Uso del arbolado como sustrato de nidificación por la Cotorra (Myiopsitta monachus) en un parque urbano de Santiago de Chile

Jorge Leichtle; Felipe Céspedes; Darlin Díaz; Sebastián Quiñones; Carlos Mejías

doi:10.56178/eh.v41i2.1552

Articles Published 07 November 2026 https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i2.1552

Use of trees as nesting substrate by the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) in an urban park in Santiago, Chile

biological invasions exotic birds nesting Psittacidae urban ecology

Jorge Leichtle Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, General Gana 1670, Santiago 8320165, Chile | Doctorado en Conservación y Gestión de la Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Ejército 146, Santiago 8370003, Chile

Felipe Céspedes Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, General Gana 1670, Santiago 8320165, Chile

Darlin Díaz Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, General Gana 1670, Santiago 8320165, Chile

Sebastián Quiñones Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, General Gana 1670, Santiago 8320165, Chile

Carlos Mejías Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, General Gana 1670, Santiago 8320165, Chile

Abstract

Invasive species can have an impact on the ecological, economic, and general well-being of local ecosystems; as such, documenting their establishment in urban environments is relevant for their management. The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) uses various tree species as support for its communal nesting structures. The aim of this study was to characterize the occupied trees and to examine the relationship between their structural attributes as well as the number and vertical position of these structures in Parque O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile. Between June 2023 and June 2024, we conducted systematic surveys covering the entire park. For each occupied tree, we recorded its taxonomic category, height, trunk diameter, number of structures and the minimum and maximum positions of the nesting structures. We recorded 69 communal nesting structures in 23 trees. The number of structures was negatively related to trunk diameter, with no association detected with tree height. Cupressus sp. held approximately half of the recorded structures, followed by Cedrus sp. And Araucaria sp., whereas Eucalyptus sp. was less represented. These results concur with previous studies conducted in Santiago, which documented a predominant use of exotic trees and similar numbers of structures per tree. Because tree availability was not quantified, the results describe patterns of use without allowing inferences about selection of or preference for particular substrates. This study provides a baseline for future research on substrate availability, occupancy, and breeding dynamics in urban environments.

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References

Aramburú R, Arias Ríos JA, Crego A, Zalazar S, Volpe N, Kacoliris F, Berkunsky I (2023) Estado actual de una población urbana de Cotorra Argentina (Myiopsitta monachus) en Argentina. Hornero 38(2):19-24. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v38i2.1432
Briceño C, Sandoval-Rodríguez A, Yévenes K, Larraechea M, Morgado A, Chappuzeau C, Muñoz V, Dufflocq P, Olivares P (2019) Interactions between invasive Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and other bird species during nesting seasons in Santiago, Chile. Animals 9(11):923. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110923
Briceño C, Larraechea M, Alvarado S (2022) Monk Parakeet’s (Myiopsitta monachus) ecological parameters after five decades of invasion in Santiago metropolis, Chile. Birds 3(4):341-358. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds3040023
Burger J, Gochfeld M (2000) Nest site selection in Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Florida. Bird Behavior 13(2):99-105
Canavelli SB, Aramburú RM, Zaccagnini ME (2012) Aspectos a considerar para disminuir los conflictos originados por los daños de la Cotorra (Myiopsitta monachus) en cultivos agrícolas. Hornero 27(1):89-101. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v27i1.676
Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente (2008) Biodiversidad de Chile: patrimonio y desafíos. Ocho Libros Editores, Santiago, Chile
De la Maza M, Bonacic C (eds) (2013) Manual para el monitoreo de fauna silvestre de Chile. Serie Fauna Australis, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (2020) Normales climatológicas 1991-2020. Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil, Santiago, Chile
Domínguez M (2000) Parque Cousiño y Parque O’Higgins: imagen pasada, presente y futura de un espacio verde en la metrópoli de Santiago. Revista de Urbanismo 3. https://doi.org/10.5354/0717-5051.2000.11774
Eberhard JR (1998) Breeding biology of the Monk Parakeet. The Wilson Bulletin 110(4):463-473. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4163993
Gaertner M, Wilson JRU, Cadotte MW, MacIvor JS, Zenni RD, Richardson DM (2017) Non-native species in urban environments: patterns, processes, impacts and challenges. Biological Invasions 19:3461-3469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1598-7
Hernández-Brito D, Carrete M, Blanco G, Romero-Vidal P, Senar JC, Mori E, White TH Jr, Luna Á, Tella JL (2021) The role of Monk Parakeets as nest-site facilitators in their native and invaded areas. Biology 10(7):683. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10070683
Marchese C (2015) Biodiversity hotspots: a shortcut for a more complicated concept. Global Ecology and Conservation 3:297-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.12.008
Martin AJF (2022) Accuracy and precision in urban forestry tools for estimating total tree height. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 48(6):319-332. https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2022.024
McKinney ML (2006) Urbanization as a major cause of biotic homogenization. Biological Conservation 127:247-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.09.005
Medrano F, Barros R, Norambuena HV, Matus R, Schmitt F (eds) (2018) Atlas de las aves nidificantes de Chile. Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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R Core Team (2023) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. [URL: https://www.r-project.org/]
Santini L, González-Suárez M, Russo D, Gonzalez-Voyer A, von Hardenberg A, Ancillotto L (2019) One strategy does not fit all: determinants of urban adaptation in mammals. Ecology Letters 22:365-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13199
Tala C (2016) Especies exóticas invasoras: una grave amenaza a nuestro patrimonio natural. Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Santiago, Chile. https://biodiversidad.mma.gob.cl
Volpe N, Aramburú RM (2011) Preferencias de nidificación de la Cotorra Argentina (Myiopsitta monachus) en un área urbana de Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical 22:111-119
Ziller SR, Zalba S, Iriarte A (2005) El programa mundial sobre especies invasoras. Global Invasive Species Programme

