Quaker Parrot (Monk Parakeet)
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myiopsitta monachus |
| Origin | South America (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia) |
| Size | Small-Medium (11-12 inches, 90-120 grams) |
| Lifespan | 20-30+ years |
| Noise Level | Moderate to High |
| Talking Ability | Excellent (among the best for their size) |
| Diet | Pellets, vegetables, fruits, seeds |
| Care Level | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Space Requirements | Minimum 24x24x24 inch cage |
Recommended for Quaker Parrots
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Harrison's Bird Foods - Certified organic pellets | Lafeber - Nutri-berries and Avi-Cakes | Kaytee - Complete parrot nutrition
Top Food Choices for Quaker Parrots
Harrison's Bird Foods - Organic pellets | Lafeber Nutri-Berries - Foraging nutrition | Kaytee Exact - Daily parrot diet
A small parrot with a nest-building habit
Quaker parrots, also called monk parakeets, are Myiopsitta monachus. Adults are about 11 to 12 inches. They commonly reach 20 to 30 years or more, talking is excellent, the noise is moderate to high, and care is beginner to intermediate. They are one of the better talking birds in this size. They are also illegal to keep in some states. California bans them. Other states restrict or permit them. A bird you cannot legally keep becomes a smuggled problem or a seizure. Look up the rule where you live before the sale.
A fair cage is at least 24 by 24 by 24 inches. They climb and they chew. Pellets, vegetables, fruit, and some seed are the diet. They will try to build a nest out of anything shredded. That instinct is the species. It does not mean you should give them a box and let them raise chicks in a studio apartment. Hormonal quakers bite. Puberty is not a surprise if you have read a single care sheet.
Released birds are already a local problem
Feral quakers live in several warm cities because pets were turned loose. Do not add to that. If you cannot keep the bird, find a legal rescue. An avian vet through AAV should see a new bird and any bird that goes quiet and fluffed. That posture is on the quiet bird page.
Quaker parrot questions
Are quaker parrots legal?
Not everywhere. Some states ban monk parakeets, California among them, and others want a permit. Check your state before you pay a breeder or accept a rescue bird.
Do they really talk?
Yes. Talking is excellent for their size. They also chatter and yell. Speech is not the same as quiet.
Why is there a stick nest in the cage?
Wild quakers build communal stick nests, and pets weave paper and twigs the same way. A nest can make a hormonal bird territorial. Offer shredding toys, and skip a breeding box unless you mean to breed.
Decision Guides for Quaker Parrot (Monk Parakeet)
Use these only when comparing food, insurance, ownership budget, or beginner fit for this specific pet.