Nanday Parakeet
ExploreBirds
Nanday Parakeet
aratinga nenday
The Nanday Parakeet, also known as the black-hooded parakeet, is a highly social and vocal parrot native to the interior of South America. Famous for its striking appearance and boisterous personality, this medium-sized bird thrives in large, active flocks. They are renowned for their high intelligence, curiosity, and ear-splitting screeching calls, which they use to communicate across vast distances and maintain flock cohesion. While originally native to South American wetlands and savannas, they have successfully established self-sustaining, highly adaptable feral populations in urban areas across North America, notably in Florida and California, where they are often seen nesting in palm trees and utility poles.
Habitat: Typically found in open savannas, pastures, palm groves, and urban parks where they can easily forage and find nesting cavities.
Appearance
Nanday Parakeets are easily recognized by their deep black facial mask or hood which contrasts sharply with their bright lime-green bodies. They feature a pale blue-green patch on their upper chest and distinctive bright red feathers on their thighs, giving them the playful appearance of wearing tiny red socks. Their wings showcase dark blue flight feathers that are highly visible during flight, complemented by a long, tapered green tail and a heavy, black hooked beak.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPsittaciformesFamilyPsittacidaeGenusAratinga
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
In feral North American populations, they are known to nest inside the hollow spaces of metal streetlights and utility poles.
Their bright red thigh feathers are often referred to as 'red boots' or 'socks' by bird enthusiasts.
They are highly social birds that are almost never seen alone, usually traveling in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals.
Special abilities
Ability
Zygodactyl Dexterity
Possesses a two-toes-forward and two-toes-back foot structure that allows them to climb vertically and manipulate food with human-like dexterity.
Ability
Coordinated Flock Call
Utilizes a loud, high-decibel screech that can travel over long distances to coordinate group movements and warn flock mates of danger.
Ability
Cavity Excavation
Uses its powerful hooked bill to gnaw and expand natural tree hollows or wooden structures to build secure nesting sites.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 30-37 cm
- Wingspan
- 50-55 cm
- Weight
- 0.12-0.15 kg
- Lifespan
- 15-30 years
- Top Speed
- 48 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 3-5
- Incubation
- 24-26 days
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on a variety of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, and flowers obtained from both native trees and urban ornamental plants.
Primary Foods
- Palm fruits
- Sunflower seeds
- Berries
- Flower buds
- Nuts
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
mutualism
Queen Palm
Syagrus romanzoffiana
Feeds heavily on the sweet orange fruits of the queen palm, aiding in local seed dispersal in both native and urban environments.
eaten by
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Preys upon adults and juveniles in urban and suburban environments where feral parakeet populations have established.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Nanday Parakeet?
The easiest way to identify Nanday Parakeet is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Nanday Parakeet?
30-37 cm
What is Nanday Parakeet's wingspan?
50-55 cm
How much does Nanday Parakeet weigh?
0.12-0.15 kg
How long does Nanday Parakeet live?
15-30 years
How fast can Nanday Parakeet move?
48 km/h
What does Nanday Parakeet eat?
Primarily feeds on a variety of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, and flowers obtained from both native trees and urban ornamental plants.
Where is Nanday Parakeet usually found?
Typically found in open savannas, pastures, palm groves, and urban parks where they can easily forage and find nesting cavities.
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