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Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Very local, trend not established
“Like a parakeet, that says what he knows but doesn’t know what he says.” – Spanish proverb
As natives of the New World tropics, Monk Parakeets may seem out of place in the Commonwealth. Nonetheless, at many locations in the American Northeast, feral populations of Monk Parakeets have become fairly well established, with Connecticut and New York both harboring substantial populations. These noisy escapees build large, bulky stick nests occupied throughout the year, shared by several individuals, and expanded year after year.
Historic Status
The notion that a southern South American parrot would someday take up residence in Massachusetts was foreign to early ornithologists. Yet, due to numerous releases and escapes in the 1960s and early 1970s the species moved into several eastern states. Initial fears that the species would overwhelm crops led to early population control tactics in many states.
Atlas 1 Distribution
Monk Parakeets weren’t even on the radar as a potential breeding species during Atlas 1, but it would only be a matter of time before Monk Parakeets appeared in several of Massachusetts’ largest metropolitan areas, including Boston.
Atlas 2 Distribution and Change
In East Boston, near Logan Airport, a single pair of Monk Parakeets took up residence during Atlas 2, and they were Confirmed to be breeding by a local police officer. No other evidence of breeding for this species was recorded during the second Atlas, and the colony was abandoned before 2011.
Atlas 1 Map
Atlas 2 Map
Atlas Change Map
Ecoregion Data
Atlas 1 | Atlas 2 | Change | ||||||
Ecoregion | # Blocks | % Blocks | % of Range | # Blocks | % Blocks | % of Range | Change in # Blocks | Change in % Blocks |
Taconic Mountains | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Marble Valleys/Housatonic Valley | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Berkshire Highlands | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Lower Berkshire Hills | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Vermont Piedmont | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Berkshire Transition | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Connecticut River Valley | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Worcester Plateau | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Lower Worcester Plateau | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
S. New England Coastal Plains and Hills | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Boston Basin | 1 | 1.8 | 100.0 | 1 | 1.8 | |||
Bristol and Narragansett Lowlands | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Cape Cod and Islands | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |||
Statewide Total | 1 | 0.1 | 100.0 | 1 | 0.1 | |||