Mitred Parakeet or Plain Parakeet?
Here's how to tell the difference
Mitred Parakeet
Plain Parakeet
Mitred Parakeet
Psittacara mitratus
Also known as: Mitred conure
General appearance
The Mitred Parakeet stands at 15-inches in length with a pointed, tapered wing shape and a long, pointed tail. Its most distinguishing marks being its green body color that complements the red forehead. It has scattered red feathers on the face and another touch of red on the leading edge of the wing. Comparatively, it's about the size of a Crow.
Male vs female
There is little to no variation in the physical appearance between male and female Mitred Parakeets. They share a similar color pattern of green body, red forehead, and scattered red feathers. Therefore, their genders are known to be monomorphic, making it difficult to distinguish between males and females.
Juvenile
Juvenile Mitred Parakeets feature more subdued coloration as compared to adults. While they still retain the green body, their red markings are considerably less vibrant and fewer in number, providing a practical way of distinguishing juveniles from adults in the wild.
Size
12.2 - 15.0 in/7.7 - 9.7 oz
There's more to learn about Mitred Parakeet
View full detailsPlain Parakeet
Brotogeris tirica
General appearance
Plain parakeets are small Brazilian birds with beautiful green plumage. They have a mostly lime-green body with bluish color on the wings and tail feathers. They are similar to other species of parakeets but are distinguishable by the brown beak, brown periorbital skin, and white iris. These birds are around 23–28 cm long, depending on the sub-species.
Male vs female
In terms of physical appearance, there is minimal sexual dimorphism in Plain parakeets. Both the males and females sport the same coloration and markings. Males may be slightly larger than females, but the difference is usually negligible and unlikely to be spotted without closer inspection.
Juvenile
Juvenile Plain parakeets are similar in appearance to the adults but are slightly duller in coloration. The beak of juvenile Plain parakeets is colored horn-brown instead of the adult's dark brown. The iris in juveniles is also dark instead of white like in adults. As they mature, they gradually obtain the full vivid green coloring and unique markings of the adults.
Size
8.7 - 9.8 in/2.1 - 2.3 oz
There's more to learn about Plain Parakeet
View full detailsHow to tell the Mitred Parakeet from the Plain Parakeet
Visual differences
The Mitred Parakeet is larger, about the size of a crow (15 inches, 8-10 ounces), with a striking green body accented by a red forehead and scattered red feathers on the face and wings. The Plain Parakeet, smaller and lighter (9-11 inches, 2-2.3 ounces), has a predominantly lime-green plumage with bluish wing and tail hues, a brown beak, brown periorbital skin, and a white iris. The Mitred has a distinctive long, pointed tail, while the Plain has a more typical parakeet appearance.
Key differences and behavior
The Mitred Parakeet and Plain Parakeet exhibit distinct behavioral and habitat differences. Mitred Parakeets are larger (12-15 inches), display a penchant for urban living in the Americas, and emanate loud, concert-like vocalizations. In contrast, the smaller Plain Parakeet (9-11 inches) is a sociable flock bird, thriving in Brazilian cities with less intense chatter. Both adapt to cityscapes but differ in feeding; Mitreds indulge in seeds, fruits, and nectar, while Plains favor a diet rich in fruits and seeds, occasionally turning to insects. In breeding, Mitreds nest in tree cavities or urban structures with a 24-day egg incubation, whereas Plain Parakeets use tree cavities or nest boxes with an 18-21 day incubation. Both participate in mutual preening and vocal courting, but Plain Parakeets include elaborate male displays.
Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!
Mitred Parakeet vs [Select a bird]
[Select a bird]
Pick a bird to compare
Plain Parakeet vs [Select a bird]
[Select a bird]
Pick a bird to compare