Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as Quaker parrots, are small, bright green parrots that are native to temperate and subtropical South America. However, monk parakeets have been introduced to many other parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia, where some populations have become invasive and caused ecological and agricultural damage.
Monk parakeets are popular as pets because of their intelligence and ability to mimic speech. They typically live in large, noisy colonies built from twigs and branches. This colonial nesting behavior, coupled with their adaptability, has allowed monk parakeets to thrive after accidental and intentional releases in non-native environments.
When did monk parakeets become invasive? Monk parakeets were first brought to the United States in the 1960s for the pet trade. By the 1970s, both self-sustaining wild populations and increasing numbers of escapes and releases led to the establishment of breeding monk parakeet populations in several states, including Florida, California, Connecticut, New York, and Illinois.
Where in the United States are monk parakeets invasive?
Monk parakeets are now found across the United States, with the largest populations concentrated in Florida, California, Texas, Louisiana, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington State.
Florida
Florida has had a breeding population of monk parakeets since the late 1960s-early 1970s. The population in Florida is estimated at over 200,000 birds. They are found across the state, but the main population centers are in Miami-Dade County and the Tampa Bay region.
California
The monk parakeet population in California likely originated from escaped pet birds in the 1970s. They are now well-established and their population continues to grow, with over 9,000 nests as of 2014. Major populations occur in the greater Los Angeles area, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Orange County.
Texas
Texas has had breeding monk parakeet populations since the 1980s or earlier. They occur predominantly in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Louisiana
Significant populations of monk parakeets are found across southern Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles. The birds likely spread from Florida along the Gulf Coast. The Louisiana population is estimated between 5,000-10,000 birds.
New York
The monk parakeets in New York are concentrated in the New York City metropolitan area, with large nesting colonies located in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Their population in New York is estimated between 6,000-12,000 birds.
Connecticut
Connecticut has had monk parakeets since the early 1970s, probably originating from escaped pets. The main population centers are in the coastal cities of Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford.
New Jersey
Monk parakeets are common in urban and suburban areas across New Jersey, especially in the northeast part of the state near New York City. The population of New Jersey is estimated around 15,000 birds.
Other states
Notably large populations also occur in Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and Washington state. Overall, monk parakeets have been sighted in the wild in at least 29 states across the contiguous United States.
State | Population estimate |
---|---|
Florida | 200,000 |
California | 9,000 nests |
Texas | Unknown |
Louisiana | 5,000-10,000 |
New York | 6,000-12,000 |
Connecticut | Unknown |
New Jersey | 15,000 |
Where in Europe are monk parakeets invasive?
Monk parakeets are invasive across much of western Europe, especially in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Greece. They are believed to be still expanding their range in Europe.
Spain and Portugal
Spain has the largest breeding populations of monk parakeets in Europe, introduced through the pet trade in the 1970s. They are now common across most of Spain and Portugal, including the Balearic Islands. Their population size in Iberia is estimated between 56,000-77,000 birds.
Italy
Monk parakeets were first recorded breeding in Italy in 1990 and have since spread widely across the country. Major populations now occur around Rome, Palermo, Naples, Bari, Genoa, Florence, Milan, and other cities. Italy’s total monk parakeet population is estimated between 14,000-20,000 birds.
France
France’s monk parakeet population originated from escapes and releases in the Paris region starting in the 1970s. They have since expanded their range across northern and central France. The French population is estimated between 5,000-10,000 individuals.
Belgium and the Netherlands
In Belgium and the Netherlands, monk parakeets are concentrated around major cities like Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. Populations likely derive from the pet trade. The population size in the Low Countries is estimated between 10,000-20,000 birds.
Germany
Germany’s monk parakeets occur mainly in North Rhine-Westphalia, the country’s most populated state. Major nesting sites are located in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Wiesbaden, and Frankfurt. Germany has an estimated 8,000-12,000 monk parakeets.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a self-sustaining breeding population of monk parakeets concentrated in the London area, as well as populations in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The UK population is estimated between 6,000-10,000 individuals.
Greece
Monk parakeets are invasive in Athens and other urban centers in Greece. The Greek population originates from escaped cage birds and deliberate releases. The total population is estimated between 1,000-5,000 birds.
