Spanish language help

[PamNY]

I need a Spanish word or phrase to explain wild monk parakeets. The important part is wild or feral -- that is, they are not escaped pets. Well, they once were, but they aren't now.

The flock of monks I watch has moved into a new area -- and if possible, I want to promote good and sympathetic feelings toward them (as if they aren't skilled at doing that themselves).

I'm accustomed to conversations where there are only a few words of common language; I just don't know how to get across the "feral" aspect. My Spanish-speaking friends aren't nature lovers.

Any Spanish speakers around?

[ny biker]

Google translate says "salvaje."

[Chile Pepper]

Wild would be either salvaje or silvestre. Salvaje is normally used for animals and silvestre for plants. Both are used for birds, but I think silvestre would be more common.

For parakeet, the dictionary gives you perico or periquito, but here in Chile we call this bird a cotorra, without the monk adjective (monje in Spanish). So that leaves you with

Cotorra silvestre

[Desert Tortoise]

Another option for wild is no domesticado = not tame

In southern CA and AZ I've heard silvestre used with animals. Like so many languages, things can be regional. So what works in one region, not so clear in another and vice versa.

And to mix things up a little more, salvaje (also used with plants around here) in another context el salvaje oeste = the wild west.

[PamNY]

Thanks! If one word or phrase doesn't seem to explain, I'll have another to try. I had wondered about a negative connotation to a word that translates as "'wild."

People understandably think that these birds are escaped pets, so I hope I can explain a bit -- and after that, the monks can take it away by demonstrating their adorableness.

[Desert Tortoise]

Good to have options Which ever of these adjectives you use, I'm sure your message will come across in context.

And thanks for including non-English speaking friends. When one does not have a command of the local language, life can feel like walls are everywhere.

Good luck!

[pll]

+1 on salvaje or silvestre. Here is the Spanish wikipedia entry for it: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myiopsitta_monachus

[PamNY]

A Spanish Wikipedia page! What a good idea. I might take a copy with me.

Interaction with people from other countries/cultures is one of the fascinations of urban birding. Some days I'm the only American around.