Monk Parakeet

Last updated 5/10/96

This South American bird has become established in a number of North American cities and can be counted as a "lifer" by American Birding Association rules. Monk Parakeets are small parrots that are green above with grayish throats and faces. They are colony nesters and their bulky nests of sticks are often found in powerline towers. The UTC is host to several.

In Houston:

North of West Belfort at the Railroad Tracks about 1/2 mile east of the intersection of Post Oak. Look for the nest one or two poles north of West Belfort. I used to live in this neighborhood and often saw them while walking on the Braes Bayou Greenway that runs along Braeswood between Loop 610 and Stella Link.

In the City of Bellaire there was a nest in the Tower at the intersection of Willow Bend and Renwick.

In Kemah there is a nest that has been active for 20 years. It is visable on the west side of SH146 from the bridge in the powerlines

Back to the Bird Index