Since their introduction as exotic pets in the 1960s, Ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) have firmly established themselves in southern England, with smaller populations now emerging as far north as Glasgow.

Originally native to tropical climates, these vibrant green birds have spread rapidly across Europe and the UK. While many non-native species (those which have been introduced deliberately or accidentally by humans) coexist harmlessly with native wildlife, some may pose serious threats to local ecosystems. Around 10-15% of introduced species go on to be classed as invasive species. This is when they have reached a level where they can drive biodiversity loss and play a role in plant and animal extinctions, whilst also having enormous economic impacts.

Ring-necked parakeets are not yet classed as invasive and exact current numbers are difficult to determine, with the most recent verified estimate being 12,000 pairs in 2016. However, the species’ rapid expansion, marked by a staggering 16,768% population increase from 1995-2022 (BTO Bird Trends 2022) has sparked concern at SongBird Survival and amongst scientists and conservationists, particularly as research lags.

One of the impacts of these birds is the competition they create for our native birds. Their presence, as woodpecker-sized birds, at garden feeders can cause alarm among native birds, subsequently reducing foraging behaviour and potentially increasing stress. While our beloved garden birds such as great tits and blue tits can become habituated to these birds, their foraging behaviour is still disrupted by these tropical birds.
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Additionally, their nesting habits can negatively affect some of our less common bird species. Ring-necked parakeets occupy nest cavities originally made by other birds, which would typically be used by native species like the striking nuthatch. In some countries like Belgium, this has had a negative effect on nuthatch abundance, whilst in the UK this does not appear to be the case. However, the increasing parakeet abundance and the parakeets’ larger size does gives them a competitive advantage over native cavity nesters, potentially leading to significant population declines if their spread continues.  

Rapid population growth of a non-native species presents unique and complex conservation issues, with difficult ethical considerations needed. In many cases, based on extended research, invasive, non-native species are killed or trapped but this can become complicated with what many consider to be a beautiful charismatic animal such as the ring-necked parakeet. Before this extreme step is taken, we must monitor the spread of the species and understand their impact before they become an unmanageable conservation threat.

The volume of UK-based research on the impact of ring-necked parakeets is limited, and while we can take information from other countries' research, we must understand their effect in the context of UK ecosystems. For this reason, SongBird Survival is committed to supporting research into the effects of this bird on specific species and to ascertaining the tipping point at which closer management is needed.

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Note: This blog draws on information from several scientific publications and further information can be found at:

https://songbirdsos.org/parakeet_and_foraging_behaviour_study

https://songbirdsos.org/Parakeet_habitatselection_belgiumstudy

https://songbirdsos.org/Parakeet_nuthatchstudy_Belgium

https://songbirdsos.org/Parakeet_BTO_UKstudy

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