Nanday Parakeet

Identification

The nanday parakeet is a medium-small parrot measuring 27–30 cm in length and weighing around 140 g. Its most distinctive feature is the bold black facial mask and beak that gives it its common name. The plumage is predominantly green, with the upper chest showing a bluish-green tone that transitions to paler green on the lower chest. Red feathers cover the thighs, while the wings display black trailing flight feathers. The long tail is characteristically edged in blue at the tip, making it recognizable in flight.

Range & Habitat

Native to South America, the nanday parakeet's natural range extends from southeast Bolivia through southwest Brazil, central Paraguay, and into northern Argentina, with populations concentrated in the Pantanal region. The species inhabits open savannah, pastures, and scrub forest, showing a particular preference for forest clearings and areas around human settlements. Escaped cage birds have established self-sustaining feral populations in several regions outside their native range, including Israel, Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and multiple locations in the United States—notably Los Angeles and San Antonio, as well as several counties in Florida.

Behaviour & Diet

These parakeets are social and energetic birds that feed on seeds, fruit, palm nuts, berries, flowers, and buds. In areas where humans have settled, feral populations readily visit bird feeders, and they are sometimes considered agricultural pests in their native range. Nanday parakeets are highly gregarious, typically nesting in tree cavities where females lay three or four eggs. After breeding season, all birds gather into rather large communal roosts, a behaviour that makes them conspicuous and relatively easy to locate for observers.

Best Time & Places to See It

In South America, nanday parakeets can be found in their native Pantanal region and associated savannah habitats. For those unable to travel to their native range, established feral populations in Florida offer reliable viewing opportunities, particularly in counties such as Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach. The birds' habit of forming large communal roosts after breeding season makes them easier to locate during these periods, and their gregarious nature means they are often seen in small flocks rather than as solitary individuals.

Photography Tips

The nanday parakeet's striking black facial mask provides excellent contrast against its green plumage, making it photogenic even in variable light conditions. Photograph flocking birds during communal roosting periods for dynamic flock compositions. The blue-edged tail and red thigh feathers are distinctive field marks worth capturing in detail. Their energetic, acrobatic behaviour in trees offers opportunities for action shots, though patience and a telephoto lens will be necessary to capture crisp images of these active birds.