Parrots are intelligent, often brightly colored birds that are captivating to see in the wild. In the United States, there are no longer parrots originally native to the country. However, many species have taken up residence in the U.S. and now have naturalized populations in many different states. Here is everything you need to know about the parrots of Virginia.

Note: There are no naturalized parrot populations in Virginia, but there may be escaped pet birds living wild in the state.

Budgerigar

Identification

Budgerigars also known in the pet trade as budgies and parakeets. They have been bred to be a wide variety of different colors with the most common being blue, yellow, green, or white. They generally have stripes on the back of their head, mottled and striped feathers on their back and wings, and an underside that is just a single color.

Range

Budgies are native to Australia, but many pet birds either escape or are set loose in the United States where they can live wild provided they are in a warm enough climate.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Budgies feed on seeds from grasses and other plants. Escaped birds will sometimes show up at bird feeders when seeds in the wild are hard to find.

Where to Find this Bird

In North America, budgies that escape captivity or that are set free occasionally show up n parks and backyards. Sometimes they visit bird feeders or frequent other food sources. If there are other types of parrot flocks in the area, look for these small parakeets to be hanging out with them.

Summary

Parrots are always fun and exciting to see, even if the species you’re viewing aren’t originally native to the state or country. If you are seeing a parrot in Virginia, it is a species without a natural population in the state, and most likely an escaped pet. We hope this helped answer some questions about the parrots of Virginia.