There are hundreds of different parakeet species and not all of them are closely related to one another. The various species have different needs in the wild and can be found in many different types of environment in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and Australia. In the wild, parakeet habitats include tropical and subtropical rain forests, coastal wetlands, forests, and other areas with a mild climate and trees for the birds to live in. In captivity, parakeet habitats usually consist of a medium-sized cage that allows the bird enough room to fly for short distances.
There are a variety of parakeet habitats available for people who wish to keep these birds as pets. Most habitats are in the form of cages that range in size from a couple of cubic feet to 100 or more cubic feet (1 cu. foot = 0.028 cu. meters). People usually keep pet parakeets in medium sized cages that are long enough for the birds to fly across. Parakeets can be kept in smaller cages and taken out frequently so that they can fly around indoors. Large aviaries are often used to house multiple birds and may be large enough so that people can enter the parakeet habitat to interact with their pets rather than taking the birds out of the cage.
Many parakeet species live in the tropics. Though many parts of the tropics are warm year-round, mountainous areas at high elevation can remain cool or even cold throughout the year. Depending on the species of parakeet, these birds may prefer one or another of these habitats. Tropical parakeet habitats are usually rainy throughout the year, giving these birds plenty of access to water and tropical plants that thrive under wet conditions. Parakeets may use the plants in their habitats for food, shelter, and protection from predators.
Other parakeet species can be found in subtropical climates. These birds are usually hardier against variations in temperature because subtropical regions often have hotter summers and cooler winters than the consistently warm or cool tropical regions do. Rainfall may also be more sporadic in subtropical regions. Parakeet habitats in these parts of the world may include scrubland, savannah, forest, marsh, rainforest, jungle, or even arid landscapes such as deserts. Each parakeet species is suited to only one habitat, however, and many will die if they are moved to a type of climate zone that their species has not evolved to occupy.
