General

Blue-crowned Parakeet: Medium-sized parakeet with blue head and red-orange highlights in long tail. Bill is bicolored with upper mandible pinkish and lower mandible black (subspecies in northeastern Brazil has an all-pink bill). Sexes similar. Blue on head of juvenile is restricted to the forehead.

Range and Habitat

Blue-crowned Parakeet: In its native range occurs in several disjunct populations in South America, one in the north of Columbia and Venezuela, another in eastern Brazil, and another from Bolivia through Argentina. Small numbers of escaped captive birds are now established in Los Angeles, California and Florida. Uses dry open forests and grasslands, and semi-desert habitats.

Breeding and Nesting

Blue-crowned Parakeet: Little known. Lays two white eggs in tree cavities, probably from March to July. Female apparently incubates while male brings her food.

Foraging and Feeding

Blue-crowned Parakeet: Travels in groups of 2 to 200 depending on season and abundance of food. May travel long distances between roosts and feeding areas. Flies fairly low over grasslands and open areas in search of seeds and fruit. Feeds in trees and on the ground.

Vocalization

Blue-crowned Parakeet: Loud "creeah creeah" given in fast series, especially when a flock is flying.

Similar Species

Blue-crowned Parakeet: Dusky-headed Parakeet has gray head and black bill, Black-hooded Parakeet has black head and bill, blue wash on throat and chest, and blue on tips of tail feathers and flight feathers. Mitred Parakeet has dull yellow bill, and red forehead with red scattered on head and neck.