The nanday parakeet was previously regarded as a member of the monotypic genus Nandayus Bonaparte, 1854 one of the rough 16 genera of Neotropical parrots of tribe Arini which includes the conures and macaws.

It also shows black, trailing flight feathers on its wings and has a long tail edged at the end in blue.

The species is native to South America from southeast Bolivia to southwest Brazil, central Paraguay, and northern Argentina, from the region known as the Pantanal.

Caged birds have been released in some areas, and the birds have established self-sustaining populations in Tenerife, Los Angeles, California, San Antonio, Texas, and several areas of Florida (including Pasco, Sarasota, Pinellas, Manatee, Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties) in the United States.

They frequent open savannah, pastures, and stockyards in South America, where they are considered as pests in some areas.

It is a loud, energetic bird that requires much mental and social stimulation, and significant time outside of its cage in order to thrive.