Country | Population estimate |
---|---|
Spain and Portugal | 56,000-77,000 |
Italy | 14,000-20,000 |
France | 5,000-10,000 |
Belgium and Netherlands | 10,000-20,000 |
Germany | 8,000-12,000 |
United Kingdom | 6,000-10,000 |
Greece | 1,000-5,000 |
Where else are monk parakeets invasive?
Beyond the United States and Europe, monk parakeets have also become established and spread invasively in other regions, including:
Canada
Small breeding populations occur in Toronto and Montreal originating from escaped pets in the 1990s.
Caribbean
Monk parakeets have been reported across many islands of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, and Dominican Republic.
Mexico
Limited numbers of monk parakeets have become naturalized around Mexico City and Veracruz, likely originating from caged birds.
Japan
An estimated population of 7,000 monk parakeets exists in the greater Tokyo region, descended from escaped pets in the early 1980s. They have also been recorded in several other cities.
Hong Kong
A small breeding population derived from escaped caged birds occurs in the urban parks of Hong Kong.
United Arab Emirates
A population of monk parakeets became established in Dubai in the late 2000s from intentional releases and escaped pets. Their current population size is unknown.
Israel
Monk parakeets occur in parks around Tel Aviv, originating from escaped pets in the 1990s. The population is likely small, numbering in the dozens or hundreds.
Australia
A small breeding population exists in Sydney that originated from escapes from quarantine facilities in the 1960s-70s. Monk parakeets have also been sighted around Melbourne.
Ecological impacts
In areas where they have become invasive, monk parakeets pose a number of ecological threats and concerns:
Competing with native birds
Monk parakeets often compete with native bird species for nest cavities. They may evict other birds from their nests or usurp the best nesting sites.
Impacts on native plants
Their chewing and clipping of plants for nest material can damage crops such as citrus fruits and landscape vegetation.
Transmission of disease
There are concerns about monk parakeets spreading infectious diseases like psittacosis to native birds and poultry.
Predation on native species
They may prey on the eggs and nestlings of native cavity-nesting birds.
Altering ecosystems
Monk parakeet nests and roosts in power lines and communication towers can cause power outages and fires. Their massive nests can break branches and destabilize trees.
Agricultural impacts
Monk parakeets are considered an agricultural pest in some areas, causing damage through:
Crop-raiding
Flocks raid commercial fruit orchards, crops, and grain silos, causing significant economic losses.
Chewing damage
They chew twigs, buds, leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers of many crops and ornamental plants.
Fouling structures
Their droppings can accumulate significantly on farm structures and equipment.
Control and management
Control or eradication of invasive monk parakeet populations has proven very difficult. Methods attempted in some areas include:
Nest removal
Removing active nests can deter nesting in problematic locations like utility structures. However, monk parakeets quickly rebuild nests when removed.
Trapping at nests
Selective trapping of parakeets at their nest sites has had limited success reducing localized populations.
Egg removal and oiling
Removing eggs or oiling them to prevent hatching can suppress population growth but is labor-intensive.
Toxic perches
Specialized perches with a chemical parakeet repellent were trialed but showed limited effectiveness.
Shooting permits
Some states have allowed shooting or capture of monk parakeets to control problem nests, but most bans this method.
Birth control
Feeding treated bait with a bird contraceptive drug was tested but proved infeasible on a population scale.
Public education
Discouraging further releases or escapes from captivity can limit population growth.
Future outlook
Monk parakeet populations outside of their native South American range will likely continue to persist and expand. More research is needed to develop effective control methods that do not also harm native wildlife. Public education is key to preventing further releases of monk parakeets. Wildlife managers recommend not allowing them as pets, as they pose an ongoing ecological risk if released or escaped.
Conclusion
In summary, monk parakeets are now invasive across multiple continents beyond their native range in South America. In the United States, they are concentrated along the coasts and urban areas. Europe has large populations across Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Smaller invasive populations also exist in Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Australia. Ongoing management efforts have sought to control monk parakeet populations and limit their impacts on native species, ecosystems, agriculture, and infrastructure. However, the monk parakeet’s intelligence, adaptability, and resilient colony structure present challenges for effective long-term population control.