of appetite and sudden quietness all mean a trip to the vet. Birds hide illness well, so act early.
Parasite Control
Worm an indoor moustache parrot every 6 months, and an aviary bird every 3 months. A recently weaned baby needs time for its gut bacteria to develop first, so wait a few weeks to two months after bringing it home. Our team will tell you when your bird’s first worming is due. Most wormers go into the drinking water, and the label gives the dose.
Lice and mites are the most common parasites of cage birds. Spray your bird with Avitrol Mite & Lice Spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml), avoiding the eyes and mouth. Then spray the cage, perches, toys and nest box, removing food and water dishes first.
Keep any new bird in a separate cage for 4 to 6 weeks before it meets your other birds.
Health, Hygiene & Safety
A clean cage is one of the simplest ways to keep a moustache parrot healthy.
Daily: change water, replace fresh food and remove leftovers, and change the tray paper.
Weekly: wash dishes and perches, wipe down the cage and rotate toys.
Monthly: fully clean and disinfect the cage with Avicare or F10 Veterinary Disinfectant (https://petsville.com.au/products/f10-veterinary-disinfectant-200ml).
Keep nails and wings in good condition. See our Wing Clipping and Nail Clipping page (https://birdsville.net.au/wing-clipping-nail-clipping/) for help. The Royal Veterinary College’s parrot care sheet is a good general reference too (https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/small-animal/documents/Pet-Parrot-care-fact-sheet%202017.pdf).
Toxic & Dangerous Hazards
For foods to avoid, see the Avoid Entirely list in the Fruits & Veggie Guide above.
Around the house, the biggest dangers to a moustache parrot are fumes from non stick (Teflon) cookware, aerosol sprays, scented candles and plug in air fresheners. Birds’ lungs are extremely sensitive to these. Other risks include ceiling fans, open windows and doors, hot stovetops, electrical cords, lead or zinc objects, toxic house plants, and other pets such as cats and dogs. Always supervise time out of the cage.
Sexing
Adult moustache parrots are sexed by beak colour: males have a red upper beak and females have an all black beak. Young birds of both sexes start with an orange red beak and a green chest without the pink, and their colours change as they mature (https://parrots.org/parrot-blogger/java-moustached-or-red-breasted-parakeet). Reliable sexing by appearance usually isn’t possible until around 12 months old. If you need to know sooner, an avian vet can DNA sex your bird.
Breeding
Moustache parrots breed well with a good diet and the right setup. Hens show interest by spending time in the nest box, and a bonded pair becomes noticeably affectionate. Clutches are usually 2 to 4 eggs, with incubation around 23 to 24 days. Chicks fledge at around 7 to 8 weeks and become independent at about 10 weeks, according to a captive breeding study at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo (https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/KKUSciJ/article/view/249169). Many breeders pull chicks at around 2 weeks old to hand raise them, which often prompts the hen to lay a second clutch.
Read our Hand Raising Baby Birds page (https://birdsville.net.au/hand-raising-baby-birds/) if you plan to hand raise.
Record Keeping
Keep a simple diary for your moustache parrot: worming and mite treatment dates, vet visits, weight checks and any changes in droppings or behaviour. It makes spotting a problem early much easier and gives your vet useful history.
Holiday Care
A moustache parrot needs fresh food, water and company every day, so arrange for someone to visit at least once daily while you’re away. For longer trips, Birdsville offers Bird Boarding in Sydney (https://birdsville.net.au/parrot-bird-boarding-sydney/).
Transportation
Always move a moustache parrot in a secure, ventilated carrier. Keep journeys short, keep the car at a comfortable temperature and never leave your bird in a parked car. Our Carry Cages page (https://birdsville.net.au/carry-cages/) has more options.
Compatibility with Other Birds
Moustache parrots mix well in an aviary with similar sized Asiatic parrots such as Plum Headed Parrots and Alexandrines. Never house them with much smaller birds, because they can easily kill a budgie or anything smaller. Birds that get along most of the year can turn aggressive in breeding season and may even fight to the death, so watch closely and separate them at the first sign of trouble. Quarantine any newcomer for 4 to 6 weeks first.
