The natural range of this well-named parakeet is in Mexico and northern Central America, and its northern limit extends practically to the Texas border. That could help to explain why the species has done so well in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas in recent years. Green parakeets escaped from captivity have established feral populations around several of the southernmost Texas cities, and flocks of hundreds can be seen flying around some residential neighbourhoods. These flocks may include some wild birds that have strayed across the border from Mexico. Away from southern Texas, escaped individuals may be seen free-flying in practically any warm climate on occasion.