The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as the Quaker parrot, is a small, bright green parrot with a greyish breast and greenish-yellow abdomen. This sociable bird is native to temperate and subtropical South America, mainly Argentina and surrounding countries. But monk parakeets have become naturalized in many areas beyond their native range due to escaped or released pets, including parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Native Range in South America
The monk parakeet is native to a large region of South America east of the Andes mountains. Their natural range spans across eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and central and northern Argentina. This area has a temperate to subtropical climate perfect for the monk parakeet, which thrives in warmer environments.
Within their native South American habitat, monk parakeets tend to nest in palms, trees near water, and cliffs. They prefer lower altitudes and areas with access to water. Their nests are elaborate structures built from sticks and lined with soft materials like grass, feathers, or paper. Monk parakeets are very social and nest colonially in their natural range, with anywhere from a few to hundreds of breeding pairs in one colony.
Distribution in Argentina
Argentina forms the core of the monk parakeet’s native habitat. They are found in a large swath of central and northern Argentina, including the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Cordoba, La Pampa, and Mendoza. Their range extends south along the Atlantic coast to Rio Negro province.
In Argentina, monk parakeets inhabit open and semi-open areas including farmland, grassland, savanna, wetlands, and suburbs. They avoid dense forest and high mountains. Buenos Aires and other major cities provide urban habitat. Monk parakeets build nests on man-made structures like power poles and buildings as well as trees in Argentina.
Range in Surrounding Countries
The monk parakeet is common in parts of other countries near Argentina including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. In Brazil, monk parakeets are found in Rio Grande do Sul and other southern states near the border with Argentina and Uruguay. Their range extends through eastern Paraguay and in Uruguay along the Rio de la Plata and Atlantic coast.
In Bolivia, monk parakeets inhabit lowlands of the Santa Cruz and Chiquitos provinces in the southeast part of the country. They are also found in eastern Bolivia near the Brazilian border. The monk parakeet’s range wraps around the eastern side of the Andes Mountains in South America.
Introduced and Naturalized Populations
The monk parakeet has been introduced by humans to many areas outside of their native South American habitat. Escaped and released pets have given rise to wild monk parakeet populations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and elsewhere. They are considered an invasive species in some of these areas due to economic and environmental impacts.
United States and Canada
The monk parakeet is well-established in multiple U.S. states and Canadian provinces beyond its native range due to imported monk parakeets escaped or released as pets. Wild monk parakeet populations are concentrated in Florida, California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, and the island of Puerto Rico. Self-sustaining populations also exist in Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington state, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio and elsewhere in the U.S.
In Canada, breeding populations of monk parakeets have become naturalized in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Alberta. The monk parakeet cannot survive cold northern winters, limiting its range expansion in North America.
Europe
The monk parakeet has been present in Europe since the 1970s as escaped pets. Over the decades, growing naturalized populations have become established across Europe. Spain and Portugal have thriving wild monk parakeet colonies, especially around Madrid and Malaga. They are also found in Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey and elsewhere in Europe.
Elsewhere
Beyond Europe and North America, the monk parakeet has been introduced to Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iran, Israel, and Kuwait. Some of these locations like Puerto Rico and United Arab Emirates now have self-sustaining monk parakeet populations.
Habitat and Ecology
The monk parakeet is highly adaptive when it comes to habitat within their native range and where they have been introduced. Here are some key features of monk parakeet habitat and behavior:
- They thrive in warm climates and do not tolerate cold winters.
- Monk parakeets prefer lowlands at elevations less than 1000 m.
- Access to water sources is important.
- They inhabit open and semi-open areas including grassland, farmland, savanna, wetlands, suburban areas.
- Monk parakeets avoid dense forests and high mountains.
- Breeding occurs spring through summer depending on latitude.
- Nests are built in trees, palms, cliffs, man-made structures.
- Their diet includes seeds, fruits, berries, buds, crops.
- Monk parakeets are highly social and live colonially.
