Bright green flashes streaking over Miami rooftops or the raucous squawking echoing through a St. Petersburg park often catch newcomers off guard, because Florida has no native parrots left in the wild. There was only one species of parrot that was native to Florida, the Carolina Parakeet, but this is now extinct. Every one of the many types of parrots in Florida seen today descended from escaped or released pets rather than a natural range expansion.
Over 75 species of parrots have been recorded in urban and suburban Florida, and of these, at least 20 species have bred in the state. Yet only a handful have built the kind of lasting, easily identifiable populations that regular birdwatchers and curious homeowners actually encounter.
This guide walks through five of the most recognizable wild parrot species established across the state: the Monk Parakeet, Nanday Parakeet, White-winged Parakeet, Red-crowned Amazon, and Mitred Parakeet. Each one has carved out its own neighborhoods, calls, and quirks worth knowing before your next backyard sighting…