Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Monk Parakeets are Native to South America, but were used extensively in the pet trade. Escaped or released birds have adapted to life in urban USA. They are the only parrot to build communal stick nests, which allows them to survive cold climates as far north as New York. By crowding their nest space into compact areas and close to each other, we believe they can trap heat and stay warm even in cold winters.
Today, science recognises four subspecies of Monk Parakeet:
- M. m. monachus lives in southeast Brazil, Uruguay and northeast Argentina
- M. m. calita lives in northwestern and central Argentina
- M. m. cotorra lives in southeastern Bolivia, Paraguay, southwestern Brazil and northwestern Argentina
- M. m. luchsi lives in Andean valleys of west-central Bolivia
I met these birds in the spring of 2020 as I was leaving Corpus Christi (Texas) and headed for Brownsville. I watched them harvest sticks for building their communal nest.
8 Photos
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
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Description: This bird has begun chewing through the branch near his foot. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. Here we can see them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2020:03:19 13:47 |
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Location:
Nueces |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D505726-CorpusChristi-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: This bird has begun chewing through the branch near his foot. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. Here we can see them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2023:10:01 15:44 |
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Camera Information: |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D505734-CorpusChristi-TX-scaled |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: This bird has begun chewing through the branch near his foot. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. Here we can see them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2023:10:01 15:44 |
|
Camera Information: |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D505738-CorpusChristi-TX-scaled |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: This bird has harvested the branch and begins his journey back to the nest tree. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. Here we can see them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2023:10:01 15:44 |
|
Camera Information: |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D505745-CorpusChristi-TX-scaled |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: At the nest tree, the birds monitor closely all activity in the neighborhood. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. I watched them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited and RV Park and found Many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2020:03:19 14:55 |
|
Location:
Nueces |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D505979-CorpusChristi-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: At the nest tree, the birds monitor closely all activity in the neighborhood. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. I watched them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2020:03:19 14:56 |
|
Location:
Nueces |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D506047-CorpusChristi-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: At the nest tree, the birds monitor closely all activity in the neighborhood. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. I watched them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2020:03:19 14:56 |
|
Location:
Nueces |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D506058-CorpusChristi-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) |
|
Description: This bird has harvested the branch and begins his journey back to the nest tree. These birds are the only parrot to build communal stick nests. Here we can see them collecting small branches and carrying them to the palm trees they use for nesting. As I was preparing to leave Corpus Christ, getting the RV ready for the road, I visited an RV Park and found many dozens of nesting Monk Parakeets. Apparently Corpus Christi Texas wasn't done with me yet! |
Date Taken: 2020:03:19 14:17 |
|
Location:
Nueces |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 340 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: MonkParakeet_D505846-CorpusChristi-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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