Quaker parrots, also called monk parakeets, are small South American psittacines known for unusually social colony nesting and strong speech ability for their size. They are **banned or restricted in several U.S. states** due to feral-colony agricultural concerns.
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Hardy, highly talkative South American parakeets famous for building communal stick nests and forming feral colonies worldwide.
More monk parakeets coming soon.
Sounds & video
🎬 Video
Myiopsitta monachus -Carteret, New Jersey, USA -nest-8
Dendroica cerulea · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Habitat & space requirements
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Flight cage (pair)
24 × 24 × 30 in, ½–⅝ in bar spacing
The humane minimum for a Quaker is a 24 × 24 × 30 in cage with ½–⅝-inch bar spacing, paper substrate, sturdy varied perches, foraging and chewing toys, and ideally space for the sticks they love to build with. Quakers are highly social and bond intensely, so a lone bird needs near-constant companionship or a same-species mate. Keep them in comfortable room temperatures away from draughts.
Recommended
Large flight cage + nest material
36 × 24 × 36 in, ½–⅝ in bar spacing
Aim for a 36 × 24 × 36 in flight cage with ½–⅝-inch bars, abundant chew and foraging toys, and loose safe twigs or sticks to satisfy their unique nest-building drive. Several hours of supervised out-of-cage time daily plus a bonded companion prevent the screaming and aggression that come with neglect. These intelligent birds need constant mental stimulation.
Greg Goebel / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Aviary / bird room
Walk-in aviary or dedicated bird room
The best welfare is a walk-in aviary or bird room for real flight, with branches, foraging stations, bathing, and plentiful nest-building material so a compatible pair can construct the communal stick nests this species is famous for. As escaped Quakers can establish feral colonies, the enclosure must be fully secure. Provide frost-free shelter and protection from extreme heat year-round.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.
Photo coming soon
Hatchling / Chick
Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile / Fledgling
Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.
Adult
Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.
(c) msurowiec, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) via iNaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/288222862
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Quaker parrots are small but busy parrots that need a roomy cage with horizontal climbing bars and plenty of toys; bigger is always better for an active, intelligent bird. Uniquely among common pet parrots, quakers build elaborate stick nests, and captive birds often try to construct nests from toys, paper, and anything they can weave — providing safe shreddable materials channels this drive.
Daily out-of-cage time in a bird-safe room is important, along with rotating foraging and chewing enrichment to keep a clever, easily bored bird occupied. They tolerate a range of household conditions but, like all parrots, must be protected from PTFE/Teflon fumes, smoke, scented products, and aerosols.
Important: it is illegal to keep monk parakeets in several U.S. states, and others restrict or require permits, because escaped birds can establish damaging feral colonies. Check your state's and locality's exotic-pet laws before acquiring one — see the cited legal overview, and note that jurisdiction-specific rules are tracked separately on this entry.
Substrate
Use plain newspaper or paper-based liner on the cage floor for easy cleanup and droppings checks; avoid loose corncob or shavings, which Quakers may incorporate into nest-building behavior or ingest.
Equipment & setup
Provide a sturdy cage with 5/8-3/4-inch bar spacing and secure latches (Quakers are notorious escape artists), plus abundant perches and nest-like structures since this is the only parrot that builds stick nests. Offer natural branches for chewing, full-spectrum UVB lighting on a 10-12 hour cycle, and frequent bathing/misting opportunities.
Diet
Offer a complete formulated pellet as the base, supplemented with vegetables, leafy greens, and limited fruit, with seeds and nuts as occasional treats rather than the staple. An all-seed diet is a common mistake that, over a quaker's potentially long life, contributes to obesity, fatty liver disease, and nutritional deficiencies.
Fresh water daily and foraging-based feeding suit this resourceful species well — quakers enjoy manipulating, shredding, and 'working' for food. Avoid avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and salty or sugary human foods.
Because quakers can be enthusiastic eaters prone to weight gain, portion awareness and an avian-vet-guided plan help keep body condition healthy across the years.
