Meet the Brooklyn Parrots, NYC’s Famous Wild Birds

Say you’re strolling through Brooklyn one morning enjoying your iced latte and artisan doughnut when you notice your shoelace is loose. You place your treat down for a moment to tie your shoe when a bird swoops down and steals your breakfast. But this fellow is no ordinary New York City pigeon. This little pastry thief is a resplendent green.

You’re not imagining things. You’ve been robbed by one of Brooklyn’s most beloved and unusual residents, the monk parakeets, aka Quaker parrots. Who are these unusual birds? Why are they here? How can you see them on your NYC visit? And what else can you do besides urban birdwatching in New York?

Yes, there are many questions. As your resident NYC experts (we’ve been doing tours here for over 15 years, so we know a thing or two about the city), we’re here to help. Read on for everything you need or may not need to know about the Brooklyn parrots.

Where did the Brooklyn Parrots come from?

Like most New Yorkers, these parrots came from somewhere else. Some of the more entertaining theories involve a shipwreck off the coast or a near magical journey in the eye of a hurricane. But the truth is only a little less spectacular.

Consensus amongst birders and ornithologists alike is that today’s parrots are the descendants of a flock that escaped John F. Kennedy International Airport in the 1960s. Imported from the tropics and destined for pet stores, a few birds broke loose and, despite all odds, found NYC to be a suitable new home. 

Kathleen Lynch, an associate professor of biology at Hofstra University in New York, told the Long Island Herald in 2017 that, while she wouldn’t necessarily fully endorse the JFK theory of how the birds came to be in New York, she believed it must be likely.

“I don’t think they’re migratory birds,” she said. “They have to be a pet-trade thing. They’re definitely not native birds.” She also noted that she was “shocked” to find them in such a cold climate and was pleasantly surprised to see them here.

How the Brooklyn Parrots survive in New York

Despite being tropical birds, monk parakeets are resilient to cold and can handle our winters in NYC. They have a wide-ranging diet and have adjusted to the constant supply of discarded food. They also possess incredibly dextrous feet, allowing them to construct elaborate apartment-like nests hosting multiple breeding pairs. Or maybe snatch your doughnut (see my intro above).

What’s fascinating about these birds’ nests is that they’re quite large and house several birds each. They’re akin to a New York apartment, actually, as you’ll find so many birds living in one nest at a time. Bird experts note that in many cases, each bird has its own entrance to the nest as well.

They also build their nests around electrical wires so that they’ll have heat, especially during the colder months in New York. You’ll find their nests in trees, too, but they tend to gravitate toward warmer locations in the winter (without necessarily leaving the city).

But their best trait is one shared by most New Yorkers — they love to talk! 

Every flock enjoys a complex communication network, allowing the parrots to work together to find food and safety.

Local tip: If you ever come across a lone parrot enjoying a bird-feeder, stay and watch. In about 20 minutes or so, you can expect to see the rest of his group sitting down to lunch.

Where can you see the Brooklyn Parrots?

The parrots like to make their nests in the same place each year. The best place to spot them is at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. They’ve colonized the main gate, building their nests among the gate’s terra-cotta features.

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There’s also a famous flock located at Brooklyn College. Embraced as the school’s unofficial mascot, the Brooklyn College parakeets make their homes in the tall light posts around the athletic fields.

If you want to see the birds for yourself in Brooklyn, join us on our NYC bus tour that makes stops in Brooklyn and Queens and try to spot a few in the trees of Prospect Park or the brownstone features of Park Slope.

What other NYC boroughs have monk parakeets?

The birds have been seen in all five boroughs, but outside of Brooklyn, your best bet is to spot them in Queens. Many people have seen them flying around Howard Beach as well as in the Rockaway Peninsula (or as we New Yorkers — and lots of other people — call it, the Rockaways). They like to be near the water, which is why you’ll find them by these beaches. 

If you venture to upper Manhattan, you may also spot monk parakeets flying around Riverside Park. Keep your eyes peeled for their beautiful green feathers among the trees along the Hudson River.

What else is there to do in Brooklyn?

After you’ve taken your journey to Brooklyn to see the parrots, you might as well stay in the borough for the day and enjoy what else it has to offer. There’s plenty to see and do in Brooklyn.

Depending on the time of year, the Brooklyn Flea is a fun spot to check out (it’s open on weekends from April to December in DUMBO and Williamsburg). The flea market boasts hundreds of vendors selling everything you can imagine, so make sure you leave room in your suitcase for some new treasures!

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is also beautiful any time of year. While you might be tempted to save a visit for warm weather, you’d be surprised by what you’ll find in winter — a beautiful light show. Hours vary based on the time of year, so double check before you arrive.

Don’t forget to also take the iconic photo with the Manhattan Bridge in the background to post on Instagram. You’ll want to go to 39 Washington St. (there will surely be other people there doing the same).

If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can also walk the Brooklyn Bridge — it’s a little over a mile long and takes 30-40 minutes depending on how fast you walk and how crowded it is. It has a designated walking path where you’re safely away from cars. 

Every neighborhood in Brooklyn has something to offer, so you can’t go wrong no matter where you go. If this sounds like too much for one day, it just might be — and that might mean you’ll want to spend a few days in Brooklyn. I wouldn’t blame you!