The cloudy beach parakeet is a parrot uniquely adapted to forage the shorelines of the Mossfell islands. Exemplifying many of the same traits as plovers and seagulls (coloration patterns, wing and feather shapes, leg morphology), the cloudy beach parakeet is an excellent example of convergent evolution towards a form suitable for beachside scavenging. However two unique features distinguish the cloudy beach parakeet from its fellow shorebirds: a sharp mind, and a powerful beak.

Cloudy beach parakeets can easily be distinguished from a lineup of fellow seabirds by their oversized black beak. Unlike most parrots which use their beaks for consuming fruit or as a pseudo-hand, cloudy beach parakeets use their beaks along with powerful facial muscles to dig up sand and crack open their preferred prey: crustaceans, sea turtles, and mollusks. Using behavior similar to a plover, cloudy beach parakeets look for evidence of buried prey and then pry them out of the sand. When brawns are not enough, cloudy beach parakeets use their intelligence to crack open their prey's defenses. Some will elect to drop their prey from a great height to fracture their shells. Others will instead use sticks or flat stones to leverage open clamshells. Some populations of cloudy beach parakeets near Port Theodore have even been reported to drop their prey into oncoming traffic, obliterating the shell and freeing the tasty insides. 

Cloudy beach parakeets do not have fully water-proof feathers and thus are limited to the shoreline. They are capable of swimming brief distances if needed, but are incredibly vulnerable if in the water. The birds live in large colonies numbering up to the hundreds on volcanic cliffsides across the archipelago, however their largest colonies exist on Tyrkimani due to the island compromising almost entirely of beach and sheer cliff. 

Male/female mating pairs are monogamous and establish their bond through acts of gift giving and mating displays. Mates will bring each other trinkets such as colorful shells, bright berries, and even stolen human artifacts such as jewelry. Mating pairs make a scrappy nest of vegetation and feathers. Up to two eggs are laid per clutch. When young hatch, they are less altricial as mainland parrots, but still need their parent's attention. Chicks are raised for eight months before fledging. Once they reach adulthood at two years, adults reach the size of a mallard duck and can live up to 35 years.

Cloudy beach parakeets are not threatened by human development in the Mossfells, and instead have adapted quite spectacularly to coastal city life. Colonies nest on the top of buildings often leading to noise complaints due to their clamorous chirps. These intelligent birds also can easily mimic sounds they hear, which can lead to annoyance as they mimic ambulances or car alarms.. Like the intelligent kea of New Zealand, cloudy beach parakeets can also be a nuisance to people living around them. Some birds will attempt to steal any shiny objects to please their mates be it car keys, coins, wedding rings, or smart watches. Despite their occasionally irritable behavior, there is a history of people on the Mossfells taming cloudy beach parakeets and keeping them as pets, however this practice is frowned upon now. Overall, the cloudy beach parakeet is well loved in the archipelago and features prominently on the city seal of Port Theodore.

Curiosity Killed the Smartphone

Sometimes, parakeets get a bit too close

"Alright! There she is on the horizon" the ship tour guide cheerfully proclaims. "Old Tyr's boat, ain' no one telling me she isn't majestic? We're going to be getting close to a lot of wildlife today, so please don't attempt to feed, touch, or bother any animals."

Before the yacht, sheer cliffs of blackened stone emerge from white sand and water - it is the visage of the hull of an incredible vessel forever marooned on a low shoal. It isn't long until the silhouettes of seabirds come into view. Some gliding high on the winds, others darting and weaving past each other. Some silhouettes begin to fly around the yacht, coming close enough to reveal gray wings and an oversized black beak.

The captain loosens his anchor roughly 30 meters from the sandy shore buffering the cliffside as the tour guide continues to weave tails of Tyrkimani the yachts latest tourists. With a piqued curiosity a few gray birds begin to land on the yacht, ruffling some of the tourists. "Ah nothing to worry about folks! Just a Tyrkimani welcome. The parakeets are just a bit curious that's all." The gray birds begin to chatter demandingly as the tourists whip out smartphones. Spotting a flash of light, one swoops to pluck a phone out of a careless hand.

"Oh my God! My phone!" bleats out a shocked tourist as the parakeet flies onto the yacht's roof. It perches upon a metal bar as its compatriots squawk inquisitively at its new prize. After giving it the taste with a wrinkled tongue, the thief decides its prize isn't too savory and drops it unceremoniously into the churning blue waters bellow.

"Areyoufuckenkiddingme!?"

"Ooooooookay so, second reminder to the rest of the group, please avoid flashing jewelry or lights. The parakeets love to pick up shiny objects! Annnnnnyways..." The tour guide rapidly changes the subject, trying to deflect from the now glowering, phoneless tourist.

The bird peers at the two humans squawking on the white floating island beneath her. She analyzes the rest of the group for a bit before flying back toward the looming cliffside. She has a chick to feed and there is no food here. No matter, the crystal blue waters beneath her wings wash up a buffet every day, and she can already spot a red crab tantalizingly exposed on the shoreline.