Parakeets are social birds and gather together in large numbers when nesting and foraging for food. One parakeet species, the monk parakeet, has unusual social habits. Research by Brooklyn College suggests a third monk parakeet assists a breeding pair by building the nest and finding food for the pair. Also, large monk parakeet colonies separate into smaller groups when looking for food. At the end of the day, the groups come together to boast of their foraging successes. The rose-ringed parakeet is willing to nest in the same tree as other parrot or parakeet species.
Fruit, berries, buds and vegetation are the primary items in a parakeet's diet. Although they spend most of their time foraging in trees and bushes, parakeets occasionally swoop to the ground when searching for food. Certain non-native, feral parakeet populations in Florida, Texas and California raid fruit trees in urban neighborhoods. The only native parakeet species in the United States, the Carolina parakeet, fed on agricultural crops and fruit from tree orchards. Many farmers killed Carolina parakeets because they considered the birds to be agricultural pests. The Carolina parakeet's reputation as a pest, the pet trade, overhunting and the use of their feathers for high fashion drove this bird to extinction by the early 20th century.
Chirps and sounds are the primary communication method for parakeets. When searching for a female companion, male parakeets produce mating calls. These birds also use sound to inform other specimens in their colonies on the whereabouts of food and shelter. Each olive-throated parakeet has its own voice or call, says the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Parakeets deliver noises in the wild while perched or flying. Certain domesticated parakeets, especially the rose-ringed and monk parakeets, are able to accurately mimic human words and noises.
In their native range, parakeets build their nests on midlevel tree branches. Parakeets are one of the few birds to develop nests for several specimens, not just a breeding pair. Also, parakeets live in their nests throughout the year. Most parakeets build their nests in tree cavities. However, the monk parakeet uses sticks when building its nest. Since they use sticks for building nests, a monk parakeet's living area is not restricted to trees. Feral monk parakeets in the United States develop their nests on electrical wires and radio towers.