Behavior & temperament
Quaker parrots are bold, comical, and remarkably talkative for their size — many become excellent mimics with clear speech. They bond strongly with their people and are confident, sometimes pushy little birds, which makes them engaging companions but also prone to territorial behavior around their cage or nest, especially when hormonal.
They are active chatterboxes: not as ear-splitting as macaws or cockatoos, but persistent vocalizers whose constant 'quaker' chatter and contact calls are part of the package. Social needs are high; a lonely, under-stimulated quaker can become nippy, screamy, or feather-destructive.
A small parrot beak can still bite hard, so respectful handling, consistent positive-reinforcement training, and attention to cage-territoriality help. Many quakers do best with structure that discourages over-bonding to a single person and excessive nest-guarding.
Health
Quaker parrots can be long-lived for a small parrot, often reaching their twenties or beyond with good care. Establish care with an avian veterinarian and schedule routine wellness exams with weight tracking; as with all birds, illness is hidden until advanced, so subtle changes in droppings, appetite, weight, posture, or voice warrant prompt attention.
Feather-destructive behavior occurs in quakers, frequently linked to stress, hormones, or boredom, and merits a veterinary work-up. The species is also noted for 'Quaker mutilation syndrome,' a self-injury behavior, as well as fatty liver disease and obesity tied to diet. Psittacosis (a zoonosis) is a general parrot concern.
Preventive themes are a balanced formulated diet, ample enrichment and exercise, clean air, stable routine, and regular avian-veterinary exams. Self-treatment is inappropriate; the owner's job is prevention plus early recognition and referral.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Quakers are compulsive builders, so supply plenty of safe twigs, palm strips, and shreddable material as enrichment to channel that instinct. They bond intensely and can become territorial around the cage, so do daily handling and out-of-cage interaction; feed pellets plus veg and limit fatty seeds to avoid obesity and fatty liver. Note they are illegal to keep in some U.S. states.
Origin & history
The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is native to temperate and subtropical South America. It is the only parrot that builds large communal stick nests rather than nesting in cavities, an adaptation that has helped escaped and released birds establish feral colonies in parts of North America, Europe, and elsewhere.
Those feral populations — which can damage crops and nest on electrical infrastructure — are the reason many U.S. states ban or restrict ownership of an otherwise popular, hardy, and affordable pet parrot. The quaker is a wild species, not domesticated, and its legal status is among the most variable of any commonly kept parrot.
Anecdotes & owner lore
Community experience and cultural notes — not veterinary advice. Every animal is an individual; treat these as colour, not care instructions.
Quakers punch far above their weight in personality and vocabulary — keepers love that a parrot the size of a cockatiel can develop a startlingly large and clear talking repertoire, often narrating the household and 'answering' questions. Their name reportedly comes from a quaking or shaking, bobbing motion young birds make, sometimes paired with a chattering 'quaker' sound.
The species' nest-building instinct produces endless anecdotes: pet quakers weaving toys, popsicle sticks, and stolen pen caps into would-be nests, and fiercely 'redecorating' a corner of the cage. In cities like Chicago and Brooklyn, naturalized colonies of bright green monk parakeets famously survive snowy winters in giant communal stick nests on utility poles — feral descendants of escaped pets that have become beloved (if controversial) local legends.
Common ailments
Obesity — common
Feather-destructive behavior (feather plucking) — common — In quakers, plucking and self-mutilation ('Quaker mutilation syndrome') are recognized concerns; an avian-veterinary work-up is the appropriate first step.
Psittacosis (avian chlamydiosis) — rare
Legality (US)
Educational only. Confirm current rules with your state wildlife agency or local authority before acquiring an animal.
US · CA — Banned — California prohibits possession of monk parakeets as a restricted species under California Fish & Game Code; see Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 671.
US · GA — Banned — Georgia prohibits monk parakeets under its wild animal regulations administered by the Department of Natural Resources.
US · HI — Banned — Hawaii lists Myiopsitta monachus among prohibited species on the Department of Agriculture restricted animals list.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial - pre-launch draft (pending DVM review)
