There's about 40 of them. Are there any native parrot species to California?
2006-10-21 09:51:21 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
There are a few flocks of feral red-masked parakeets (aka cherry-headed conures) in California. These birds are bright green with red heads. California, Florida, and a few other parts of the US also have feral monk parakeets (aka Quaker parrots).
In both cases, these parrots are NOT native, and started off as individual people's pets. However, some birds escaped, and some owners "set free" their birds. There's lots of different pet bird species, but these two species do very well on their own in the US, and live at least 30 years, so enough of them survived long enough to start breeding, and there are now flocks of them living without much human intervention.
Some of these birds are not afraid of people. Some of them have illnesses and parrot rescue groups are trying to help them. More info in the links below.
2006-10-21 16:44:44 · answer #1 · answered by zandyandi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not very rare, there are several types of parrots flying around So. California and other places such as Texas and Miami. None are native, but they are wild....made up from escaped pets that have since formed breeding populations. There are lots in the Sierra Madre and Pasadena area, but I have seen them in other places as well. Here is a website with some more info:
http://natureali.org/parrot_project/suburban_jungles.htm
2006-10-21 13:50:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are no native parrots in Southern California, but in various places captive parrots have escaped and started breeding. I suppose they can live in the cities because there are also exotic trees and plants in people's yards, so they have enough to eat. I've never heard of them outside the cities.
I suppose you have seen them enough to know that most of the time they fly in pairs, but get together in flocks at times.
2006-10-21 11:20:22 · answer #3 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wow, that must be really neat to see, I live in Philadelphia and I saw a bright Green Parrot fly right by my head about 10 years ago, I think that one got free and just took off, your flock of Parrots sounds really interesting, too. They might be flying from some other place and just passing through. I don't know what species they would be though, sorry. :)
2006-10-21 10:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by spiritcavegrl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are escaped flocks of parrots in many place. A movie was made about a flock in San Francisco
2006-10-21 10:42:09 · answer #5 · answered by jonnyraven 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are TONS of those flocks in southern california. Like someone else said, a few escape and breed. When I was little a big flock flew out of this tree, it was scary.
2006-10-21 13:09:58 · answer #6 · answered by Sushi B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i see them once a year every fall. they come and stay over at a big tree near my house they are really big parrots. and very green
2006-10-21 10:21:52 · answer #7 · answered by THE MOTHERFUCKING PRINCESS 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you answered your own question. If you have seen them many times, then I would guess they are not too rare.
The bird biologist gave you an excellent answer.
2006-10-22 03:57:53 · answer #8 · answered by Savannah H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