Monk Parakeet

Myiopsitta monachus

Genus · Monk and Cliff Parakeets Family · New World and African Parrots
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Bird feederIsolated treesUtility wires

Very easy to find in urban parks in cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Listen for loud, raucous squawking. Look for huge stick nests in palm or pine trees.

Monk Parakeet
Stats
Wingspan45–50 cm
Weight100–120 g
Length28–30 cm
Lifespan wild10–15 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePlatform
Clutch size5–7 eggs
Incubation23–25 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationResident
Social BehaviourColonial

Diet: Herbivore

🫐Berries
🍎Fruits
🥜Nuts
🍃Plants
🌻Seeds

Habitat

🚜 Farmland🏡 Garden🍎 Orchard🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

Their communal nests are incredibly heavy. They have been known to cause power outages or even collapse small trees under their weight.

About

Originally from South America, the Monk Parakeet is now a common resident in many European cities. It is a bright green parrot with a grey face and breast. They are very hardy birds. They can survive cold European winters as long as food is available.

Behaviour

Monk Parakeets are unique because they build massive, communal stick nests. These 'apartment complexes' are built in trees or on utility poles and can house dozens of pairs. They are highly social and very noisy. They are often seen in screeching flocks. They feed on seeds, fruits, and buds.

Similar species

Rose-ringed Parakeet
🐦
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
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