Monk Parakeet

Recognition
These birds mostly are yellowy green in color and have a pale brown /grey  breast.  The bill is hooked as  is found in many parrots, budgerigars and parakeets. They are about 12 inches in total length.  If you look at them in flight, you should be able to see blue tips to the wing.

Where seen
These birds move in groups along the tops of trees and have been seen tree hopping along Bayshore Road, in the mangrove tops around Marker 34 and along the tree lines bordering Harbourside.

Jimmy’s notes
These birds are often heard before seen and have a distinct shrill call.  When you see one, you often see a small flock of birding moving along a tree line together.  Monk parakeets like most parakeets are non-indigenous species and those  seen today are descended from deliberately released birds or escaped pets. In Florida alone, it is estimated that there are in excess of 100,000 of these birds.  This species of bird originates from South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Unlike most parakeets, the monk parakeet has adapted to cold climes and can even be found in the cold American states of New York and Illinois and quite large flocks now exist in the parks of New York City and Chicago.

Etymologists state that the word parakeet is of English,French and Italian origin, for example from the Italian “parrocchetto”  meaning “little priest”