Rock legend Hendrix not to blame for bringing parakeets to Britain

THE idea parakeets were deliberately introduced into Britain by legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix is a myth, according to research.

Another story claiming Hollywood icon Humphrey Bogart to be the origin has also been debunked by using geographic profiling to map half a century of sightings.

The unique analysis found no evidence to support any of the colourful stories surrounding the bright green bird’s origins in the UK.

It was based on a statistical technique originally developed in criminology to prioritise large lists of suspects in cases of serial crime.

Lead author Dr Steven Le Comber, of Queen Mary University of London, said: “The ring-necked parakeet has become a successful invasive species in 34 countries on five continents.

“The fun legends relating to the origins of the UK’S parakeets are probably not going to go away any time soon.

“However our research only found evidence to support the belief of most ornithologists.

“The spread of parakeets in the UK is likely a consequence of repeated releases and introductions, and nothing to do with publicity stunts by musicians or movie stars.”

Stories have circulated in recent years that seek to explain how the birds, native to Africa and Asia, became one of Britain’s most successful alien species.

They are most common in the south-east of England – especially the London suburbs, Surrey, Kent and Sussex.

But parakeet populations have also spread to Oxford and Birmingham – and further north to Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh.

Despite sightings dating back to the 1860s, many insist Jimi Hendrix first released a pair on Carnaby Street at the height of the Swinging Sixties.

Others claim a flock was let go from the set of the Bogart and Hepburn classic The African Queen when filming wrapped in 1951.

One theory even suggests parakeets kept at Syon Park in Isleworth escaped in the 1970s when a plane crashed through the aviary roof.

Another blames damage to other aviaries during the Great Storm of 1987.

But the spatial investigation found the birds are simply the descendants of unwanted pets.