Red-masked Parakeet

The Red-masked Parakeet, originally native to Ecuador and Peru, has become an established part of San Francisco’s urban wildlife. They began as a small escaped flock around Telegraph Hill but have since radiated outward, now seen in neighborhoods like Pacific Heights, the Embarcadero, Russian Hill, and beyond. Often heard squawking loudly in flight, these bright green birds with red faces travel in small flocks through the city, favoring tall trees—especially ficus, eucalyptus, and palms—for foraging and roosting. Bold, social, and unmistakably loud, they’ve become a lively and unexpected part of the city’s canopy.