The Carolina Parakeet is an extinct species of parrot that once lived across parts of the southeastern United States. These colorful birds were the only native parrot ever found in this part of the world.
Carolina Parakeets had a very colorful plumage, with a predominantly green body highlighted by red, yellow and orange around the face. They were seed-eaters, using their powerful beaks to break into hard seeds or pits.
We lost the Carolina Parakeet due to a number of factors. These include devastating loss of forest habitat in the eastern United States and demand for the birds' colorful feathers in millinery. They were also hunted and killed as agricultural pests. The last Carolina Parakeet, a bird kept at the Cincinnati Zoo, died in 1918.
From IUCN Red List: The Carolina Parakeet is listed as Extinct
on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2012 by BirdLife International. This species formerly occurred in southeastern USA, but it is now Extinct, primarily as a result of persecution. The last wild records are of the subspecies ludoviciana in 1910.
Today’s bird is the 19th and final species in this year's Birdorable Bonanza! It is also our 350th Birdorable bird - introducing the Birdorable Carolina Parakeet!
The Carolina Parakeet was a colorful species ... more
