Myiopsitta monachus

In the U.S., Myiopsitta monachus isn't somebody you'd necessarily expect to see in your backyard, at the park, or in the Target parking lot. And yet, there it often is, especially in the east, where the escaped Monk Parakeet has established very stable feral populations. Native to the open woodlands of Argentina and Brazil, it readily adapts to urban environments, and has done so throughout the world. Like many parrots, Myiopsitta monachus is intelligent, highly social, and, at times, noisy as hell.

Though sometimes considered a nuisance, many in the U.S. are accustomed, if not fond, of this resourceful lime-green parrot.

The Monk Parakeet, I learned today, is one of the most widespread and adaptable feral parrot species in the United States, with an estimated 100,000+ birds in Florida alone. This was an exciting find for me early this morning, at a Sarasota County park, as it was my first feral parrot identification. It's a unique feeling of elation, seeing such a brightly colored gem against the temperate backdrop of south Florida.

The presence of the Monk Parakeet in the U.S. is, to me, an unfortunate indication of its capture and displacement from its natural place in the world; though honestly, I'd rather see it in playgrounds and parking lots than cages.