Monk Parrot Aggression!

Get Your Parrot Face Out of My Parrot Face! (Two Monk Parrots Challenge Each Other In Brooklyn)

People often ask me why I choose to spend so much time (basically, all my free time) documenting the lives of monk parrots in gritty urban areas. One reason is that the monk parrot is the Rodney Dangerfield of the parrot world: they get "no respect!" from the official world of birders, which generally regards them as "invasive," "introduced," or -- my pet peeve -- "aggressive."

Let's leave aside the "invasive" label for a moment, because I've dealt with this topic obliquely in a photo-comic named The Surfin' Parrots of Puddle Beach which I hope you read. In so far as the monk parrot is "introduced," well, that's pretty much uncontestable: these parrots didn't fly to Brooklyn or the Bronx on their own, and nobody claims they did. But I don't know any form of life -- at least in New York City -- that wasn't "introduced" at one time or another.

Let's focus on the "aggressive" stigma. Are these parrots aggressive, malicous thugs that are hassling native birds? Well, I've never seen this behavior, in fact, I've seen these birds get along well with every bird species you find in quantity in urban areas, namely starlings, sparrows, pigeons, and even mourning doves. There are plenty of other animals in New York that are aggressive to birds in urban areas, including feral cats, unleashed dogs, poorly parented kids, and bird-hating landlords, but parrots? As we say in Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit!


Monk parrots generally get along with other urban birds, including pigeons, starlings, and as seen in this photo, sparrows and mourning doves

But this is not to say that wild monk parrots, who have to be tough to survive in places like Brooklyn, Jersey, and the Bronx, aren't aggressive. These parrots are not wimps, but on the occasions when I've witnessed aggressive behavior, it's always been monk parrot-on monk parrot aggression. For reasons which are probably unknowable, these birds sometimes get on each others nerves, and they're not very shy about showing their displeasure.

Witness this encounter, which I recorded last weekend in the Bronx. Warning: if you can't stand the idea that parrots can be as brutish as humans, avert your eyes!


The bird on the left is just minding his or her own business, but the bird on the right is bugged about something, and monk parrots are very bad at repressing negative feelings.


The aggressive bird, whose demeanor clearly indicates a simmering state of mind, approaches his quarry. The moment is nigh!


YEEEOW! That's got to hurt! Actually, the aggressor parrot just bit into feathers, not flesh, but it's still plenty annoying!


"What the heck was that for?" the victim asks.

"I just wanted to make sure I had your attention!" taunts the aggressor.

Things would have escalated, but three elder birds standing in the background broke up this altercation before it became an all-out brawl.

So yes, like all urban creatures, monk parrots do have an aggressive streak. But focussing on aggressive behavior alone might lead some to believe that the character of these wild parrots' is basically loutish, and they'd be missing the point.

These parrots lead rich, social lives, and aggression, along with affection and cooperation, is a vital part of the total picture. For the most part, these birds peacefully cooperate in just about all the activities you'll see them active at, including feeding, nest-building, foraging, hunting for food, and - if one could peek into their high nests - raising their kids.

If feathers fly from time to time, it's to be expected, after all, these birds are first and foremost New Yorkers.