Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus

The story of the introduced Monk Parakeet is one of the most interesting tales of North American birding. In the absence of human intervention, this species naturally breeds in mid-to-high-elevations in southern South America. In recent decades a number of captive birds have been released in urban areas throughout the United States, where they have more often than not flourished, to the point of being considered part of the native avifauna of many cities and states. In my home of New York City, small populations are considered established in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx and in Greenwood Cemetary in Brooklyn. I filmed the individuals below in Greenwich Point Park in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, where a flock of about 30 birds has apparently become established within the last couple of years. They were taking advantage of seed feeders in the park, kept full by local, well-meaning bird lovers.

The Monk Parakeets were not aggressive, and shared whatever space was available with the native seedeaters, including the Black-capped Chickadee in the image directly above. Apparently they have not yet learned to consider any of the native American birds to be competitors for food, and placidly allow the tiny interlopers to eat their fill. Monk Parakeets are at the large end of the parakeet spectrum- any larger and they could be considered parrots. As absurdly incongruous as they might seem during the boreal winter, they seem to have carved out as place as a welcome part of our local avifauna.

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