Our colorfully exotic Red-crowned and Lilac-crowned parrots are totally at home flying freely in the urban jungle of Los Angeles. These birds had ancestors from Mexico and South America. At the height of the pet trade in the 1970s, they were a status croc that celebrities actively pursued. After breaking free from captivity, they thrived surprisingly well in their new habitat. Today thousands thrive in Los Angeles.
And in a city famous for its urban wildlife, these Red-crowned parrots have proliferated to be the most successful parrot species there. Not surprisingly, researchers are fascinated and clamoring to know how these animals are adapting to life in the city. Their success is especially interesting since they don’t have natural predators in these environments, which sets them apart from their native environments.
The Parrots’ Journey to Los Angeles
These birds imported as pets led to the creation of a popular fad. This enchantment reached its zenith during the late-20th century. These lovely birds all ended up in fabulous new homes but as was sometimes the case, some fled their new enclosures. The concrete jungles of Los Angeles proved to be the ideal habitat for these colorful aliens.
Once in the wild, the Red-crowned and Lilac-crowned parrots made a quick adjustment to their newfound freedom. They parachuted in, then began to flock—and crash hoot—by the thousands. In the process, they carved up their realms astride communities from Pasadena to Malibu. Their iridescent green plumage is stunning, and bright purple and red patterns can be seen on their heads. Together, they make for a mesmerizing scene amidst the thriving urban hustle and bustle.
This shows the disruptive research by ornithologists John McCormack and Janel Ortiz. They found that Los Angeles’s loveable urban parrots have built a self-sustaining population that isn’t going anywhere. According to McCormack, “They have definitely figured out how to live and thrive.” And that resilience is no better reflected than in their survival. In the wild, their only predators are a few species of hawks and raptors, as they have almost no other natural threats.
Unique Diet and Urban Habitat
The key to the success of these parrots arguably lies in what they eat. Their main diet consists of imported ornamental plants. This unusual way of feeding means they can live next to each other without having to compete with native bird species for a meal. Throughout the day, they busily scour the city. Second, they exhibit all the parrot stereotypes one expects. They travel in large flocks and never stop talking to one another.
They do a lot of flying during the day – they move around from tree to tree, foraging here and there. Because they’re so social and they hang out in flocks, they need to communicate with each other,” said McCormack. Their incredible ability to change with the times has been their saving grace. It has further assisted them to flourish in an increasingly metropolitan context that offers protection from severe climate.
The balmy weather in Los Angeles offers them an excellent environment to thrive in. As Diego Blanco notes, “It’s like a little piece of the tropics that’s being brought here.” This has turned the city into a de facto sanctuary for parrots, establishing an unprecedented urban ecosystem in which they thrive.
Implications for Conservation
Red-crowned parrots are endangered in their native range of Mexico due to habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Despite this, their vibrant population within Los Angeles provides a hopeful opportunity to spur conservation action. Urban populations could potentially make up a key genetic bank. This would provide a genetic lifeline to their cousins in Latin America should they ever go extinct themselves.
McCormack described a whimsical concept. Perhaps one day when wild populations go extinct, we can reintroduce them from urban populations—from the wonderful biodiversity that exists in cities. This idea of an outsize, unexpected urban role is what underscores the importance of cities’ involvement in conservation strategies.
Scientists rigorously study these parrots to learn more about their behavior. Through their work, they’ve realized that urban environments can serve as a refuge for wildlife. As McCormack points out, “So now it’s just kind of like: who knew that this piece from that ecosystem happens to fit in well here? And what kind of new freak-o-system do we get when it’s all combined?”