The California Parrot Project
Black-hooded Parakeet
Nandayus nenday
The
California Parrot
Project
Black-hooded
Parakeet
Nandayus nenday (Vieollot)
(AKA) Nanday Conure
Description: General color green. Black head and chin. Blue wash on throat, breast. Deep blue outer webs of flight feathers and tips of tail feathers. Grey underside of flight and tail feathers. Pale yellowish green underwing linings and cheeks. Crimson feathers on ankle. Feet pink. Bill black. Iris dark brown.
Immatures as adults except only less blue on throat and breast with shorter tail.
Length: 30 cm, wing length 170-190 mm, tail 139-172 mm.
Voice: screeching, repetitive call - kree-ah...kree-ah
Distribution: Native range: south-eastern Bolivia, southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina in the provinces of Formosa, Chaco, and occasionally Santa Fe
Introduced
North American range: Small colonies in California areas as follows;
Malibu, Brentwood, Culver City, West Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, and
Huntington beach. Other populations have been reported in Florida, Hawaii,
Texas, New York, and Puerto Rico (van Doorn 1997, Long 1981)
Habitat: savannahs, palm forests, deciduous canyons, and
agricultural areas.
Habits: Gathers in small flocks; forage in groups screeching enroute to new feeding areas.
Natural diet: seeds, fruits, berries, and nuts. As is evident by the photos, the birds will feed at feeders and seem to enjoy sunflower seeds.
References:
Web library Complete Lexicon of Parrots
Forshaw, J. 1979. Parrots of the World. TFH Publications.