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13 Species of Small Green Birds in Florida (With Photos)

Are you ready to explore the amazing world of small Green Birds in Florida? You might think it’s just a leaf caught in the wind, but look closer! Florida is home to a surprising variety of small green birds that add a touch of tropical magic to the Sunshine State. From chatty parakeets to tiny hummingbirds, these feathered friends bring color and life to Florida’s skies. In this article, we’ll explore 13 species of small green birds that call Florida home. Get ready to discover some of nature’s most beautiful little treasures right in your backyard!

1. Monk Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Myiopsitta monachus
  • Size: 11-12 inches
  • Weight: 3-4 ounces
  • Lifespan: 20-30 years in captivity, 10-15 years in the wild
  • Diet: Seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and leafy greens

This Monk Parakeet green birds, also known as the Quaker Parrot, is a charming little bird that has made Florida its home. Originally from South America, these birds have adapted well to life in the Sunshine State.

Monk Parakeet

With their bright green feathers and playful personalities, Monk Parakeets are hard to miss. They’re known for their intelligence and ability to mimic human speech, which makes them popular pets. But in Florida, you can spot them in the wild, often in noisy groups as they build their large, communal nests in trees or on utility poles.

2. Nanday Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Aratinga nenday
  • Size: 10-11 inches
  • Weight: 4-5 ounces
  • Lifespan: 20-30 years
  • Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts, and vegetation

The Nanday Parakeet, with its distinctive black face and beak, is a striking bird that stands out among Florida’s green parrots.

Nanday Parakeet

These birds are native to South America but have established wild populations in Florida, particularly in the Tampa Bay area. Nanday Parakeets are social creatures, often seen in flocks, chattering away as they fly from tree to tree. Their bright green bodies and long tail feathers make them a beautiful sight against the Florida sky.

3. Rose-Ringed Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Psittacula krameri
  • Size: 14-17 inches (including tail)
  • Weight: 4-5 ounces
  • Lifespan: 25-30 years
  • Diet: Fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, and flower buds

The Rose-Ringed Parakeet is an elegant bird known for its long tail and the distinctive rose-colored ring around the necks of adult males. These parakeets are native to Africa and India but have found a home in Florida’s warm climate.

Rose-ringed Parakeet

They’re excellent flyers and can often be seen zipping through the air in small groups. Rose-Ringed Parakeets are known for their intelligence and ability to mimic sounds, including human speech. In Florida, they’ve adapted well to urban environments, often nesting in holes in trees or buildings.

4. Green Budgerigar

  • Scientific name: Melopsittacus undulatus
  • Size: 6-8 inches
  • Weight: 1-1.4 ounces
  • Lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity
  • Diet: Seeds, grasses, and occasional insects

The Green Budgerigar, commonly known as a budgie or parakeet, is a tiny bundle of joy that has found its way into Florida’s skies. These small parrots are native to Australia but have established feral populations in parts of Florida.

Green Budgerigar

Green Budgerigars are social birds, often seen in flocks, chattering, and playing with each other. Their small size and bright green feathers make them look like little flying emeralds. In the wild, they’re quite acrobatic, performing impressive aerial maneuvers as they search for food.

5. Red-Masked Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Psittacara erythrogenys
  • Size: 13-15 inches
  • Weight: 5-6 ounces
  • Lifespan: 20-30 years
  • Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts, and vegetation

The Red-Masked Parakeet is a striking bird with a vibrant green body and a bright red mask around its eyes and beak. Native to Ecuador and Peru, these birds have established populations in Florida, particularly in the Miami area.

Red-Masked Parakeet

Red-masked parakeets are known for their loud, squawking calls and their playful nature. They’re often seen in small flocks, foraging in trees or flying overhead. Their red and green coloration makes them stand out among Florida’s palm trees and blue skies.

6. Blue-Crowned Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Thectocercus acuticaudatus
  • Size: 14-15 inches
  • Weight: 4-5 ounces
  • Lifespan: 20-30 years
  • Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts, and vegetation

The Blue-Crowned Parakeet is a beautiful bird that adds a splash of color to Florida’s green spaces. As its name suggests, this parakeet has a distinctive blue crown on its head, contrasting nicely with its mostly green body.

Blue-Crowned Parakeet

Originally from South America, these birds have found a second home in parts of Florida. Blue-crowned Parakeets are social birds, often seen in pairs or small groups. They’re known for their playful behavior and their ability to mimic sounds, including human speech.

7. White-Winged Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Brotogeris versicolurus
  • Size: 8-9 inches
  • Weight: 2-3 ounces
  • Lifespan: 15-20 years
  • Diet: Fruits, berries, seeds, and flower nectar

The White-Winged Parakeet is a small green birds, the charming bird that has made Florida its adopted home. These parakeets are primarily green, but they have distinctive white patches on their wings that are visible when they fly.

White-Winged Parakeet

Native to South America, they’ve established populations in Florida, particularly in the Miami area. White-Winged Parakeets are social birds, often seen in noisy flocks as they search for food. They’re known for their agility in flight and their fondness for fruit trees, which sometimes puts them at odds with Florida’s citrus growers.

