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Naturalized Parrots of the World: Distribution, Ecology, and Impacts of the World's Most Colorful Colonizers
A remarkable exploration of naturalized parrots, among the most widely distributed birds in the world
There are more than 350 species of parrots in the world, and approximately 300 of these species have been transported to other countries through the caged pet trade. Whether through escaped captivity or purposeful release, many of these parrots are now breeding in new habitats. Indeed, no less than 75 species of parrots have established breeding populations in countries where they were introduced, and parrots are now among the most widely distributed group of birds. Naturalized Parrots of the World is the first book to examine this specific avian population.
Bringing together the work of leading researchers in one convenient volume, this book explores the biology of naturalized parrots and their interactions with native ecosystems. Experts discuss the global distribution of parrots, their genetics, conservation implications, and human responses to these birds. They also consider debates surrounding management issues and the lack of consensus around nonnative species in the wild. Later chapters feature case studies of the two most successful species―the Rose-ringed Parakeet and Monk Parakeet―as well as studies of the introduced parrot species located in specific countries and regions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, northern Europe, South Africa, and Australia.
Highlighting critical aspects of conservation biology and biodiversity, Naturalized Parrots of the World will be an invaluable resource for parrot owners, ornithologists, conservation biologists, and birdwatchers.
There are more than 350 species of parrots in the world, and approximately 300 of these species have been transported to other countries through the caged pet trade. Whether through escaped captivity or purposeful release, many of these parrots are now breeding in new habitats. Indeed, no less than 75 species of parrots have established breeding populations in countries where they were introduced, and parrots are now among the most widely distributed group of birds. Naturalized Parrots of the World is the first book to examine this specific avian population.
Bringing together the work of leading researchers in one convenient volume, this book explores the biology of naturalized parrots and their interactions with native ecosystems. Experts discuss the global distribution of parrots, their genetics, conservation implications, and human responses to these birds. They also consider debates surrounding management issues and the lack of consensus around nonnative species in the wild. Later chapters feature case studies of the two most successful species―the Rose-ringed Parakeet and Monk Parakeet―as well as studies of the introduced parrot species located in specific countries and regions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, northern Europe, South Africa, and Australia.
Highlighting critical aspects of conservation biology and biodiversity, Naturalized Parrots of the World will be an invaluable resource for parrot owners, ornithologists, conservation biologists, and birdwatchers.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 10, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 1, 2021
People have kept and bred parrots in captivity for thousands of years (for just one example, read this). And yet, despite our close association over millennia, parrots are still wild animals. Our fondness for these charismatic and colorful birds prompted and sustained the international parrot trade and this, in turn, has led to parrots establishing breeding populations in lands that are foreign to them.
It’s difficult to know how many parrot species have either accidentally or intentionally been introduced outside their native ranges, but we can make an educated guess using some of the numbers at our fingertips. We know, for example, that more than 19,000 observations of free flying parrots were registered by birders and citizen scientists between 2002 and 2016 in the United States alone. We also know that at least 56 parrot species have been spotted in 43 states. Further, we know that 290 of the 404 (or so) recognized species of parrots were imported into the United States between 1981 and 2018, according to CITES data. This means that at least one out of every five species of parrots that were imported have managed to live long enough to be observed flying freely through metropolitan skies somewhere in the USA. Many of these free flying parrots have established populations that have been breeding successfully for generations, and thus, they are formally recognized as ‘naturalized’. Although they live in alien landscapes, naturalized species differ from invasive species because invasive species damage crops, carry diseases that can infect people or livestock, or damage buildings. Naturalized species pose none of these threats.
Of course, these numbers do not include any of the many sightings of free-flying parrots outside the USA, nor (obviously) do they include parrot sightings that go unreported, so one could reasonably argue there are more parrot species living amongst us around the world than we are formally aware of.
Whilst naturalized parrot populations are growing in many countries and on all continents (except Antarctica, although considering how rapidly climate change is advancing, one wonders how long it’ll be before parrots finally colonize this continent too?), at least 16 parrot species are extinct in their native ranges, and another 118 species are currently threatened with extinction, making them one of the most endangered groups of birds on Earth. Curiously, some parrots have established naturalized populations in urban areas that even outnumber their endangered wild relatives still living in their native ranges. How can this possibly be?
How parrots manage to be so adaptable is just one of many interesting questions explored by the authors of the new book, Naturalized Parrots Of The World: Distribution, Ecology, and Impacts of the World’s Most Colorful Colonizers . This volume, written by a flock of ornithologists who are some of the rock stars of the parrot research world, and edited by evolutionary ecologist, Stephen Pruett-Jones, explores the many complex and overlapping issues represented by naturalized parrot populations. This essential book is the first ever published that gathers together the sum total of our current scientific knowledge about naturalized parrot populations around the world, and is one of the few ever published about any naturalized populations of animals.
This beautifully formatted hardcover consists of two parts. Part I of this 304-page volume contains nine chapters, each written by scientists who are experts in that particular chapter’s topic. Part I includes chapters that comprehensively discuss the global parrot trade, the international geographic distributions of naturalized parrot populations, their genetics, ecological impacts, management strategies, and even a discussion about whether naturalized parrot populations should be eradicated.
Perhaps not surprisingly, this ‘eradication question’ comes up a lot because naturalized parrots are generally large and colorful and loud and they are especially comfortable living amongst throngs of people, so they are hard to miss. So remarkable is their tolerance for living in close proximity to large groups of people that this trait even has its own special word (I mention this solely for the logophiles, like me, out there): synanthropy, which is used to describe undomesticated species, like parrots, that live alongside humans and benefit from this close association. But tantalizingly, scientists report that naturalized parrots are not the only ones who benefit from this close association. People do, too.
