Presencia de la Cotorrita Gris (Myiopsitta monachus) y de la Cotorrita de Collar (Psittacula krameri) en el Area Metropolitana de Barcelona

Resum

Presence of Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) and Rose Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Spain)
The colonization of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona by Myiopsitta monachus and Psittacula krameri is described. The initial nucleus, set out with birds presumably escaped from private cages, was first observed in 1975 in the park of La Ciutadella, close to the aviary of the Zoological Park of Barcelona. Since then, birds have spread trhoughout the city and nearby zones. M. monachus population (97 individuals) is now five times bigger that that of Ps. krameri (18 individuals). M. monachus uses the arboreal strata under 15 m and builds up communal stick nests. Presence of palm trees Phoenix sp. supplies food and an ideal base for the nests. Ps. krameri settles in the arboreal strate above 10 m and nests in holes. These two requirements, rarely available in urban areas, probably limits its colonization of Barcelona city.