The Colorful Red Crowned Parrot Is Thriving in Texas

Wild Red Crowned Parrots are making themselves at home in Texas, and amazingly, they didn’t escape from a zoo. These bright green, red-headed parrots have established thriving wild populations in cities like San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and even El Paso! Once native to Mexico and now endangered in the wild, the Red Crowned Parrot has found an unexpected safe haven in Texas neighborhoods, becoming a colorful part of the state’s urban wildlife.

How Did a Bunch of Tropical Parrots End Up in Texas?

It all started with the pet trade. Over the years, plenty of Red Crowned Parrots were brought into the U.S. as exotic pets. But like any good escape story, some of these birds got out, either by accident or by people setting them free, and decided they liked the Texas lifestyle just fine!

Fast-forward a few decades, and now you’ve got full-on flocks flying around Texas cities like they own the place. And in some parts of Texas, kind of do!

Turns out, Texas is a great place to be a parrot, despite the urban setting! The weather? Warm and dry, just like back home in northeastern Mexico. The neighborhoods? Full of tall trees, fruit, flowers, and people who don’t mind a little squawking. Red Crowned Parrots are social, smart, and adaptable- which makes Texas suburbs the perfect parrot playground.

Are Red Crowned Parrots Endangered?

The birds are endangered, and here’s where things get wild. In their native habitat in northeastern Mexico, Red Crowned Parrots are actually endangered. Between deforestation and illegal trapping for the pet trade, their numbers have been shrinking fast. It’s a tough life out there.

But in Texas? These parrots are thriving. No one’s trapping them here. There are plenty of trees to roost in, neighborhoods full of food sources, and fewer natural predators. It’s like they stumbled into the avian version of early retirement.

Even weirder? Some biologists believe there may be more Red Crowned Parrots living in the wild in Texas than in parts of their native range. How's that for a plot twist?

Where to Spot Red Crowned Parrots in Texas

If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of these feathered Texans in action, your best bet is to head where the flocks like to hang out, here are six Texas places where you’re guaranteed to spot a Red Crowned Parrot!

Texas has always been full of surprises, and the Red Crowned Parrot is one of the loudest, brightest, and most unexpected! Whether you spot them squawking in the trees or soaring over your backyard, just know you’re witnessing a little slice of Texas wildlife magic.