Though no one knows for sure where the parrots came from, several theories exist. The flock may have begun with parrots that escaped from their owners.

Frances, an employee at Petco, has another theory. She explained that when pet stores close, they often set their remaining birds free into the wild—or into the city, as the case may be.

She says that happened last year when one pet store in Sunnyvale closed. The owners let dozens of birds loose in the city, including canaries, cockateels and parrots. And the pack of parrots grows each year. Residents have spotted as many as 30 at a time.

Lately, parrots have been hanging out around Trader Joe's and Toys"R"Us and residential areas along Mary Avenue and W. McKinley Avenue.

Ross Mehan, a Sunnyvale resident who lives on W. McKinley, said he sees the flying fowl at the same time every morning.

Though Mehan has been spotting the parrots since 1994, he's just recently begun taking photos of them.

"I've been following these guys for years and lately they've been hanging out on my street," Mehan said. "My wife thinks I'm obsessed with parrots, but it's not something you see every day."

Sunnyvale's flock consists of mitred conures, a breed of parrot known for their loud squawking. Mehan said he knows when the birds arrive on his street because he can hear them from a block away.

Frances, who preferred that her last name not be used, said the bevy of birds has survived because residents put out so many birdfeeders. The birds hang out in areas where they get more food, and they often visit the same area at the same time every day.

"They will change their pattern come summertime, when bigger birds are trying to find something to eat. Parrots' bright colors attract birds of prey," Frances said.

But if the history of Sunnyvale's wild parrots is any indicator, there will still be plenty of parrots perching around Sunnyvale next year.