Parrots can be found across the globe, especially in tropical climates. The southern tip of Florida is inside the neotropical realm (barely), and it is now home to a number of species, despite being on the edge of what is considered tropical. The Florida parrots will be the topic of this essay.
All species discovered in Florida today have been accidentally imported and more often than not from the pet trade, which is unfortunate since the only parrot endemic to the state is now extinct. Naturalized populations, though modest in size, are poorly understood.
Here is a long list of Florida parrot species to look at.
17 SPECIES OF PARROTS IN FLORIDA
1. BUDGERIGAR
Length: 7 in
Weight: 1 oz
Wingspan: 12 in
These little cuties are the quintessential “pet bird” in Florida, with a wide range of colors including blue, white, and yellow. In the wild, greenish is the most common plumage.
Budgies, which numbered in the thousands in Florida at one point, are now very uncommon. With populations restricted to urban areas along the Gulf Coast from Crystal River to Fort Myers and in Fort Lauderdale, there are now fewer than 100 birds left, according to estimates. The decline in population of budgies can be attributed to house sparrows, which have claimed the majority of nest boxes despite all the exotic flora present in these areas.
2. NANDAY PARAKEET
Length: 12 in
Weight: 4.5 oz
Wingspan: 23 in
The black heads and bills, beautiful blue coloring on the chest and outer wings, and reddish legs distinguish Nanday Parakeets.
The name “Nanday” comes from their original name, which is also known as the “Black-hooded Parakeet.”
Nanday’s have unique voices and exuberant personalities in both the wild and captive. They have a strong memory and can learn up to 20 words.
The Tampa Bay Area, particularly St. Petersburg, has established populations of these beauties. A population of about 1000 people lives in Petersburg and the surrounding area, which stretches from the southeastern coast to Miami.
3. ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
Length: 16 in
Weight: 4.1 oz
Wingspan: 18.5 in
The red eye-ring and beak of these pale green parakeets The nape of the male is blue and pink, with a thin black collar. Their long, pointed tails make them look slender, making them a highly appealing species.
This adaptable bird has established populations all over the world, despite its native habitats in Africa and India. Wild flocks with a population of about 200 may be seen in Florida’s Naples and Fort Myers.
4. MONK PARAKEET
Length: 11.5 in
Weight: 3.5 oz
Wingspan: 19 in
The faces, neck, and breasts of Monk Parakeets are grey, while the wings are blue. They’re unmistakable, to say the least.
The most widespread psittacid in North America is these beautiful parakeets. Both the southern coasts of Florida have colonies.
Monk Parakeets are a colony of parakeets that prefer to construct huge stick nests rather than cavities for nesting. There are multiple nest rooms with tunnels that lead to the exterior, each containing one or more nests. Their nests may span nearly the size of a small automobile every year and are getting bigger. It has been reported that some colonies may contain up to 200 nests!
5. BLUE-CROWNED PARAKEET
Length: 14.5 in
Weight: 7 oz
Wingspan: 24 in
These birds have a blue head and are green in color (like the other parrots on this list). The tail feathers’ interior sections are crimson, and they aren’t always visible.
In Florida’s Fort Lauderdale, Upper Keys, and St. Augustine areas, there are roughly 125 Blue-crowned Parakeets. The population of Petersburg is growing.
6. RED-MASKED PARAKEET
Length: 13.5 in
Weight: 6 oz
Wingspan: 22 in
Their crimson masks make them appear as if they are superheroes. The tops of their wings and inner thighs are red, which is hardly noticeable.
They prefer to reside near exotic plantings in suburbs and parks rather than wild habitat, and are frequently found in mixed flocks with the Mitred Parakeet (a very similar looking cousin). Red-masked Parakeets will only roost in natural oaks and palms holes, unlike the Mitred. In the Miami region, around 200 people are known to live locally.
7. MITRED PARAKEET
Length: 15 in
Weight: 7 oz
Wingspan: 25 in
The face is feathered in red, which is considerably more patchy and uneven than the comparable Red-masked, Mitred Parakeets. The scarlet that runs across the top wings is also the same. Due to the numerous similarities between the two, as well as their tendency to congregate, identifying them is difficult.
They may be found in the same habitat as the Red-masked in Florida, especially in the southeastern sections of the state (Miami in particular). They’ve been spotted roosting and nesting in buildings’ chimneys and closets.
8. WHITE-EYED PARAKEET
8. WHITE-EYED PARAKEET
Mitred and Red-masked are two more birds that look a lot like this one. The face and head of white-eyed parakeets are significantly less red. At the wing’s bend, there is a red hue. When attempting to differentiate Mitred and Red-masked birds, since they all have white eye rings, a white eye ring is helpful. Whote-eyed Parakeets have a very yellow underwing, and the amount of red on the head is a good indicator.
In 12 Florida counties, including Miami-Dade, White-eyed Parakeets have been released and are now quite prevalent. They build nests in buildings’ corners and eaves.
