Behavior

Cuban Parakeet generally feeds above the forest canopy or tree tops of isolated trees in the savannas. The foraging activity varies between breeding and nonbreeding seasons, and also depends upon weather conditions and time of the day. Usually their foraging peak is between 6:00 and 10:00 and then late in the afternoon between 16:00 and 18:00. During midday hours pairs or flocks spend much time on other activities such as preening, allopreening, playing, and taking cover from the strong sun (Cañizares and Iñigo-Elias personal observations).

In the central part of Cuba the month of February is the beginning of the breeding period for this species and during this time is common to observe small flocks in search of food and nesting cavities. With beginning of egg laying, Cuban Parakeets disperse and remainsin pairs or as solitary individuals, while the other member of the pair is incubating and protecting the brood and nesting cavity. Later, with the departure of fledglings, parakeets regroup into foraging in flocks of 10 to 50 individuals throughout the period from September to January. During the nonbreeding season, usually they move out of the breeding sites and disperse long distances between feeding and roosting sites. During this period is possible to see them often in isolated forest patches within the savannas or near small farms on fruit trees. Cuban Parakeets can fly up to 30 km between these foraging areas and evening roosting places (Cañizares unpublished data).

As is typical of psittacines, Cuban Parakeet is a highly social species. Flocking behavior is common during both nonbreeding and breeding seasons. After the initiation of the breeding season in February, however, they exhibit stronger interspecific and intraspecific territoriality. At the beginning of the breeding season is possible to observe antagonistic interactions, particularly when an external individual to a pair is trying to mate with a female of an establish pair. Acts of aggressions (e.g., physical attacks, loud screeches) are observed when pairs defend their nesting cavities from other pairs attempting to take over cavity or in the presence of other cavity nesting species, such as the West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris), at or near the nesting palm (Cañizares and Iñigo-Elias personal observations).

Cuban Parakeet is monogamous. During its annual life cycle, Cuban Parakeet most notable interspecific behavior is that the mated pair remains together through the year. Even when in flocks of 10 - 50 individuals, the parakeets usually split off into pairs or small family groups when arriving or departing the area (Cañizares and Iñigo-Elias personal observations). After the chicks fledge the pair normally keeps the family group together, and both parents feed the 2 to 4 fledglings multiple times in a day.

Cuban Parakeet is highly social and usually occurs in small flocks.

Natural predation of eggs, chicks and adults of Cuban Parakeet is very low. The major source of predation of chick and adults are humans, who capture them for the illegal live pet trade.

Inside nesting cavities. eggs and chicks occasionally are predated by West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes supercialiaris). In Lomas de Banao an instance of predation of newly hatched chicks by green lizard (Anolis equestris) was observed. In the nesting hollows at rocks in the karst cliffs of Pico San Juan, eggs and chicks of Cuban Parakeet are predated by the black rat (Rattus rattus), and in 2009 skulls of Cuban Parakeet were found in pellets of Barn Owl (Tito alba) on the cliff by Los Pericos, on the northeast slope of Pico Cuevita (Cañizares personal observations). Iñigo-Elias observed on 14 February 2004 a total of four predation attempts by an adult Gundlach's Hawk (Accipiter gundlachi) attacking a flock of 24 Cuban Parakeets in the eastern province of Guantanamo, Cuba.