Green Parakeet (Everything You Need to Know)
Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Ali Shahid
Due to the export restrictions for green parakeets, as well as their legal protection from the market, not many people choose to keep green parakeets as pets. In the wild, these birds have a general tendency to survive longer than they do in captivity, so they are not good pets and are better left out in the wild.
Green Parakeet
Keep reading to find out more about your options if you do happen to come across an opportunity to legally inherit or acquire one of these birds in the future.
Habitat
Indigenous populations inhabit woodlands, farms, and plantations in tropical and subtropical regions. Introduced populations inhabit the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas and the Mexican interior.
Throughout Mexico and northern Central America, green parrots of this species can be found. Almost all of its range is surrounded by the state of Texas on its northern end.
This species has succeeded so well in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas in recent years because the habitat for the species has adapted to the local environment, which has put the species at ease.
Several of the southernmost Texas cities have become home to feral populations of Green Parakeets, and flocks of hundreds can be seen flying around some residential neighborhoods where the birds have escaped from captivity.
In some cases, the flocks may include wild birds that wandered across the border just before winter came. It is not uncommon to see escaping green parakeets flying freely in almost any warm climate while they are away from southern Texas.
Physical Appearance of Green Parakeet
A Green Parakeet does not exhibit sexual dimorphism, which means you cannot tell which sex any given bird is by just looking at it directly. In adults, the body color is primarily bright green with the undersides of the tail and wings showing bright green or yellow.
Their heads are usually covered in diffuse red feathering, as well as the outermost edges of their flight feathers can be seen as being tinged with blue.
Besides the beak, the eyes are orange or brown, and the heads are yellowish-brown or tan. Unlike older birds, hatchlings do not have feathers, but they do have dark eyes.
The feathers start to develop as the birds grow into juveniles, but the eyes are still dark until they reach the age of adulthood. The average life span of a green parakeet is 10-15 years.
Temperament
Keeping these exotic birds as a pet can prove to be a challenge due to their activity levels. Unlike their similarity with Budgies and Cockatiels, their behavior is not as friendly as that of the birds they are similar to.
People with whom they regularly interact do bond with them, but they can still pose challenges and be stubborn to people that they encounter regularly. Sometimes they develop behavior problems as well as nippy and naughty behavior.
Moreover, some of them develop issues associated with stress or boredom, such as overgrooming and plucking of the hair. The green parakeet, though it is a small bird, is highly intelligent, and it needs interaction with other birds and animals.
It is best to keep some toys around, play games, and do puzzles to keep them occupied, otherwise, they will become restless.
Breeding
In comparison with Washingtonian Palms, Canary Island Palms allow Green Parakeets to nest more easily in the hollow openings.
Usually these parakeets nest as a pair in woodpecker cavities and other cracks and crevices in the holes of Canary Island Palm trees, but they nest as single pairs in Washingtonian palm trees and other trees.
There may have been a sudden increase in south Texas Green Parakeet numbers because of the abundance of nesting sites available in the Canary Island Palm following the 1983 freeze as well as the deforestation of Tamaulipas.
Green parakeet Diet
It is recommended that green parakeets be fed mostly on commercial bird food blends to ensure that the bases of their diets are well covered. In most of these blends, you will find seeds and nuts of different types, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Some of the more premium blends will also include supplements and fruit. Pellets are also a good option for some types of diets, although not every pet owner will find pellets aesthetically pleasing or especially appetizing to their pet.
Approximately 80% of a parrot’s daily diet should consist of pellets or a mix of pellets and other parrot food. In addition to that, you should also give fresh fruits and vegetables to them every day to sustain their nutritional needs.
In terms of nutrition and taste, apple, carrots, peas, corn, sweet potatoes, berries, melon, and bananas all stand out as delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables you can eat.
The absence of fresh food can lead to some people preferring to provide their birds with frozen food or human baby food, so they do not need to worry about having fresh food on hand.
Your birds should be provided with plenty of protein such as eggs and nuts regularly. From time to time you can provide grain and beans as a treat to your pet.
In addition to the calcium that oyster shells provide, cuttlebones are also helpful for keeping your pet’s beak healthy since they contain calcium.
Vocalizations
It is the squeaks of these green parakeets that can be startling, like those of other Conures. People sometimes find it hard to listen to their shrieking calls because they find that they are quite harsh.
Even though it is not recommended to train your bird away from normal sounds and calls, it is crucial to prevent them from developing screaming habits that could cause later problems.
In particular, these birds have a tendency to develop a bad habit of overeating and even become a nuisance to anyone around them if this is not addressed promptly. There is a possibility that they could learn a couple of words but their vocabularies are smaller than that of other types.
Grooming
The average bird will likely need very little to no grooming, apart from the occasional spray or wipe down. In general, it is unlikely that beak trimming will be necessary, but wing trimming may be a personal preference.
To prevent nail overgrowth and breakage, you will need to give your nails a trim every six weeks. Performing nail trims, wing trimmings, and beak trimmings should be assigned to a trained individual.
Activity
These birds need to be given daily exercise because they are energetic.
Maintaining an enriching cage environment and allowing your bird the opportunity to interact with the social environment every single day will help keep your bird content and active.
To make your cage a more enriching environment, create games, puzzles, and toys for your pets.
Common Health Problems
The Green Parakeet does not suffer from any disease or illness that is specific to its species. Yet, it is true that as captive birds, they are prone to experiencing the same types of problems as other captive species. T
The cage in which your pet lives must be kept clean and hygienic so that you will significantly reduce the likelihood that there will be any bacterial, fungal, or viral infections, in addition to parasite infestations, as a result of an unhealthy indoor environment.
Keeping them too wet or too cold, or in the presence of certain chemicals, such as air fresheners or certain cookware, can make them sick.
As a result of boredom and stress, some of them may also develop problems, like scratching.
To prevent this from happening, make sure your bird is in a healthy environment, which has ample toys and activities as well as proper social interaction.
Conclusion
Choosing a Green Parakeet that comes from a trustworthy source will be a rewarding and entertaining experience. If you can locate a pet that comes from an ethical source, this is the best thing to do.
There is a rising priority when it comes to ensuring that the wild populations of these birds continue to thrive, and it is paramount to ensure that the bird you are procuring has not been illegally captured or harvested from its natural habitat.
You need to devote time and energy to taking care of your bird every day if you want it to remain happy and stress-free.
