Monk Parakeet, also recognized
as “Quaker Parrot”, is a small-sized, green parrot having grayish breast, and
greenish-yellow front. In most catalogs, it is categorized as the only member of the
species ‘Myiopsitta’. Monk Parakeet originates from the moderate to subtropical
regions of Argentina and the nearby states in South America.
Size and Weight
The recommended subspecies of Monk
Parakeet is normally 29 cm (11 inches) long, with the wing length of 48 cm (19
inches). The average weight is 3.5 oz (100 grams). The females may be 10 to 20%
smaller, but can only be dependably sexed by chromosome or feather-testing.
Lifespan
The life expectancy of Monk
Parakeets are between 15 to 20 years, or in some areas between 25 to 30 years.
Appearance and Colors
Monk Parakeets have
bright-green upperparts. The brow and chest are pale-gray with darker
scalloping and the remaining underparts are very light-green to yellow. They
have dark-blue remiges, long narrowing tail, and orange bill. The native breeds
in colors except ordinary plumage have been created which comprise birds with
white, blue, and yellow colors in place of green. Because this coloring offers
less disguise, wild birds are generally of wild-type pigmentation.
Ecology and Behavior
Monk Parakeet is generally
very common worldwide. Monk Parakeets are considered as foremost farmed pests in
countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Their population bang in
South American rural parts look to be connected with the growth of eucalyptus
forestry for paper pulp production, which gives the birds an opportunity to construct
their safe nests in artificial forests where environmental rivalry from other
species is restricted. The Cliff Parakeet sometimes spoils maize fields, but it
is seemingly not thought the main pest as no grave harassment is done.
Monk Parakeet is the sole parrot
that constructs a stick nest, in a tree or on an artificial structure, instead
of a hole in the tree. This sociable species frequently breeds colonially, constructing
a sole big nest with separate entrances for each couple. In the wild, the groups
can become pretty large, with couples inhabiting separate “apartments” in nests
that can stretch to the size of a small car. These nests can entice many other occupants
comprising birds of prey, for instance, the Spot-winged falconet, ducks like yellow-billed
teal, and the mammals. They hatch about 5 to 12 white-eggs in approximately 24
days.
Remarkably for a parrot, Monk
Parakeet couples sometimes have helper individuals, often grown descendants,
which help with nourishing the young.
Monk Parakeet as Pets
Monk Parakeets are extremely intellectual
and social birds. Those kept as pets regularly develop words and phrases. Due
to this timely talking skill, it is passing the Cockatiel as a favorite pet. Additional
contributing feature to rising popularity is that Monk Parakeet has a smaller
lifespan and very low price than African Grey Parrots.
Because of Monk Parakeets' inventory
as a farmed pest, some countries such as California, Georgia, Kansas,
Kentucky, Hawaii, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Western Australia fugitive sale
and possession. In Connecticut, one can possess a Monk Parakeet, but cannot
sell or breed the species. In New York and Virginia, it is likely to possess a
Monk Parakeet with banding and recording. In Ohio, possessing one is permissible
if the bird's wings are trimmed or it is unable to fly freely.
As an Introduced Species
Self-sustaining wild species
have been documented in a number of U.S. states and several areas of Europe as
well as in British, Columbia, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Bermuda, Bahamas,
Cayman Islands, Easter Island, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Japan. As Monk
Parakeet is an open forest species, it familiarizes readily to urban areas.
In regions where Monk Parakeets
have been bred, some fear they will damage to harvests and innate species. Indication
of damage caused by wild colonies is doubtful, and various persons oppose
killing this attractive bird. The wild populations are frequently inclined from
very small founder inhabitants. Being as social and brainy pets, Monk Parakeets
grow some cultural mores, specifically vocal vernaculars that vary between species.
Monk Parakeet in Brazil
The species has in current
years extended its variety in Brazil, where a surviving population found in the
central areas of Rio de Janeiro where the bird can be certainly seen in
gardens of ‘Aterro do Flamengo’ where they make their nests on palm trees and get
food from the fruits. In Santa Catarina State, possible fugitives have been described
on an instance, and a wild population appears to have recognized itself in ‘Florianopolis'
early in the 1st decade of the 21st century.
Monk Parakeet in Mexico
Monk Parakeet was first documented
in “Mexico City” during 1999. The records also found from 7 other locations; comprising
the cities of Puebla, Morelia, Celaya, Oaxaca, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Hermosillo,
and Mexicali.
The nesting breed is recognized
in Mexico City and Oaxaca. A small but rising populace has also been customary
in the southern part of the city “Puebla”, which they are recognized to visit commonly.
No researches have been undertaken to measure the influence they might have on
the relict populaces of Green Parakeet that are living in the same region and
other deep forested areas of the city.
After the prohibition on the trade
of innate parrots, local customary bird-sellers have now swapped the ‘Monk
Parakeet’ as their main parrot and that absolutely have augmented the number
of fugitives. Occasionally, the head and breast feathers of Monk Parakeets are colored
yellow to cuckold ignorant buyers, imitating the scarce yellow-headed Amazon
parrots. The existence of Monk Parakeets in seven purely distant and sovereign regions
of Mexico shows that the source of these folks is probably the ‘pet trade’.
Monk Parakeets in United States
Thousands of “Monk Parakeets”
were introduced as pets to the United States during the 1960s to 1980s. Numerous
fugitive or were deliberately unconfined, and populations were allowed to increase.
In 2012, a couple of Monk
Parakeets struggled to nest in Watervliet (New York). Before egg-laying, one
bird was caught and the nest ultimately was detached due to concerns that the
nest was constructed near an electrical transformer caused a fire hazard.
In Chicago, the beginning of ‘Monk
Parakeets’ is unfamiliar, but they may be fugitive birds from O'Hare airport or
undesirable pets. The species first looked in the 1960s and is enduring to succeed
despite infrequent bad winters that happened in the 1980s and in 2014. The
birds are greeted in the city particularly by the bird-watchers. The inhabitants
are estimated to be around 1,000 birds with strong colonies situated in some parts
of the city. Austin, Texas, also has a flourishing ‘Monk Parakeet’ populace.
Monk Parakeets in Europe
The “Monk Parakeets” can be looked
in Madrid, Barcelona, Cadiz, Seville, Torremolinos, Malaga, Nerja, Valencia,
Tarragona, Zaragoza, the Canary Islands, and Majorca in the Balearic Islands. Monk
Parakeets were primary looked in 1985. In Madrid, they are very common in the Ciudad
Universitaria and Casa de Campo Park. They make large colonies in Parc de la
Ciutadella, Parc de la Barceloneta, and in smaller city parks. They are very common
in watered urban parks with grass ranges and palm-trees. Monk Parakeet, as an aggressive
breed, has become problematic to the native wildlife including pigeons and
sparrows. Monk Parakeets have also created problems for agriculture close to the
cities.
Madrid has the highest populace
of Monk Parakeets in Europe with 10,800 birds as of June 2015. The estimated inhabitants
of Monk Parakeets in Barcelona was 6,248 in 2015.
In Greece,
Monk Parakeets have recognized forming colonies in the National Garden, Athens.
The minor flocks of Monk
Parakeets can be seen in Belgian capital city “Brussels” and its adjacent regions.
They are living in the forests since the 1970s.
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