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17 Types Of GREEN Birds In Florida (ID Guide With Photos)

Did you recently come across a green bird in Florida, and want to know what species it was?

Identifying green-colored birds in the Sunshine State is not as easy as it might seem, since there are many bird species in Florida that are either entirely green or partially green.

To help you identify the bird you saw, we’ll cover the most common green birds of Florida in this article.

The types of green-colored birds found in Florida

What are the types of green birds in Florida?

The 17 types of green-colored birds in Florida are:

  • Monk Parakeet
  • Nanday Parakeet
  • Rose-Ringed Parakeet
  • Green Budgerigar
  • Red-masked Parakeet
  • Blue-crowned Parakeet
  • White-winged Parakeet
  • Mitred Parakeet
  • White-eyed Parakeet
  • Green Parakeet
  • Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
  • Red-crowned Parrot
  • Orange-winged Amazon
  • Green Heron
  • Buff-bellied Hummingbird
  • Wilson’s Warbler

While most of these birds are parrots (or parakeets), we’ve also included a few other Florida birds that are largely green.

The feral populations of parrots that live in Florida are descended from birds that were originally introduced by humans, but some of these are now regular breeding birds in Florida.

Now let’s dive into the details, and take a closer look at each of these species of green birds of Florida in order to get the full scoop:

Monk Parakeet

Scientific name: Myiopsitta monachus

Photo of two Monk Parakeets perched on a branch

These little parrots are the most common green birds found in Florida. Some estimates put their population north of 100,000 individuals in Florida.

Monk Parakeets are also known as Quaker Parrots, and look like miniature macaws with long tails

They have bright blue heads and backs, and white underparts. These birds are very social animals, living in groups called flocks. 

These birds feed on fruits, berries, buds, flowers, and seeds. During the breeding season, males will compete for mates by making high-pitched whistling sounds.

While Monk Parakeets are regarded as an agricultural pest in their native range in Argentina and other South American countries, they are largely a welcome sight in Florida.

Nanday Parakeet

Scientific name: Aratinga nenday

Photo of Nanday Parakeet

This parrot lives in several areas in South Florida. Nanday means “beautiful” in Hindi, and this bird certainly looks beautiful! It has mostly green plumage with a black head and orange feet.

Its tail feathers have red tips. Male birds can weigh up to 1 pound (0.5 kg), while females weigh less than half as much. 

The diet of these birds consists mainly of fruit, seeds, nuts, and insects, and they make loud and distinctive calls at dawn and dusk.

In Florida, the Nanday Parakeet is most commonly found in Palm Beach, Miami, Tampa Bay, and St. Petersburg. 

Rose-Ringed Parakeet

Scientific name: Psittacula krameri

Photo of Rose-ringed Parakeet

The Rose-ringed Parakeet can be found in wild flocks around Florida. These birds are also known as Ring-necked Parakeets because of the distinctive rings on their necks.

Rose-ringed parakeets have pinkish-red heads and bodies and a dark brown face.

In Florida, these birds are found throughout the year, feeding on fruits, seeds, nuts, insects, and worms and nesting in tree cavities.

Originally from India and sub-saharan Africa, escaped birds have successfully colonized many parts of the world, including Northern and Western Europe, as well as the Arabian Gulf, and Florida.

Green Budgerigar 

Scientific name: Melopsittacus undulatus

Photo of Green Budgerigars in the wild

Budgies are thriving in Florida – particularly green budgies!

These birds are originally native to Australia and New Guinea, where they were named budgerigars only after non-natives had trouble pronouncing the original name, “gidjirrigaar”, which is a Gamilaraay word.

Although these birds have been given this distinctive (albeit, erroneous) name, they also go by the more simple name Common Parakeet, or Shell Parakeet.

Since the 1960s, budgies have been reported in 31 of Florida’s 67 counties. Green budgerigars can be either entirely or partially green.

Their most common color pattern is a gray striped back with a yellow face, and a bright green belly.

They eat insects, spiders, worms, and other invertebrates, and they also love to play with toys!

Red-masked Parakeet

Scientific name: Psittacara erythrogenys

Photo of Red-masked Parakeet

These little parrots are mostly green, except for a bright red mask, which sometimes extends to the entire head.

In Florida, this bird is most often found in and around Miami parks with exotic plants, where it often occurs in mixed flocks with Mitred Parakeets that even roost together.

The population of these birds is estimated to be around 200 individuals in the Miami area.

Blue-crowned Parakeet

Scientific name: Thectocercus acuticaudatus

Photo of Blue-crowned Parakeet

The Blue-crowned Parakeet is almost entirely green, except for a greenish-blue forehead, and a thick white eyering.

In their original range, Blue-crowned Parakeets favor lowland woodland habitats in South America.

These birds have established a breeding population estimated to include more than a hundred individuals in the Upper Florida Keys, Fort Lauderdale, and St. Petersburg. They also occur in California and Hawaii.

White-Winged Parakeet

Scientific name: Brotogeris versicolurus

Photo of White-winged Parakeet

Large numbers of the White-winged Parakeet escaped captivity in the 60s and 70s, which has led to large numbers being found in Miami and other areas of southern Florida.

These birds have a white forehead, back, wings, and a light gray head and neck.

They usually live in pairs or small groups and feed on fruits, seeds, and nuts. They make loud calls during the day and night.

These green birds have colonized multiple areas in both Florida and California, as well as several other countries in Central and South America that are not part of its original native range.

Mitred Parakeet

Scientific name: Psittacara mitratus

Photo of Mitred Parakeet

The Mitred Parakeet is another species of parrot that’s originally native to tropical regions of Africa, but can now be found in Florida as well.

