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Monk Parakeet

Myiopsitta monachus

Bird · family Psittacidae · order Psittaciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
22.1 years[3]

The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a bird in the family Psittacidae[4]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe records it as introduced, not native, in 15 states[1][5][6].

Conservation status

Worldwide, NatureServe ranks the Monk Parakeet G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. CITES, a treaty on international trade, places it in Appendix II[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix II

Where Monk Parakeet lives

NatureServe lists the Monk Parakeet as introduced in Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia[5]. In all 15 of these states the state rank is SNA, which means not applicable[6]. NatureServe notes that its numbers are increasing in the US and will likely keep doing so[9]. Florida, Texas, New York, Illinois and Connecticut have the most GBIF records, but these follow observer effort, not population size[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: introduced, state rank SNANHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: introduced, state rank SNAMINew York: introduced, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: introduced, state rank SNAVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: introduced, state rank SNADCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: introduced, state rank SNATXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[6].
Show state ranks (15 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
MichiganSNANot Applicable
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
OregonSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable
TexasSNANot Applicable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records habitats such as hardwood woodland, shrubland, savanna, cropland and hedgerow, suburban areas and orchards, and riparian areas, which are the green strips beside streams[11]. It often lives near people, in open woodland, scrubland, farmland and orchards[12]. It builds a large nest of sticks in a tree, on a utility pole, on an antenna tower or under building eaves[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Monk Parakeet eats seeds, fruits, grains, buds and insects, including seeds put out at feeders[13]. One estimate of its diet is 30% seeds, 30% other plant material, 30% fruit and 10% invertebrates[14]. It is about 29 cm (11 in) long[15]. Clutch size is reported as 1 to 11 eggs, and AnAge lists a typical clutch of 7[16][17]. Incubation lasts 31 days[18]. Females reach sexual maturity at 730 days[19]. The longest recorded lifespan in captivity is more than 22 years[3].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 29 cm (11 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 22.1 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[17] 7
Gestation or incubation[18] 31 days
Female maturity[19] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[20] Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[21] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[14]

  • 30% seeds
  • 30% other plant material
  • 30% fruit
  • 10% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Monk Parakeet is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[22]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[21]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in January, March and April[23]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[23].

January: 19,497 recordsJanFebruary: 16,967 recordsFebMarch: 18,202 recordsMarApril: 18,985 recordsAprMay: 16,031 recordsMayJune: 10,310 recordsJunJuly: 10,069 recordsJulAugust: 10,534 recordsAugSeptember: 12,543 recordsSepOctober: 14,749 recordsOctNovember: 16,329 recordsNovDecember: 17,064 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January19,497
February16,967
March18,202
April18,985
May16,031
June10,310
July10,069
August10,534
September12,543
October14,749
November16,329
December17,064

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Monk Parakeet as present in 4 park units[24]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, New York, Illinois, Connecticut[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Monk Parakeet endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Monk Parakeet live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in 15 states, including Florida, Texas, New York and Illinois[5][6].
What does the Monk Parakeet eat?
It eats seeds, fruits, grains, buds and insects[13]. One estimate is 30% seeds, 30% other plant material, 30% fruit and 10% invertebrates[14].
How big is the Monk Parakeet?
It is about 29 cm (11 in) long[15].
How long does the Monk Parakeet live?
The longest recorded lifespan in captivity is more than 22 years[3]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Monk Parakeet is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Monk Parakeet: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 22.1 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a bird in the family Psittacidae, order Psittaciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Monk Parakeet as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe state ranks for Monk Parakeet (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Monk Parakeet. NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Monk Parakeet: Florida, Texas, New York, Illinois, Connecticut. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Monk Parakeet: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Monk Parakeet. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Monk Parakeet. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 30% seeds, 30% other plant material, 30% fruit, 10% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 29 cm (11 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Monk Parakeet. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 7. AnAge
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 31 days. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  20. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe migration category for Monk Parakeet: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. GBIF observation records of Monk Parakeet in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  24. NPSpecies park lists recording Monk Parakeet as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.