Carolina Parakeet

Carolina Parakeet

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Conuropsis
Species:	*carolinensis*

Binomial name

Conuropsis carolinensis

The Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers.

The Carolina Parakeet died out because of a number of different threats. To make space for more agricultural land, large areas of forest were cut down, taking away its living space. The colorful feathers (green body, yellow head, and red around the bill) were in demand as decorations in ladies' hats, and the birds were kept as pets. Finally, they were killed in large numbers because farmers considered them a pest.

The last wild specimen was killed in Florida in 1913, and the last captive bird died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918.