These birds have a short, rounded tail and a long, pointed bill. They are mostly green with a reddish crown and have a pale stripe along their throats. 

Mitred Parakeet populations have increased dramatically since the 1970s when they escaped into the wild from zoos across the United States.

These birds eat fruits, seeds, and insects. They build nests in trees and shrubs.

White-eyed Parakeet

Scientific name: Psittacara leucophthalmus

Photo of White-eyed Parakeet

White-eyed Parakeets look similar to Red-masked Parakeets, but have much less red coloration on their head, which basically consists of a few red streaks.

These birds get their name from their white eye ring, although this is a feature they share with several other parakeet species. 

These birds nest in cavities and holes in buildings. They have been introduced in about a dozen counties in south Florida, and are most commonly found in the Miami area.

Green Parakeet

Scientific name: Psittacara holochlorus

Photo of Green Parakeet

As its name suggests, the Green Parakeet is entirely green, except for a thin black line along its neck, and a bright orange beak.

In Florida, these birds have a breeding population in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, although their population size is currently not known.

It favors swamp forests and woodlands in the wild, but in urban areas also occurs in palm groves.

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

Scientific name: Brotogeris chiriri

Photo of Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

The Yellow-chevroned Parakeet looks very similar to the White-winged Parakeet, but lacks the white wing patch of the latter.

These birds have adapted very well to urban environments in Florida, where they feed on plant nectar, and are regular visitors at bird feeders.

The numbers of this bird are increasing, and the population is estimated to be more than 400 individuals in Florida, most of which are found in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Red-crowned Parrot

Scientific name: Amazona viridigenalis

Photo of Red-crowned Parrot

This bird is endemic to the rainforests of Southeast Asia; however, they’re now also found in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Red-crowned parakeets have red crests on their heads and a yellow belly. They have a long, curved beak, and a yellow throat. 

These birds are omnivores, eating fruit, seeds, leaves, nectar, and insects. They prefer to live in dense vegetation and often perch on branches while hunting for food.

Orange-winged Amazon 

Scientific name: Amazona amazonica

Photo of Orange-winged Amazon

Amazons are large parrots that are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, and now also Florida.

Orange-winged Amazons have a green body, a blue crest, and an orange beak. Their diet consists of fruits, seeds, and flowers. 

These birds are omnivorous, eating fruits, seeds, insects, and worms. They nest in tree holes and use sticks to construct their nests, and will sometimes also use abandoned birdhouses.

The Orange-winged Amazon is one of the most common parrots in urban areas.

Green Heron 

Scientific name: Butorides virescens

Photo of Green Heron

The Green Heron is one of the more common birds in Florida. It’s a medium-sized heron with an olive-green body and black wings.

Herons tend to live near water, so they’re often seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, or even swimming pools.

These birds eat fish, frogs, snails, small reptiles, amphibians, and crustaceans. They nest in trees or shrubs but sometimes build their nests on islands.

The green heron is usually silent except when it makes its characteristic call, which sounds like “kreee.” This bird can reach up to three feet tall, and males have long yellow bills.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Scientific name: Amazilia yucatanensis

Photo of Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Buff-bellied Hummingbirds are year-round residents of the Gulf Coast region, but only occur as rare vagrants in Florida.

These Hummingbirds have an emerald green body, chest, and throat, while their wings are dark brown and the tail is rufous orange.

 These birds frequent acacia and mesquite woodlands and shrubland, and are able to feed on a wide variety of nectar sources, as well as small insects.

Related: What are the types of small birds in Florida?

Wilson’s Warbler

Scientific name: Cardellina pusilla

Photo of Wilson's Warbler immature

Wilson’s Warbler is a small green bird with olive green upperparts and yellowish green underparts. Adult males also have a black crown.

This bird occurs in Florida as a rare visitor during spring and fall migration, as it passes through Florida from its breeding grounds in Canada to its wintering grounds in Central America.

It frequents damp woodlands with dense shrubs, where it forages for small insects and other invertebrates.

What are the green parrots in Florida?

The most common green parrot in Florida is the Monk Parakeet, with its Florida population estimated to be over 100,000 individuals.

And even though there are more than 15 other species of parrots that breed in Florida, most of these have much smaller populations.

So if you see a green-colored parrot in Florida, you’re most likely looking at a Monk Parakeet.

The success of Monk Parrots in Florida is probably linked to their breeding behavior.

In contrast to other species of parrots (which only nest in cavities), Monk Parakeets make large stick nests, and often collaborate with other pairs.

And these social birds build their nests not only in trees, but also on power poles. As a result of this, they are able to breed almost anywhere in Florida.

Are parakeets native to Florida?

None of the parakeet species that currently live in Florida are native to Florida. Some of them have been introduced on purpose, while others are escaped birds from the pet trade.

The success of these introduced birds is probably due to the mild climate in Florida, combined with access to a wide variety of urban habitats that provide plentiful foraging opportunities.

The only parakeet species that was actually native to Florida is the Carolina Parakeet, but this bird species has unfortunately gone extinct more than a hundred years ago.

Final Thoughts 

Florida is home to some of the most impressive wildlife on the planet. The state has a wide range of habitats, from swamps and marshes in the north to tropical forests and beaches along the Gulf Coast.

Florida is also home to many species of birds that are not found anywhere else in North America, and green birds, in particular, seem to be found frequently throughout Florida.

Birds are amazing creatures. Although we may not always understand what they’re saying, we do know that birds provide us with many benefits.

From pollinating plants to helping out by keeping pests away, birds play a very important role in our environment, and in Florida, you can find plenty of beautiful green birds in all different kinds of habitats, especially parakeets and parrots!

Nanday Parakeets, West Palm Beach Florida

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