Adults of the nominate subspecies have a pale brown forecrown, cheeks, throat, sides of the neck, and breast.

Immature birds are similar to adults but have a completely green crown and duller underparts.

It is found in northeastern Brazil from Maranhão east to the Atlantic Ocean and south as far as northwestern Bahia.

The nominate subspecies is found in east-central Brazil south of the São Francisco River in Bahia and Minas Gerais.

[4] The species inhabits pristine and second-growth caatinga, a dry landscape characterized by thorny vegetation, shrubs, and succulents.

In captivity the typical clutch size is six, the incubation period is at least 16 days, and fledging occurs about six weeks after hatch.

The Caatinga parakeet's flight calls are "high-pitched screeching 'scraart scraart' cries, as well as a softer, shorter and bisyllabic 'tchit tchit' and loud 'cherr-chee'.