Because it can be trained to imitate human speech, this chunky parrot has been popular in the cage bird trade. As a result, it is now endangered in the wild. Formerly widespread in Mexico and northern Central America, it is thought to have declined by 90 percent in it native range. Escaped cage birds have established feral flocks around Los Angeles and San Diego, California, and locally in southern Florida. The few seen in southern Texas are probably escapees also, although some might possibly be wild strays from the population in Mexico.