9. WHITE-WINGED PARAKEET
Length: 8.75 in
Weight: 2.1 oz
Wingspan: 15 in
These little parakeets are fantastic! They are little more than a budgie in size, with bright white markings on their wings that can be seen in flight. When the bird is at rest, there is a little yellow beside the white on the inner wing, as well as a bluish tint beside the white on the outer wing.
In Fort Lauderdale, there are about 200 naturalized individuals, whereas in Miami, there are even fewer. Since the 1970s, their numbers have been dwindling.
10. YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET
Length: 8.75 in
Weight: 2.1 oz
Wingspan: 15 in
Until 1997, these two species were considered conspecific (the same species) because they are closely related. The Yellow-chevroned doesn’t have the bright white patch on its wing, so at rest they look practically interchangeable, but in flight you’ll notice the difference. Hybrids have been documented when they coexist.
It eats seeds and fruit in its natural environment, but nectar-consuming feral populations have evolved. If they’re out and about, they’ll also stop by feeders!
In terms of population size and stability, these guys seem to be outperforming the White-wings. Florida is home to roughly 450 people, with the majority of them residing in Miami. They seem to be growing in number at a steady pace.
11. GREEN PARAKEET
Length: 13 in
Weight: 8 oz
Wingspan: 21 in
The looks of this bird are very obvious: it’s all green. The neck is flecked with red feathers (a result of the Mitred, Red-masked, and White-eyed species), but the bulk of its feathers are green. This is the only completely green parakeet in the United States, with the exception of a few red feathers.
Along with its relatives mentioned above, these birds may be found in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. They are believed to be gaining in numbers.
12. RED-CROWNED PARROT
Length: 12 in
Weight: 11 oz
Wingspan: 25 in
The Green-cheeked or Red-crowned Amazon is another name for this parrot. These have a prominent red crown with a little blue behind the eye, and are frequently characterized as stocky or chunky. Males have more crimson on their beak and head than females, with crimson mostly in the eyes of females. The tail has a yellowish band at the end, and the wings have a red patch and dark blue tips.
In the mornings and evenings, red-crowned parrots are very loud, creating a raucous. They like to caw and are vocal about anything they might be interested in. To protect their nest site from invading pairs, breeding pairs employ a coordinated vocal duet. Their population has decreased in their native habitat as a result of them voicing close to their nest, which makes it simple for poachers to locate them.
Just a tiny percentage of the overall US population, a native group in southeast Florida has roughly 400 birds. The population is large. The growing number of birds here is thought to be outnumbering the ones in their natural habitat, which is fading and endangered, according to reports.
13. ORANGE-WINGED PARROT
Length: 12.5 in
Weight: unknown
Wingspan: unknown
Their bodies are crimson with a blue patch on the wings, similar to other Amazona parrots (from the Red-crowned to the Red-lored). They have faint orange stripes on their tails. The head coloring distinguishes these parrots from other species. The face of orange-wings is yellow, with baby blue stripes that go across and above the eye to the rear of the head. The edges of their papers are black.
Not much is known about its history in the United States, as it is for most psittacids. It is thought that about 100 people live in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, with nests discovered in royal palm snags.
14. YELLOW-HEADED PARROT
Length: 14 in
Weight: 15.8 oz
Wingspan: 28 in
The bright yellow head and red shoulders of this parrot distinguish it. Yellow-heads, unlike most parrots, are quiet when they fly. They emit human-like cries while they’re screaming.
The import and trade of any wild-caught birds is prohibited, and the breeding of birds in captivity is subject to restrictions in much of the world, including yellow-headed parrots.
In southern Florida, very small populations are breeding, but they are decreasing.
15. RED-LORED PARROT
Length: 12.5 in
Weight: unknown
Wingspan: unknown
The eyes of red-lored parrots are crimson, with a yellow spot below them and a blue stripe that runs from the crimson lore patch to the rear of the crown.
For many years, this species has been recognized in the southern United States, although it is less frequent than the Red-crowned. For decades, small numbers of people have lived in southern Florida.
16. CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW
Length: 18 in
Weight: 15 oz
Wingspan: 30 in
Chestnut-fronted Macaws have reddish-brown underwings, deep, beautiful blue primaries, and a long pointed tale that is tinged with blue on the outer tips and chestnut on the inner patch. They are larger than the previous species on this list. With a little chestnut feathering on the forehead and a big black beak, their heads have a exposed, white face patch.
Due to their aggressive and sassy attitudes that emerge as they age, these macaws are also known as the “Severe” macaw. They are otherwise friendly and like to be around people.
In southeastern Florida, a tiny naturalized population has set up shop, with Miami as its base.
17. BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW
Length: 34 in
Weight: 42 oz
Wingspan: 50 in
This enormous parrot is entirely blue on the top parts and golden yellow below, making it the biggest of all Florida parrots. Their eye and neck are outlined by thick black feathered stripes, and their white face patch has a thick black collar. Their beak is pitch black and terrifying. It is durable enough to aid them climb and hang from trees and assists them crack open nutshells.
In Miami-Dade County, Florida, a small breeding population may be found.
- Hawks in Florida
- Owls in Florida
- Falcons in Florida
- Hummingbirds in Florida
- Woodpeckers in Florida