For many people, parrots are thought of as birds that can only be found in the most tropical parts of the world. It may be surprising then to hear that there are actually many different kinds of parrots that live wild in the United States. Even more interesting is how these parrots got here in the first place, and how they continue to survive in a place they aren’t originally from. Here is everything that you need to know about five parrot species that you can find in the United States

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

Yellow-chevroned parakeets are bright green with shades of darker and lighter greens mixed in. Their signature marking is thor namesake yellow chevron on each of their wings visible when at rest. These birds are native to the tropical parts of South America including Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay. Although they live in tropical places, they aren’t usually found deep in the jungle but rather in more disturbed or cleared forests such as those inhabited by humans. They tend to like edge habitat with tree cover yet plenty of open spaces as well. This habitat preference has helped them thrive in places that don’t seem like they would live in, including where they make their homes in the United States. If you want to find Yellow-chevroned parakeets without leaving the US the two states you’ll need to travel to are California and Florida. In particular, the cities of Los Angeles and Miami. Both places known for celebrities, warm weather, and glamorous lifestyles are also strongholds for nonnative bird species including these small green and yellow parrots. If you’re interested in seeing them, you’ll need to track them based on recent reports on ebird or get lucky hearing them in and around the area parks and neighborhoods.

Rosy-faced Lovebird

Rosy-faced Lovebirds, als known as peach-faced lovebirds have a green back, wings, and underside, they have blue on their rumps and of course, a namesake reddish pink colored face. The native range of these adorable birds is actually southwestern Africa, Namibia and Angola to be precise. The habitat in this part of the world is dry, arid, and hot, which mirrors the part of the United States where they have taken up residence. One of the hottest cities in the country, Phoenix Arizona. While they also live in the surrounding areas, the parks and buildings around Phoenix have become some of the best places in the country. Interestingly, Rosy-faced Lovebirds have found ways to handle the heat of Arizona, in large part thanks to their ability to adapt to human civilization. In cities and towns, water features and leaky air conditioners serve as ways to cool off when temperatures soar. So how did African parrots end up in Phoenix in the first place? As is the story with so many non native birds, the pet trade was the culprit. As one of the more common species of captive they have actually turned up in many different states including Texas, Florida, and California but Phoenix is really the only one where they have taken hold, survived, and grown in numbers to the point where the population is self-sustaining. Now, going to particular parks in Arizona can yield fairly high numbers of Rosy-faced Lovebirds roosting in trees and sometimes even cacti.

Green Parakeet

South Texas is a place with many different bird species that can’t be found anywhere else in the country. In addition to native birds there are others that may not originally have lived in the region, but now are naturalized to the point where their populations are stable and in some cases even growing. One such bird is the Green Parakeet. Green Parakeets, also known as green conures are as one would expect, green in color with their wings and head generally being darker green than their undersides. They have yellow tail feathers and red speckles on their cheeks. Green Parakeets can be found in different parts of Mexico but they can also be found in parts of the United States. One place to find them is the bastion for parrots that is the Miami area in Florida where they flock in relatively small numbers compared to the best place to find them; the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The south Texas population is interesting for a variety of reasons. The first reason is just how many of them live in the region, in and around the cities and neighborhoods flocks of these green birds can be seen feeding on fruit trees and even spending time in very urban places such as parking lots with power lines and tall trees for roosting. The second very interesting thing about them is that people still don’t exactly know how they got there. They are close enough to the native population in Mexico that it’s possible that they are actually naturally occurring in the most southern parts of texas. It’s also possible that like many other parrot species in the United States they were once pets that either escaped or were set free. Either way, Green Parakeets are now naturalized in parts of Texas and a popular species to see for visiting birders

Red-crowned Amazon

Red-crowned Amazons, also known as Red-crowned Parrots, are among the most populous parrots in the United States. They’re also the quintessential parrot in terms of how they look; with green bodies, red on their heads near their bill, and blue behind their eyes. They also have red on their wings visible when at rest but even more striking in flight. The natural range of the Red-crowned amazon is northeastern Mexico where they are actually endangered and at serious risk of disappearing from the region without intervention. The primary cause for this is taking the parrots to sell in the pet trade. The same reason for these birds declining in Mexico is why they are proliferating in the United States, or at least, that’s what started the trend. Captive birds either escaped or were set free and thrived in some of the US states and territories including Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. One of the other places they are most common is in South Texas, but the origins of those populations are still up for debate. The Texas population is close enough in distance to the native population in Mexico that it’s possible that they were once actually part of it and are simply native to the region. However, no one knows for sure if this is the case or if like the other populations in the country, they are descendants of escaped pets. Either way, with their native populations in Mexico doing so poorly, the parrots living in the United State are useful as a backup population in case they ever do disappear. In addition to being safety net against extinction, they are also a source of ecotourism for some of the cities and regions that they reside in. South Texas in particular, which already plays host to many birders every year, is a premier spot to go looking for Red-crowned Amazons. In certain parks and neighborhoods, large flocks of Red-crowned Amazons flock together to prepare for the night. These flocks sometimes include other species of parrots as well and are extremely noisy as they gather and find a roosting site. These events are fascinating spectacles and definitely worth it if you’re visiting the area.

Monk Parakeet

Out of all of the parrot species living in the US, the one that has been able to spread across the country the most is the Monk Parakeet. Monk Parakeets have a gray face, neck and underside, and a green back and wings. They have vibrant blue on their wingtips and blue feathers mixed in with their otherwise green tail. The native range of these small parrots is the south central part of South America. They are more common in grasslands and savannas than more tropical habitats as they are well equipped to survive temperate climates. In the United States their story is the same as many other parrots. Pet birds either escaped or were freed and then found the habitat to be suitable enough to survive and even self-sustain populations. What makes the Monk Parakeet different, is that they thrived in cities and states much farther north than other bird species. A large part of their survival in colder areas is because of two key adaptations. The first is that they not only eat fruits and nuts, but also seeds and crops. This means that even in the winter they can still find food, including bird feeders. The other adaptation is their massive stick nests that they build. These nests provide insulation from the bitter cold and allow for colonies of these birds to live in New York and Chicago where their large nests can be seen in urban areas. Funny enough, places like tall bridges and electrical plants are likely places to find this species in the United States. It is worth noting that they also live in the typical United States parrot locations such as Florida, Texas, and Southern California.

Parrots are fascinating birds that certainly have an association with the most tropical parts of the world, but as it turns out, they can also live in parts of the world you wouldn’t expect, and may be closer to you than you think. In the United States, these species that originated from all over the world, have found a way to survive, and don;t look to be going anywhere any time soon. If you liked this video, take a look at one of these videos going more in depth on certain parrot species, and as always, thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.