The quaker parakeet, also called the quaker parrot and the monk parakeet/parrot, a native of South America, is one of the most popular parrots of its size due to its availability, low cost, and outstanding mimicking ability.
This bright, resourceful, 12-inch bird has been able to set up large wild colonies from Southern Florida to the Northeast and Midwest, making themselves a charming addition to the landscape of those areas, though many places consider them pests and have outlawed them.
Native Region / Natural Habitat
The quaker parakeet is native to Argentina and nearby countries in South America, where it inhabits subtropical areas. The quaker parrot adapts very well to urban landscapes and, as a result, there are numerous feral populations in North American as well as in Europe.
Care & Feeding
Quaker parakeets are voracious chewers, and will make fast work of furniture, so provide lots of chewable toys and safe branches to avoid living a bored and unhappy quaker parrot that can easily turn its destructive nature onto valuables.
Wild quakers parrots are quick to nest, and build elaborate oven-shaped, many-chambered “pots” out of thousands of twigs woven into sophisticated nests. Quakers are sometimes reluctant to nest in breeding boxes, though they are often bred that way if offered twigs and other substantial nesting material. They lay six to eight eggs, though they are known to lay up to 13 viable eggs in one clutch.
The quaker parakeet is reported to live up to 30 years with the proper care. Lafeber’s foods for parrots offer nutritionally balanced, daily diets. These include Nutri-Berries, Avi-Cakes, and Premium Daily Diet pellets.