Moustache Parrot Frequently Asked Questions
Do moustache parrots talk?
Yes. Moustache parrots can learn a good number of words and short phrases, though their voice is usually less clear than an Indian Ringneck’s or an African Grey’s. Talking tends to develop once a young bird settles in and has regular, patient time with its family, so daily repetition makes a real difference.
Are moustache parrots good pets?
A hand raised moustache parrot handled every day makes a playful, intelligent companion that can learn to talk. They tend to be less cuddly than some parrots and may not enjoy being petted all over. Many go through a nippy stage after weaning, and steady training through it usually produces a sweet, confident bird.
How can you tell a male moustache parrot from a female?
Adult moustache parrots are easy to sex by beak colour. Males have a red upper beak, while females have an all black beak. Young birds of both sexes start with an orange red beak that changes as they mature, and reliable sexing by appearance usually isn’t possible until about 12 months old.
How long do moustache parrots live?
With a balanced diet, a clean cage and regular worming, a moustache parrot commonly lives 20 to 25 years, and some live longer. Published figures vary, with some sources quoting 15 to 20 years. Either way it’s a long commitment, so plan for who would care for your bird in the future.
Are moustache parrots loud?
Moustache parrots can be loud, but their noisy outbursts are usually short and they settle quickly. Most prefer whistling and chattering to screaming. Calls peak in the early morning and late afternoon, and a bored bird calls more, so toys, foraging and daily company keep noise down.
How do you tame a moustache parrot?
Start with short, calm sessions once your bird has had a day or two to settle. Sit near the cage, offer favourite treats from your hand, then teach step up. Moustache parrots can be standoffish, even when hand raised, so daily handling and patience through the nippy teenage stage matter most.
Recommended Vets and Links
SASH (Small Animal Specialist Hospital), 02 8913 4000, 5/476 Gardeners Rd, Alexandria NSW 2015, sashvets.com (24/7 emergency)
The Wild Vet, 1300 945 3838, 22A Bridge Road, Glebe, thewildvet.com.au
SERV, 02 9436 4884, 57-63 Herbert St, Artarmon, exoticsvet.com.au
Southern Cross, 02 9516 0234, 60 Princes Hwy, St Peters, southerncrossvet.com.au
Carlingford Animal Hospital, 02 9871 6036, 772 Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford, birdhealth.com.au
The Unusual Pet Vets, 02 9319 6111, 995 Bourke Street, Waterloo NSW 2017, unusualpetvets.com.au
Vetafarm, vetafarm.com.au
Related Birdsville pages: How to Care for Alexandrine Parrots [Alexandrine page link], Indian Ringneck (https://birdsville.net.au/animals-for-sale/birds-for-sale/indian-ringneck/), Squawking and Screaming Parrots (https://birdsville.net.au/screaming-and-squawking-parrots-how-to-stop/), Sydney Pet Bird Rescue (https://birdsville.net.au/re-homing-parrot-adoption/).
Visit Birdsville for Moustache Parrot Supplies
Everything in this guide, and plenty more, is available in-store at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Our team can help you choose the right cage, food and toys for your moustache parrot. Visit us or call (02) 9669 1766. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok [TikTok link] for live updates.
About Birdsville
Birdsville has been trading in Sydney since 1985, and we believe we’re now the oldest bricks and mortar bird shop still open in Australia. Owner Ash brings experience from vet clinics and from zoo keeping at the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, now Wildlife Habitat. We’re a small business that does things in a big way. Nobody tells us how to run things, so we keep our products the best of the best.
Sources
Size, weight, incubation and fledging: Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo breeding study (Khon Kaen University Science Journal)
Juvenile colouring and sexing: parrots.org
Temperament, bluffing and noise: PangoVet, and the American Federation of Aviculture Watchbird article (https://watchbird-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/watchbird/article/view/1564)
General parrot care: Royal Veterinary College
Diet, housing, enrichment, training, worming and handling advice: Ash and the Birdsville team
Product details: Petsville product listings