How to cite

Jorge Leichtle, Felipe Céspedes, Darlin Díaz, Sebastián Quiñones, Carlos Mejías (2026). Use of trees as nesting substrate by the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) in an urban park in Santiago, Chile. El Hornero, Vol. 41 No. 2 (2026). https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i2.1552

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[1] Aramburú R, Arias Ríos JA, Crego A, Zalazar S, Volpe N, Kacoliris F, Berkunsky I (2023) Estado actual de una población urbana de Cotorra Argentina (Myiopsitta monachus) en Argentina. Hornero 38(2):19-24. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v38i2.1432

[2] Briceño C, Sandoval-Rodríguez A, Yévenes K, Larraechea M, Morgado A, Chappuzeau C, Muñoz V, Dufflocq P, Olivares P (2019) Interactions between invasive Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and other bird species during nesting seasons in Santiago, Chile. Animals 9(11):923. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110923

[3] Briceño C, Larraechea M, Alvarado S (2022) Monk Parakeet’s (Myiopsitta monachus) ecological parameters after five decades of invasion in Santiago metropolis, Chile. Birds 3(4):341-358. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds3040023

[4] Burger J, Gochfeld M (2000) Nest site selection in Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Florida. Bird Behavior 13(2):99-105

[5] Canavelli SB, Aramburú RM, Zaccagnini ME (2012) Aspectos a considerar para disminuir los conflictos originados por los daños de la Cotorra (Myiopsitta monachus) en cultivos agrícolas. Hornero 27(1):89-101. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v27i1.676

[6] Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente (2008) Biodiversidad de Chile: patrimonio y desafíos. Ocho Libros Editores, Santiago, Chile

[7] De la Maza M, Bonacic C (eds) (2013) Manual para el monitoreo de fauna silvestre de Chile. Serie Fauna Australis, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

[8] Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (2020) Normales climatológicas 1991-2020. Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil, Santiago, Chile

[9] Domínguez M (2000) Parque Cousiño y Parque O’Higgins: imagen pasada, presente y futura de un espacio verde en la metrópoli de Santiago. Revista de Urbanismo 3. https://doi.org/10.5354/0717-5051.2000.11774

[10] Eberhard JR (1998) Breeding biology of the Monk Parakeet. The Wilson Bulletin 110(4):463-473. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4163993

[11] Gaertner M, Wilson JRU, Cadotte MW, MacIvor JS, Zenni RD, Richardson DM (2017) Non-native species in urban environments: patterns, processes, impacts and challenges. Biological Invasions 19:3461-3469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1598-7

[12] Hernández-Brito D, Carrete M, Blanco G, Romero-Vidal P, Senar JC, Mori E, White TH Jr, Luna Á, Tella JL (2021) The role of Monk Parakeets as nest-site facilitators in their native and invaded areas. Biology 10(7):683. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10070683

[13] Marchese C (2015) Biodiversity hotspots: a shortcut for a more complicated concept. Global Ecology and Conservation 3:297-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.12.008

[14] Martin AJF (2022) Accuracy and precision in urban forestry tools for estimating total tree height. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 48(6):319-332. https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2022.024

[15] McKinney ML (2006) Urbanization as a major cause of biotic homogenization. Biological Conservation 127:247-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.09.005

[16] Medrano F, Barros R, Norambuena HV, Matus R, Schmitt F (eds) (2018) Atlas de las aves nidificantes de Chile. Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile, Santiago, Chile

[17] Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (2017) Catálogo de las especies exóticas asilvestradas/naturalizadas en Chile. PNUD/MMA/LIB, Santiago, Chile

[18] R Core Team (2023) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. [URL: https://www.r-project.org/]

[19] Santini L, González-Suárez M, Russo D, Gonzalez-Voyer A, von Hardenberg A, Ancillotto L (2019) One strategy does not fit all: determinants of urban adaptation in mammals. Ecology Letters 22:365-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13199

[20] Tala C (2016) Especies exóticas invasoras: una grave amenaza a nuestro patrimonio natural. Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Santiago, Chile. https://biodiversidad.mma.gob.cl

[21] Volpe N, Aramburú RM (2011) Preferencias de nidificación de la Cotorra Argentina (Myiopsitta monachus) en un área urbana de Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical 22:111-119

[22] Ziller SR, Zalba S, Iriarte A (2005) El programa mundial sobre especies invasoras. Global Invasive Species Programme