Quaker Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus)

Quaker Parrots building a nest in the Pantanal, Brazil

Quaker Parrots building a nest in the Pantanal, Brazil

Quaker Parrot, (Myiopsitta monachus) aka Monk Parakeets are native to the Pantanal in Brazil and northern Argentina.

Quaker Parrot Habitat

Self-sustaining feral populations have been recorded in several US states and various countries of Europe (namely Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, Great Britain and Belgium), as well as in Brazil, Israel, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and Japan. As it is an open woodlands species, it adapts readily to urban areas.

In areas where they have been introduced, some fear that they will harm crops and native species. Evidence of harm caused by feral colonies is disputed, and many people oppose killing this charismatic bird. However, there have been local bans and eradication programs in some areas of the USA. Outside the USA, introduced populations do not appear to raise similar controversy, presumably because of smaller numbers of birds, or because their settlement in urban areas does not pose a threat to agricultural production. The UK appears to have changed its view on its feral populations and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is to remove Monk Parakeets from the wild,[12] as it believes that they threaten local wildlife and crops.

WHERE TO SEE THEM

The easiest place to see them in their native habitat is the Pantanal, Brazil.  It is also pretty easy to find them in the USA, especially Brooklyn, Edgewater and several cities in Florida.

AVIAN ARCHITECTS

They build some pretty amazing communal nests, here are some photos of them I took in the Pantanal, Brooklyn and Edgewater.

P-05 P-16 P-18 P-21 IMGA0160 IMGA0150

100_0468 100_0470 100_0472 100_0473

Although this is a pet Quaker, you can see the construction technique up close.

LEARN MORE ABOUT QUAKERS

World Parrot Trust

Brooklyn Parrots

Edgewater Parrots

Quakerville

Parrots in the City

Quakermania

WILD QUAKER PHOTOS

A few I took in the Pantanal and USA.

ZA-34 ZA-31 ZA-15 ZA-13 P-14 IMGA0158 IMGA0155100_0481 100_0484 100_0492 100_0493 100_0496 100_0501 100_0503 100_0505 100_0507 100_0509a 100_0519 100_0522 100_0531 100_0533 100_0535 100_0536 100_0547 100_0549

My Top Twenty Parrot Sightings Of 2012

These are not being chosen because of the amazing image quality, rather that they represent the top twenty parrot sightings I had during 2012 over trips to the Cook Islands and Brazil.  Some of them like the Golden Conures, Hyacinth Macaws and Rimatara Lorikeets are very rare and endangered, most of them are secure at present and we hope they stay that way!  I saw a lot more parrots than these, some of them such as Kawall’s Amazon and Hawk-headed Parrot escaped before I could get a photo.  They all made a unique impression on me, especially the Golden Conures!

They are being presented in chronological order of when I first saw them.

1.  Tahitian Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana) – seen on Aitutaki, Cook Islands, April 2012

Tahitian Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana)

Tahitian Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana)

2.  Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) – seen on Atiu, Cook Islands, April 2012

Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii)

Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii)

3.  Blue-throated Conure (Pyrrhura cruentata) – seen at Rio Doce, Linhares, Brazil; Sept 2012   Unfortunately, he took off before I could get a better shot.

 Blue-throated Conure (Pyrrhura cruentata)

Blue-throated Conure (Pyrrhura cruentata)

4.  White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis) – seen at Rio Doce, Linhares, Brazil; Sept 2012

White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis)

White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis)

5.  Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012

Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea)

Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea)

6.  Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius)

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius)

7.  Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012

Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)

Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)

8.  Hahn’s Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis) – seen in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil; Sept 2012

Hahn's Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis)

Hahn’s Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis)

9.  Illiger’s Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana) – seen in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil; Sept 2012

Illiger's Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana)

Illiger’s Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana)

10.  Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

11.  Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)

Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)

12.  Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage)

Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage)

13.  White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster)

White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster)

14.  Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius)

Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius)

15.  Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata) – seen in Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)

16.  Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata) – seen at Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012

Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata)

Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata)

17.  Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012

Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum)

Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum)

18.  Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012

Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba)

Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba)

19.  White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012

White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus)

White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus)

20.  Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica) – seen at Parrot Island near Belem, Brazil; Sept 2012

Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica)

Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica)