If you want a parrot that actually talks — clearly, in context, in your own voice — and you do not have room for a macaw, the Quaker Parrot is the bird almost every experienced keeper points you toward. They are also called Monk Parakeets, and they are the only parrot in the world that builds its own elaborate stick nest.
They are not, however, legal everywhere. That single fact catches more prospective owners off guard than anything else about the species, so it gets its own section below.
TL;DR: The Quaker Parrot at a Glance
- Scientific name: Myiopsitta monachus
- Also called: Monk Parakeet, Quaker Parakeet
- Size: 11–12 inches, 90–150 grams
- Lifespan: 20–30 years with good care
- Talking ability: 8/10 — among the best talkers of any small-to-medium parrot
- Noise level: 6/10 — louder than a parrotlet or linnie, quieter than a sun conure or macaw
- Beginner friendly: 6/10
- Minimum cage: 24×24×30 inches
- Out-of-cage time: 3–5 hours daily
- Price at Parrot Bliss: $400–$800 — see current availability
- Legal status: banned outright in 11 US states — check yours before you fall in love
In one sentence: a confident little extrovert with the talking skill of a small Amazon and the cleverness of a builder-engineer.
What Is a Quaker Parrot, Really?
The Quaker Parrot is a small green parrot with a pale gray chest and face — the “quaker bib” that gives the bird its name. Native to South America, it has established feral colonies across several US cities, which is precisely why some states regulate it.
What makes the species genuinely unusual is not its color or its size. It is the nest. Quakers are the only parrots that build elaborate communal nesting structures out of sticks, rather than nesting in tree hollows like every other parrot. In the wild those structures can grow to the size of a small car and house multiple pairs.
That engineering instinct does not switch off in a living room. A pet Quaker will weave anything it can carry — paper, palm strips, toy parts, your phone charger cable — into a structure in the corner of its cage, and defend it with real conviction.
The Nest Instinct: What It Means Day to Day
Understanding the nest drive explains most Quaker behavior that surprises new owners.
They hoard. Small objects disappear into the cage and become building material. Give them safe shreddables and they will use those instead of your belongings.
They get territorial about the cage. A Quaker that is delightful on your shoulder can become defensive about its own doorway, because to the bird that is a nest, not furniture. Handling them outside the cage — on a play stand or your hand — avoids most of it.
They are relentlessly busy. This is a bird that wants a project. Foraging toys, shreddable material and rotated cage furniture matter more for a Quaker than for most species its size.
Quaker Parrot Temperament: What People Fall In Love With
Three things people love
- The talking. Quakers develop clear, intelligible vocabularies and often use words in context rather than parroting at random. They are consistently ranked among the best talkers in the small-to-medium category.
- The confidence. They are bold, curious birds that engage with the household rather than hiding from it.
- The bond. Quakers attach deeply to their people and stay interested in what those people are doing.
Three things to be ready for
- Cage territoriality, as above — manageable, but real.
- The chatter. At 6/10 they are not silent. They talk, mimic and call through the day.
- The legality problem. Eleven states ban them. This is the one that ends the conversation for some buyers.
Where Quaker Parrots Are Legal
Quaker Parrots are legal in Florida with no permit. Elsewhere, the picture varies sharply, because their large stick nests can damage power infrastructure.
Prohibited outright in 11 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wyoming.
Permit required in 4 states: Idaho, Kansas, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
Conditional in 2 states: Ohio allows them if the wings are kept clipped. Virginia requires a seamless closed band — which our babies wear.
We keep a full state-by-state guide to Quaker parrot laws covering every state. If you are anywhere near a restricted state line, read it before you pay a deposit anywhere.
What to Feed Your Quaker Parrot
A Quaker’s diet should run roughly 70% pellets, 22% vegetables, 5% fruit and 3% treats. Pellets do the nutritional heavy lifting; the vegetables provide variety and enrichment; fruit and treats are for training and bonding, not bulk.
Quakers are prone to putting on weight, and a seed-heavy diet is the usual cause. Seed should be a training reward, not a staple.
Housing Your Quaker: Cage, Space, and Enrichment
Minimum cage size is 24×24×30 inches — and for a bird this active, bigger is genuinely better. Bar spacing should be narrow enough that a 90–150 gram bird cannot get its head through.
Plan on 3–5 hours of out-of-cage time daily, 10–12 hours of sleep, a bath 1–2 times weekly, and an annual vet check with an avian vet.
Because of the nest drive, shreddable material is not optional enrichment for a Quaker — it is the thing that keeps the bird occupied and off your furniture.
Quaker vs. Similar Species: A Quick Comparison
Quaker vs. Sun Conure: the Quaker is markedly quieter and a far better talker. The Sun Conure is more physically affectionate and more colorful. If noise is a constraint, the Quaker wins easily.
Quaker vs. Parrotlet: the parrotlet is smaller and quieter, but talks far less. The Quaker is the choice if conversation is the point.
Quaker vs. Caique: the Caique is the clown — more physical, more energetic, not a talker. The Quaker is the communicator.
Quaker vs. Lineolated Parakeet: the Linnie is the calmest small parrot we raise and much quieter, but nowhere near as talkative.
Common Questions About Quaker Parrots
Do Quaker Parrots talk?
Yes — they are excellent talkers. They develop clear, intelligible vocabularies and often use words in context. They are consistently ranked among the best talkers in the small-to-medium parrot category.
Are Quaker Parrots loud?
Quakers are vocal birds — they chatter, mimic and call throughout the day. They are louder than a parrotlet or linnie, but quieter than a sun conure or macaw. Most owners find their level of noise engaging rather than disruptive.
Are Quaker Parrots legal in Florida?
Yes — Quaker Parrots are legal to own in Florida with no permit. They are prohibited in eleven states and need a permit in four more, because their large stick nests can damage power infrastructure.
How long do Quaker Parrots live?
Quaker Parrots typically live 20–30 years with proper care. They are a long-term commitment and will be part of your family for decades.
How much does a Quaker Parrot cost?
Our hand-raised Quaker Parrots are priced from $400–$800. This includes weaning care, a care sheet, a starter food supply, and a health guarantee.
Is a Quaker Parrot a good first parrot?
They rate 6/10 for beginner friendliness. A hand-fed Quaker with consistent daily handling suits a committed first-time owner well, provided that owner understands the cage territoriality and the noise.
What is the difference between a Quaker Parrot and a Monk Parakeet?
Nothing — they are the same bird. Myiopsitta monachus is called a Quaker Parrot, Quaker Parakeet or Monk Parakeet depending on who is speaking. “Monk Parakeet” is the more common name in ornithology and in state wildlife regulations.
Quaker Parrot Quick-Start Checklist
- Confirm your state allows Quakers — and check permit or banding rules if it is one of the six conditional states
- Cage of at least 24×24×30 inches, with appropriate bar spacing
- A pelleted base diet, with vegetables daily
- Shreddable, safe nesting material — this is essential, not optional
- 3–5 hours of out-of-cage time each day
- A quiet, dark sleeping spot for 10–12 hours
- An avian vet identified before the bird comes home
- A plan for the next 20–30 years
Thinking About Adding a Quaker to Your Flock?
We hand-raise Quaker Parrots in West Palm Beach, Florida. Every baby is hand-fed, weaned at its own pace, and wears a seamless closed band. You can see our available Quaker Parrots here, or read about visiting our Florida nursery in person if you are local.
If you are in Florida, Quakers are legal here with no permit — see Quaker Parrots for sale in Florida.
Before you buy from anyone, check your state. Call us on (561) 328-4944 and we will check it with you.
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