8. Mitred Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Psittacara mitratus
  • Size: 13-15 inches
  • Weight: 6-7 ounces
  • Lifespan: 20-25 years
  • Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts, and vegetation

The Mitred Parakeet is a vibrant green bird with a splash of red feathers on its head, giving it a “mitred” appearance like a bishop’s hat. Originally from the Andes Mountains in South America, these birds have found a new home in Florida’s warm climate.

Mitred Parakeet

Mitered Parakeets are known for their loud, screeching calls and their social nature. They’re often seen in large flocks, especially in urban areas where they’ve adapted well to city life. These parakeets are excellent flyers and can often be spotted soaring between trees or buildings.

9. White-Eyed Parakeet

  • Scientific name: Psittacara leucophthalmus
  • Size: 13-14 inches
  • Weight: 5-6 ounces
  • Lifespan: 20-30 years
  • Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts, and vegetation

The White-Eyed Parakeet is a beautiful bird that gets its name from the pale ring around its eyes, which stands out against its bright green feathers. Native to South America, these parakeets have established small populations in parts of Florida.

White-Eyed Parakeet

White-Eyed Parakeets are social birds, often seen in pairs or small groups. They’re known for their intelligence and their ability to mimic sounds, including human speech. In Florida, they’ve adapted well to urban environments, often nesting in palm trees or other tall structures.

10. Red-Crowned Parrot

  • Scientific name: Amazona viridigenalis
  • Size: 12-13 inches
  • Weight: 10-12 ounces
  • Lifespan: 40-50 years in captivity, likely less in the wild
  • Diet: Fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetation

The Red-Crowned Parrot is a stunning bird with bright green feathers and a distinctive red patch on its forehead. Native to northeastern Mexico, these parrots have established feral populations in several parts of Florida.

Red-Crowned Parakeet

Red-crowned parrots are known for their intelligence and their ability to mimic human speech. They’re social birds, often seen in pairs or small flocks, and they have a loud, raucous call that can be heard from quite a distance. In Florida, they’ve adapted well to urban environments, often nesting in palm trees or other tall structures.

11. Orange-Winged Amazon

  • Scientific name: Amazona amazonica
  • Size: 12-13 inches
  • Weight: 10-14 ounces
  • Lifespan: 50-60 years in captivity, likely less in the wild
  • Diet: Fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetation

The Orange-Winged Amazon is a beautiful parrot that adds a tropical flair to Florida’s skies. As its name suggests, this parrot has bright orange patches on its wings that contrast beautifully with its mostly green body.

Orange-Winged Amazon

Native to South America, these birds have established small populations in parts of Florida, particularly in the Miami area. Orange-winged Amazons are known for their intelligence and their ability to mimic human speech. They’re social birds, often seen in pairs or small groups, and they have a loud, distinctive call that sounds like “kree-ah.”

12. Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

  • Scientific name: Amazilia yucatanensis
  • Size: 3.9-4.3 inches
  • Weight: 0.1-0.2 ounces
  • Lifespan: 3-5 years
  • Diet: Nectar from flowers, small insects, and spiders

The Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is a small green birds a tiny jewel of a bird that sometimes visits Florida, especially during the winter months. This little hummingbird has a metallic green back and a buff-colored belly, as its name suggests.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Unlike the parrots we’ve discussed, the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is native to North America, specifically the Gulf Coast region. These birds are known for their incredible flying abilities, able to hover in place and even fly backward. In Florida, they’re often seen visiting flower gardens, sipping nectar from tubular flowers with their long beaks.

13. Wilson’s Warbler

  • Scientific name: Cardellina pusilla
  • Size: 4-5 inches
  • Weight: 0.2-0.3 ounces
  • Lifespan: Up to 8 years
  • Diet: Insects and spiders

The Wilson’s Warbler is a small, energetic bird that passes through Florida during its migration. This warbler is mostly yellow with a distinctive black cap on males.

Wilson’s Warbler

While not as vividly green as some of the parrots we’ve discussed, the Wilson’s Warbler does have a greenish tinge to its yellow feathers, especially on its back. These birds are known for their quick movements as they flit through trees and shrubs in search of insects. In Florida, they can be spotted in wooded areas and gardens during their spring and fall migrations.

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Conclusion:

Florida’s skies and trees are home to an amazing variety of small green birds. From the chatty Monk Parakeet to the tiny Buff-Bellied Hummingbird, each of these feathered friends brings its own unique charm to the Sunshine State. Some, like the parakeets and parrots, have found a new home in Florida after being introduced from other parts of the world. Others, like the Wilson’s Warbler, are just passing through on their long migratory journeys.

These birds remind us of the incredible diversity of nature and the ways in which animals can adapt to new environments. Whether you’re a bird watcher, a nature lover, or just someone who enjoys seeing a flash of green in the sky, keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful creatures. They’re a living, breathing part of Florida’s colorful ecosystem, adding their songs and colors to the state’s natural beauty.

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