Although most parrots naturally show demonstrable levels of synanthropy, two naturalized parrot species are particularly adept at living in large cities around the world: rose-ringed parakeets, Psittacula krameri (pictured on the book cover) and monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus. For this reason, these two species are each scrutinized more closely in its own chapter case study in Part II. The remaining eight case study chapters in Part II focus on urban areas where these and other naturalized parrot populations live, and provide a nuanced and thorough examination of the specific conflicts that may arise from these close associations.
Each chapter is succinct, informative and absorbing, with a clearly-written introduction and summary, and an alphabetical list of dozens to hundreds of cited references from the primary scientific literature at its conclusion. Each chapter in this graphics-rich treatise also includes lots of informative graphs and diagrams in color, as well as photographs, embedded within the text.
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NOTE: You can read the entire review at Forbes.com , which was originally published on 27 August 2021.
It’s difficult to know how many parrot species have either accidentally or intentionally been introduced outside their native ranges, but we can make an educated guess using some of the numbers at our fingertips. We know, for example, that more than 19,000 observations of free flying parrots were registered by birders and citizen scientists between 2002 and 2016 in the United States alone. We also know that at least 56 parrot species have been spotted in 43 states. Further, we know that 290 of the 404 (or so) recognized species of parrots were imported into the United States between 1981 and 2018, according to CITES data. This means that at least one out of every five species of parrots that were imported have managed to live long enough to be observed flying freely through metropolitan skies somewhere in the USA. Many of these free flying parrots have established populations that have been breeding successfully for generations, and thus, they are formally recognized as ‘naturalized’. Although they live in alien landscapes, naturalized species differ from invasive species because invasive species damage crops, carry diseases that can infect people or livestock, or damage buildings. Naturalized species pose none of these threats.
Of course, these numbers do not include any of the many sightings of free-flying parrots outside the USA, nor (obviously) do they include parrot sightings that go unreported, so one could reasonably argue there are more parrot species living amongst us around the world than we are formally aware of.
Whilst naturalized parrot populations are growing in many countries and on all continents (except Antarctica, although considering how rapidly climate change is advancing, one wonders how long it’ll be before parrots finally colonize this continent too?), at least 16 parrot species are extinct in their native ranges, and another 118 species are currently threatened with extinction, making them one of the most endangered groups of birds on Earth. Curiously, some parrots have established naturalized populations in urban areas that even outnumber their endangered wild relatives still living in their native ranges. How can this possibly be?
How parrots manage to be so adaptable is just one of many interesting questions explored by the authors of the new book, Naturalized Parrots Of The World: Distribution, Ecology, and Impacts of the World’s Most Colorful Colonizers . This volume, written by a flock of ornithologists who are some of the rock stars of the parrot research world, and edited by evolutionary ecologist, Stephen Pruett-Jones, explores the many complex and overlapping issues represented by naturalized parrot populations. This essential book is the first ever published that gathers together the sum total of our current scientific knowledge about naturalized parrot populations around the world, and is one of the few ever published about any naturalized populations of animals.
This beautifully formatted hardcover consists of two parts. Part I of this 304-page volume contains nine chapters, each written by scientists who are experts in that particular chapter’s topic. Part I includes chapters that comprehensively discuss the global parrot trade, the international geographic distributions of naturalized parrot populations, their genetics, ecological impacts, management strategies, and even a discussion about whether naturalized parrot populations should be eradicated.
Perhaps not surprisingly, this ‘eradication question’ comes up a lot because naturalized parrots are generally large and colorful and loud and they are especially comfortable living amongst throngs of people, so they are hard to miss. So remarkable is their tolerance for living in close proximity to large groups of people that this trait even has its own special word (I mention this solely for the logophiles, like me, out there): synanthropy, which is used to describe undomesticated species, like parrots, that live alongside humans and benefit from this close association. But tantalizingly, scientists report that naturalized parrots are not the only ones who benefit from this close association. People do, too.
Although most parrots naturally show demonstrable levels of synanthropy, two naturalized parrot species are particularly adept at living in large cities around the world: rose-ringed parakeets, Psittacula krameri (pictured on the book cover) and monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus. For this reason, these two species are each scrutinized more closely in its own chapter case study in Part II. The remaining eight case study chapters in Part II focus on urban areas where these and other naturalized parrot populations live, and provide a nuanced and thorough examination of the specific conflicts that may arise from these close associations.
Each chapter is succinct, informative and absorbing, with a clearly-written introduction and summary, and an alphabetical list of dozens to hundreds of cited references from the primary scientific literature at its conclusion. Each chapter in this graphics-rich treatise also includes lots of informative graphs and diagrams in color, as well as photographs, embedded within the text.
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NOTE: You can read the entire review at Forbes.com , which was originally published on 27 August 2021.
April 30, 2022
This is a beautiful scientific reference book on parrots that have established wild, often urban, populations in areas outside their native range. Each chapter is a referenced scientific paper so it is not an easy to read popular science book, but the book is very well laid out with color pictures, charts, and tables to visually present dense scientific data as easily as possible. It is an excellent resource for any ornithology student or researchers looking at urban parrot populations, and I wish it had been available when I was taking ornithology classes a few years ago. It is much more beautifully laid out than most scientific reference books, but I would not recommend it for casual reading unless you are very passionate on the topic of naturalized parrots (_The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings_ by Mark Bittner is an excellent personal memoir on this topic). My only complaint is the book uses in-text citations - which is the standard in many scientific journals, but I personally find very distracting when the same information can be easily conveyed with an unobtrusive numeric citation. I read this book for the Environment for the Americas Bird Book Club February 2022 meeting.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews