What is the current population of ring-necked parakeets in the UK?

The British Trust for Ornithology conservatively estimates the UK parakeet population at over 30,000 birds.

What impact are ring-necked parakeets having on native UK birds?

Concerns exist about parakeets competing with native species for nesting sites and food, potentially causing stress and reduced foraging.

Are there any control measures for parakeets in the UK?

Culling has been considered in the UK, but public controversy has prevented its implementation. Spain has ongoing culling programs.

Home / Environment / UK Parakeet Surge: Experts Fear Native Species Decline

UK Parakeet Surge: Experts Fear Native Species Decline

2 Jan

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Summary

Ring-necked parakeet population in UK surged 25-fold since 1994.
Concerns grow over competition with native birds for food and nests.
Spain culls parakeets; UK considers controversial control measures.

UK Parakeet Surge: Experts Fear Native Species Decline

The vibrant soundscape of London's ancient parks has been dramatically altered by the proliferation of ring-necked parakeets, with their numbers in the UK surging twenty-fivefold between 1994 and 2023. Originally from Africa and the Indian subcontinent, these birds, now estimated at over 30,000, have expanded beyond London to cities like Manchester and Newcastle, exploiting mature trees for nesting and abundant food sources.

Conservationists express growing unease regarding the parakeets' impact on native British wildlife, including threatened species such as starlings and lesser spotted woodpeckers. Concerns centre on competition for nesting cavities and food resources. While research on their specific impact in the UK is limited, evidence from Belgium suggests a significant threat to native cavity-nesting birds, and in Spain, parakeets have been observed displacing bats from their roosts.