FaunaHub
EXExtinctPartial review

Carolina Parakeet

Conuropsis carolinensis

Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), a preserved specimen of the extinct green-and-yellow parrot.

Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) — a preserved museum specimen of the extinct parrot.

Image: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
EX · Extinct
Animal group
Birds
Population trend
Trend unknown
Last verified

Conservation overview

The Carolina parakeet was the only parrot native to the eastern United States, a green bird with a yellow-and-orange head. It is assessed as Extinct.

The last captive bird died in 1918, in the same Cincinnati Zoo aviary that had held the last passenger pigeon.

Range & habitat

Formerly the eastern and central United States.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Hunting (as a crop pest and for feathers)
  • Habitat loss
  • Capture for the cage-bird trade

Why it matters

North America's only native parrot, driven to extinction by hunting and habitat loss, the Carolina parakeet is a reminder that even widespread, colourful birds can vanish.

Gallery

Preserved Carolina parakeet specimens.

Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis); preserved specimens.

Image: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Carolina Parakeet

Frequently Asked Questions

Did parrots really live wild in the eastern USA?
Yes. The Carolina parakeet was a native North American parrot ranging across the eastern and central United States, the only parrot species native to that region.
Why did the Carolina parakeet go extinct?
Published accounts cite hunting (it was killed as a crop pest and for its feathers), habitat loss, and capture for the cage-bird trade. The last known bird died in 1918.

Last updated: