# Monk Parakeet

*Myiopsitta monachus*

It is the only parrot species that constructs massive communal stick nests rather than nesting inside natural tree cavities.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Psittaciformes › Psittacidae › Myiopsitta
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Savannas, open thorn scrub, agricultural plains, suburban parks, and urban neighborhoods
- **Diet:** Seeds, cereal grains, tree buds, berries, wild fruits, leaf shoots, and occasionally insects
- **Range:** Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, United States, Spain
- **Size:** 28–30 cm long with a 48–53 cm wingspan
- **Lifespan:** 15–20 years in the wild
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Persecution as an agricultural crop pest, illegal capture for the pet trade, and targeted nest removal from electrical utility infrastructure
- **Safe to approach?:** Monk parakeets are harmless and pose no danger to humans at normal observation distances. They will deliver a painful bite with their hooked beak if handled or trapped; use thick gloves if rescue is necessary, and wash any resulting puncture wounds thoroughly with soap and water.

## About

The monk parakeet ( Myiopsitta monachus ), also known as the Quaker parrot , is a small, bright-green parrot with a greyish breast and greenish-yellow abdomen. In most taxonomies, it is classified as the only member of the genus Myiopsitta . It originates from the temperate to subtropical areas of Argentina and the surrounding countries in South America. Self-sustaining feral populations occur in many places, mainly in North America and Europe.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/b95a21d4-88a8-4197-b6a5-82d04a0be427
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/19349
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myiopsitta monachus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/101224790/medium.jpg (Juan Emilio, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.