[5][6] It was for a time treated as a subspecies of the white-eyed parakeet (P. leucophthalmus), and they constitute a superspecies.

Their eye is orange surrounded by bare white skin and their bill is horn colored.

It inhabits a variety of semi-open to open landscapes including woodlands, the edges of denser forest, secondary forest, ranchlands and agricultural areas that have groves of trees, coffee plantations, and towns.

[7][8] Finsch's parakeet is rather social, often gathering in flocks of about 30 individuals, and several hundred may roost together.

[3] Finsch's parakeet wanders widely, making irregular and seasonal movements that are not well defined.

In the dry season, increased numbers are present on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

[7] Finsch's parakeet feeds on fruits and flowers of a variety of plants and trees.

It has a large range and its estimated population of at least a half million mature individuals is believed to be stable.