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Why Parrot Watching Is Perfect for Families

If you have a nature-loving family like mine, the streets of NYC can sometimes seem a bit lacking in the greenery and wilderness department. There are plenty of kid-friendly green spaces in NYC, of course, but it can be easy to forget that there are wild animals and plants all around us, even in the middle of NYC. If you find yourself losing sight of the NYC wilderness, these parakeets can be a reminder that wonder and life surround us, even in the urban jungle.

It's thought that these monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots, escaped from a shipment a long time ago and settled down in flocks throughout the boroughs. The parrots are simply a delight to watch as they pop in and out of their massive communal nests. They groom each other, maintain their nest structures, and enthusiastically greet one another whenever scouts return from their outings. They build their homes pretty high up in the tree, so you might have to crane your neck to see them, but it's worth it!

Brooklyn's monk parakeets make communal nests high in the tree tops. 

How to Find the Hidden Parrots of Brooklyn

To find the parrots, just follow your ears, as they make an unmistakable call! My favorite location to watch them is in a tall tree on the block of West 4th and 65th Street. I suggest starting out by standing underneath the tree and looking straight up. Kids get a kick out of trying to spot the birds, which are camouflaged well until they move, despite their bright green bodies and loud cries.

Once you've had your fill of watching the birds' antics (or your necks get tired—they rarely come down from the treetops), I highly recommend crossing the street and trying to spot them from the outside of the tree. Though you can't see the nests from here and the birds don't always venture to the canopy, they're much easier to spot from this angle when they do come out.

RELATED: Interact with Birds at the Bronx Zoo's Budgie Landing

Brooklyn's monk parakeets have a distinctive color and call.

The parakeets have expanded to other areas of Brooklyn as well, and can also be found at Greenwood Cemetery and the green parrot field on 8th Avenue and 50th Street in Sunset Park (though I can't speak from experience about the latter). They used to nest near Brooklyn College, although they seem to have moved on from there, but the small Hot Spot Tot Lot playground on Campus Road just off Ocean Avenue still has a fence adorned with adorable parrot silhouettes inspired by these Brooklyn wonders.

Nearby Attractions and Activities

The neighborhood surrounding 65th Street and West 4th Street is a calm and quiet part of Bensonhurst on the border with Mapleton, making it a lovely place for a stroll on a sunny afternoon. For a bite to eat, walk down to 60th Street, where several cultures intersect, and you can get everything from freshly baked Chinese buns to pizza from the long-time neighborhood staple, Pizza Daddy.

Walk up about one avenue and six blocks to East 2nd and Avenue P, and you'll find yourself in the shaded Colonel David Marcus playground, which is large, colorful, and generally not too busy (especially in the mornings).

Once it reopens in late 2025, an eight-minute walk in the other direction leads you to the newly renovated Ryder Library (23rd Avenue at 59th Street), where you can make a restroom pit stop or just spend the day. Friends Field is a bit further, but it's a very nice park and playground to spend an afternoon in, and it includes fun water features for summer play.

Photos by the author