Black-hooded or Nanday Parakeet (Nandayus nenday), ASU Research Park, Maricopa County

These Black-hooded Parakeets were photographed by Kim Baker on 18 October 2009 at the ASU Research Park in Tempe.  There has been a flock of these parrots in this area for many years and they seem to be seen with increasingly frequency in other areas of town as well.  The flock was 3 birds two years ago, but Kim saw 7 suggesting that the flock is possibly breeding.  This species is well established in parts of Florida and may be on its way toward following the Lovebirds as the next established exotic in Phoenix.  It is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina

This species is called Black-hooded Parakeet or Conure in most field guides, but the latest edition (6th) of the Clements Checklist has adopted Nanday Parakeet as the common name. 

18 October 2009, photos by Kim Baker