| 
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
Also Known As: Quaker Parrot or Parakeet, Grey-breasted Parakeet, Cliff Parakeet (M.m. luchsi)
Monk (Quaker) Parrot
Credit: (c) Luis C�sar Tejo | License: ShutterStock
SIGNUP FOR EMAIL UPDATES
| |
|
Did You Know?
The Monk Parakeet has established feral (non-native) populations all over the US in places like Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Puerto Rico, and the rest of the world in Bedfordshire and Alfreton, UK, and Holland, France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and the Canary Islands.
|
Status in the Wild
World Population:Not recorded
Range:
M.m. monachus: S Rio Grande do Sul, SE Brazil, through Uruguay to NE Argentina, south to E Buenos Aires.
M.m. calita: W Argentina, from Salta and W Buenos Aires south to Rio Negro.
M.m. cotorra: S Mato Grosso, Brazil and E Bolivia through Paraguay to N Argentina, in Formosa, Chaco and Corrientes.
M.m. luchsi: Upper Bolivia, from SE La Paz, southern Cochabamba and W Santa Cruz to N Chuquisaca. Isolated to highlands.
Habitat:
Found in dry wooded country or open country with trees including gallery forest, isolated clumps of trees, palm groves, woodlots, savanna and thorn scrub with cacti. Also found in cultivated areas. Feral in some urban areas. Up to 1000m (3280 ft), race luchsi reaching 3000m (9840 ft).
Threat Summary:
Evidence of population increase however since 1981 710,686 individuals have been traded on the international wild bird market.
IUCN Rating:
Least concern
Wild Diet:
Eats wild and cultivated seeds, fruits and vegetable items such as grass seeds and grain, cactus stems, root vegetables and tree fruits. Also includes insects and their larvae in their diet.
CITES Rating:
Appendix II
Ecology:
Occurs in pairs or flocks of 30-50 birds, with larger groups outside of breeding season. Roost communally, sleeping sometimes in nest outside of breeding season. Feeds in trees and on the ground, mixing with other species of birds such as pigeons and cowbirds.
Clutch and Egg Size:
5-7 ovate eggs, 28.0 x 21.5mm (1.1 x 0.8 in).
Breeding Season:
October-December
Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.monkparakeet.com/
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Myiopsitta_monachus2.html
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2517076
More Info Sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk_Parakeet
WPT MEMBER'S LOGIN
