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

Photo: Bernard DUPONTCC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalistView original ↗

Nanday Parakeet

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

Possesses a two-toes-forward and two-toes-back foot structure that allows them to climb vertically and manipulate food with human-like dexterity.

Utilizes a loud, high-decibel screech that can travel over long distances to coordinate group movements and warn flock mates of danger.

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
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.

Collections

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Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Nanday Parakeet?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

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.