Abstract
Parrots have been transported and traded by humans for at least the last 2000 years and this trade continues unabated today. This transport of species has involved the majority of recognized parrot species (300+ of 382 species). Inevitably, some alien species either escape captivity or are released and may establish breeding populations in the novel area. With respect to parrots, established but alien populations are becoming common in many parts of the world. In this review, we attempt to estimate the total number of parrot species introduced into the wild in non-native areas and assess how many of these have self-sustaining breeding populations. Based the public databases GAVIA, eBird, and iNaturalist, 166 species of Psittaciformes have been introduced (seen in the wild) into 120 countries or territories outside of the native range. Of these, 60 species are naturalized, and an additional 11 species are breeding in at least one country outside of their native range (86 countries or territories total). The Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) are the most widely distributed and successful of the introduced parrots, being naturalized in 47 and 26 countries or territories, respectively. Far and away, the United States and its territories support the greatest number of naturalized parrots, with 28 different species found in either the continental US, or Hawaii or Puerto Rico. Naturalized species as well as urbanized native species of parrots are likely to continue increasing in numbers and geographical range, and detailed studies are needed to both confirm species richness in each area as well mitigate potential ecological impacts and conflicts with humans.
Highlights
Parrots have been transported and traded by humans for at least the last 2000 years and this trade continues today [1]
As a result of this international trade, parrots as introduced and naturalized species are among the most widely distributed groups of birds in the world, much of this distribution is in novel areas outside of species’ native ranges
It was our goal in this review to attempt to estimate the number of naturalized species of parrots in the world. This effort updates past estimates [13,23,25,26] and provides a combined database of parrot specific records from Global Avian Invasion Atlas (GAVIA), eBird, and iNaturalist available for use by other researchers
Summary
Parrots have been transported and traded by humans for at least the last 2000 years and this trade continues today [1]. Cardador et al [2] summarized trade data available through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES [3]) and documented that during the 20-year period 1975 to 2015, more than 19 million individual parrots of 336 species were legally traded among countries. This involved an average of more than half a million birds each year, with the parrot trade representing approximately 25% of all legal bird trade [2]. If the species extends its naturalized range and establishes additional populations, it may become invasive
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