Florida is well known for having populations of wild living parrots. There are more parrot species living throughout Florida than you might expect.
What about in St Petersburg? Are there wild parrots living anywhere in or near St Petersburg, Florida?
It’s important to differentiate what a wild living wild parrot is in Florida compared to an escaped pet.
Escaped pet parrots in Florida will usually be alone. If you’ve seen a Cockatiel, a Budgerigar, Rose-ringed Parakeet or any type of Cockatoo flying around St Petersburg Florida, it has escaped from somewhere (probably quite recently). Check your local lost pets social media pages and post an alert to assist in the bird’s safe recovery.
Wild living parrots who have successfully colonized particular areas in Florida and in many cases, established breeding sites, are what the focus of this article is all about.
Over 15 parrot species have been reported and sighted living in various parts of Florida. The vast majority of these parrots are South American species and they are reported in the south Florida region. There are considerably fewer parrot sightings in other parts of Florida, with some exceptions.
The three most commonly seen and numerous wild parrots in St Petersburg Florida are:
Blue-crowned Parakeet
Monk Parakeet (Quaker Parrot)
The Monk Parakeet or Quaker Parrot is famous for having established populations outside its natural range in South America. It is regularly seen throughout Florida, including St Petersburg.
Wild Parrots near St Petersburg Florida
Several other species are sometimes reported south of St Petersburg, particularly along Anna Maria Island. These include:
White-eyed Parakeet
Red-masked Parakeet
