Quaker Parrot
(Myiopsitta monachus)

also known as the Monk Parakeet

The nominate subspecies of this parakeet is 29 cm long on average, with a 48 cm wingspan, and weighs 100 g. Females tend to be 10-20% smaller. It has bright green upperparts. The forehead and breast are pale grey with darker scalloping and the rest of the underparts are very-light green to yellow. The remiges are dark blue, and the tail is long and tapering. The bill is orange.

Domestic breeds in colors other than the natural plumage have been produced. These include birds with white, blue, and yellow in place of green. As such coloration provides less camouflage, feral birds are usually of wild-type coloration.

Monk Parakeets are highly intelligent, social birds. Those kept as pets routinely develop large vocabularies. They are able to learn scores of words and phrases. This species is considered especially adept at learning.

The Quaker Parrot builds it's nest in the wild out of sticks and twigs in a commune setting. These communal nests can sometimes house 50 plus pairs. Each pair having their own apartment and entrance. A hen can lay 5-12 eggs per clutch.

Minimum cage size is 18" x 18" with no more than 3/4" bar spacing. Your Quakers will love you if you keep them in a good supply of size appropriate wooden toys (popsicle sticks work great) to destroy.

Your Quaker should be fed a diet consisting of fresh fruits and veggies, fresh sprouts, beans (cooked), and pastas. Some seeds or nuts as a treat a few times a week is ok too. A diet high in fat (seeds and nuts) can lead to fatty liver disease in Quaker parrots which is almost always fatal.

As with any exotic pet please do your research before you buy. Educating yourself can only be benificial to you and your new companion. Never buy an exotic pet of any kind on impulse.

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