Colors:
The normal colors of an adult Quaker are a vivid green on the head, wings, and back, with a splash of whitish-grey on the face and chest. They have gorgeous blue flight feathers and a lighter green tinge on the underside of their tails. Captive breeding programs have also produced a variety of beautiful color mutations in Quakers.
Feeding:
Quakers are known to be extremely good eaters. They thrive on fresh fruits and vegetables, and do well in captivity when this diet is supplemented with quality commercial pellets and seed. Some quakers tend to become overweight if allowed to indulge in too many fattening nuts and seed treats, so be sure to offer your Quaker fresh greens, legumes, pasta, and other vegetables as a main food source.
Exercise:
Quakers are very active birds, and need to have an adequate amount of space in which to play. Provide your Quaker with plenty of toys, playgyms as "exercise equipment", and time outside of the cage to ensure that your pet stays happy and physically fit.
Quaker Parrots as Pets:
Known for their charming, comical personalities and their willingness to learn human speech, the Quaker Parrot is an excellent choice for those who want all the fun of a large parrot in a smaller package. They adapt well to living in a "human flock" setting, and enjoy spending time with their owners.
Although it is easy to become enchanted with these sweet little birds, take caution before rushing out to get one -- because Quakers are able to adapt to living in different climates, they are illegal to keep in some parts of the U.S. In some places, particularly southern states, feral Quaker populations have established breeding colonies and pose a risk to crops and native bird species. A handful of these states will euthanize pet Quakers if they are found, so be sure to check your local laws to make sure that it is legal to keep a Quaker so that you (and your bird) stay out of trouble!
Quaker Parakeets native habitat is extreme southeastern Brazil, through Uruguay to Central Argentina. They are established in Puerto Rico and the North Eastern United States as far north as Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey.
Quaker Parakeets are the only parrot who build communal nests, created entirely from twigs, branches, straw, leaves, and other suitable material. In the wild, colonies of Quakers create a main nest structure in the topmost branches of trees, and each pair "adds on" to that structure, building separate chambers like an apartment building. Each "apartment" has an entry way and an area for laying and incubating eggs.
