A photograph shared on Reddit has left social media users astonished, revealing a hidden secret in London's parks. The image initially appears to show a tree covered in vibrant green leaves, but upon closer inspection, the 'leaves' are actually dozens of small green parakeets perched on the branches.
These exotic birds, known for their bright green plumage and orange beaks, have become a common sight in parts of London. According to Visit London, the first reports of parakeets in the city date back to the mid-1800s, but their numbers grew significantly from the mid-1990s. By 2021, the population in London alone was estimated at around 50,000, with sightings as far north as Scotland.
The origins of London's parakeets are the subject of several theories, including a popular myth that they escaped from the set of the 1951 film The African Queen or were released by rock star Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s. However, researchers at Queen Mary University of London have concluded that the population is not the result of a single event but rather a gradual accumulation of released or escaped pets over time.
Reddit users expressed surprise and amusement at the phenomenon. One commented: 'I moved to the UK a few years ago and was very surprised one morning to see one of these outside. I figured it was someone's pet... nope we just have wild parakeets here I guess.' Another noted: 'They live all over western Europe nowadays. It's one thing I've really noticed in my lifetime, when I was a kid you never saw them.'
Wild parakeets can be spotted across London, with hotspots including Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, Kew Gardens, Hyde Park, and Brockwell Park. The RSPB estimates there are approximately 8,600 breeding pairs in the UK, primarily in London and the South East, with the ring-necked parakeet being the most common breed.
