White-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris versicolurusOrder: PSITTACIFORMES Family: Parakeets and Parrots (Psittacidae)

Codes: Common Name: WWPA Scientific Name: BROVER ITIS Taxonomic No.: 177745

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Overview

White-winged Parakeet: A medium-sized parakeet, green overall with yellow-and-white wing patches, and pale, teardrop-shaped eye-ring. The green tail is long and pointed. Hooked bill varies in color from yellow-pink to olive-brown. Legs and feet are pink-gray. Swift direct flight on rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

White-winged Parakeet: Native of South America but introduced to California and Florida in 1960’s and 1970’s, where feral populations became established from released and escaped birds. The Florida population peaked at 2,000 in the 1970’s, and occurred on both coasts of Florida. However, populations are declining slowly and today only a few individuals occur in California, and a few hundred remain in Miami. Found in urban and suburban areas including parklands with tropical plantings.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"squawk", "chirp"

Interesting Facts

The White-winged Parakeet frequently escapes from cages and can be seen in many large cities. However, the only successful nestings have occurred in California and Florida.

As do other exotics, these birds carry diseases to which native species have not developed immunity.

A group of parakeets is collectively known as a "chatter" and a "flock" of parakeets.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Gary Owen Dick

Related Birds

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
Monk Parakeet
Green Parakeet
Budgerigar

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

White-winged Parakeet

● Song: "squawk", "chirp"

● Foraging & Feeding: White-winged Parakeet: Eats seeds, berries, fruits, blossoms, and buds. Forages high in trees, but readily descends to within 6 feet of the ground to forage in low trees; occasionally drops to the ground under bird feeders.

● Breeding & nesting: White-winged Parakeet: Five white eggs are laid in a palm tree cavity with no nesting material added. Female incubates eggs for 26 days; male enters the nest to bring food and sleep at night. Young stay in nest for about 6 weeks and are fed by both parents.

● Similar species: White-winged Parakeet: Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, also found in south Florida, lacks white wing patches.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings., Usually flies just above canopy.

● Range & Habitat: White-winged Parakeet: Native of South America but introduced to California and Florida in 1960’s and 1970’s, where feral populations became established from released and escaped birds. The Florida population peaked at 2,000 in the 1970’s, and occurred on both coasts of Florida. However, populations are declining slowly and today only a few individuals occur in California, and a few hundred remain in Miami. Found in urban and suburban areas including parklands with tropical plantings.

^BreedingMonogamous

^PopulationRare

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight1.9 Ounces

Perching-like Body

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America