This ecological flexibility helps explain how monk parakeets have adapted so well to new environments beyond their native range where they have been introduced. Their ability to nest on man-made structures and their willingness to live around humans has enabled them to thrive.
Climate
The monk parakeet favors warm, temperate climates. Cold winters and frost limit their range expansion. Throughout their broad native range in South America, they are found in areas with mild winters where temperatures do not drop much below freezing. Their introduced populations are also concentrated in warm regions.
Monk parakeets are sensitive to cold. Prolonged freezing temperatures can be deadly. For example, a cold snap in the 1970s decimated the nascent monk parakeet population in the United States. Now they are found mostly in warmer climates in the U.S. like Florida, California, and south Texas.
Elevation
Another key aspect of monk parakeet habitat is elevation. They generally inhabit low-lying areas below 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. In their native range, monk parakeets are found from sea level to 1,000 m in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and surrounding countries. They avoid higher elevations.
Likewise, most introduced populations are found at lower altitudes. For example, monk parakeets in Spain mainly occur at elevations below 650 m. Their absence from high elevations is likely related to temperature, as higher areas tend to be colder.
Diet
The monk parakeet is able to thrive in urban and rural habitats because they are not picky eaters. Their diverse diet includes:
- Seeds of grasses, crops, trees, shrubs
- Fruit such as berries, apples, citrus
- Buds and flowers
- Insects and insect larvae
- Human food scraps in urban areas
Monk parakeets cause widespread agricultural damage in their native range by eating crops like rice, corn, sorghum, sunflower seeds, and fruit. Their flexible diet allows them to adapt to new environments where they have been introduced.
Monk Parakeet Nests
One of the most unique features of the monk parakeet is the large, elaborate stick nests they build for shelter and raising young. Their nesting behavior has helped them thrive within cities and suburbs in their introduced range.
Nest Locations
In their native South America habitat, monk parakeets build nests in trees of various types, including palms, acacia, eucalyptus, pine, cypress. They also construct nests on cliffs, rock outcroppings, electricity towers, telephone poles, and other tall structures.
Where they have been introduced outside of South America, monk parakeets readily build their stick nests on man-made structures. Urban nest locations include utility poles, cell towers, electrical substations, stadium light towers, highway signs, apartment buildings, homes, office buildings.
Nest Structure
Monk parakeet nests are elaborate, bulky structures up to 6 feet wide and weighing over 400 pounds. Nests include:
- Stick scaffolding for support
- Central cavity for brooding young
- Many individual breeding chambers
- Lined with soft material like grass, feathers, paper
Nests are adapted to predator protection and thermoregulation. Their size and solid structure provides stability in storms and wind. Monk parakeets constantly maintain and improve their nests.
Colonial Nesting
One of the most fascinating aspects of monk parakeet nesting behavior is their highly social, colonial nesting habits. Instead of single pairs, monk parakeets build their nests side-by-side to form a larger colony structure. One huge nest structure can house hundreds of parakeet pairs in separate chambers.
Native colonies in cliffs and palms can hold up to 500 breeding pairs. Their colonial nesting transfers well to urban environments, where one electrical utility structure may support dozens of wild monk parakeet nests integrated together.
Talking Points
Here are some key takeaways about the monk parakeet’s natural range:
- Native range centers on temperate and subtropical areas of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia
- Also introduced to the U.S., Canada, Europe, Middle East, Japan beyond native South America
- Favor warm climates, elevations under 1,000 m, access to water
- Thrive in urban and rural habitats due to flexible diet
- Build huge communal nests on cliffs, trees, human structures
- Highly social and colonial birds
- Adaptability explains success beyond native range
Conclusion
In summary, the monk parakeet is native to a broad swath of temperate South America, centered on Argentina. But escaped pets have given rise to wild monk parakeet populations in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and other regions far beyond their natural South American habitat. Their ecological flexibility, ability to nest on man-made structures, and willingness to live near people have allowed monk parakeets to thrive well outside of their native range. The monk parakeet’s natural history helps explain how they have achieved such widespread introduced success across the world.