Humans preyed on Carolina parakeets, they were shot and eaten as food, stuffed as prizes, traded, and domesticated as pets. It is likely that birds of prey, such as Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperi) and other birds of prey preyed on adults and fledglings. Eggs and hatchlings in nests likely fell prey to nest predators such as raccoons (Procyon lotor), skunks (Mephitidae), squirrels (Sciuridae), and snakes (Serpentes).
Known Predators:
Male and female adults were identical in plumage, however males were slightly larger than females. The majority of the plumage was green with lighter green underparts. The primary feathers were mostly green, but with yellow edges on the outer primaries. The shoulders were yellow, continuing down the outer edge of the wings. Thighs were green towards the top and yellow towards the feet. The legs and feet were light brown. The most distinguishing characteristic of this species was the orange forehead and face. The orange feathers extended to behind the eyes and upper cheeks (lores). The skin around the eyes was white and the beak was pale flesh colored. The plumage on the head was entirely bright yellow.
Young Carolina parakeets differed slightly in coloration from adults. The face and entire body was green, with paler underparts. They lacked yellow or orange plumage on the face, wings, and thighs. Hatchlings were covered in mouse-gray down, until about 39-40 days when green wings and tails appear. Fledglings had full adult plumage at around 1 year of age.
Average mass: 280 g.
Range length: 32 to 34 cm.
Range wingspan: 53 to 58 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
Carolina parakeets cried loudly while flying. Flocks could be heard from miles away. They were often silent when roosting, murmuring occasionally. During feeding a low, consistent chatter was observed. When predators were sighted, Carolina parakeets would emit shrill warning cries. Flock mates were attracted to the cries of injured birds. Carolina parakeets also probably communicated among themselves with visual cues and mutual preening.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
This species is extinct. The last sighting of the Carolina parakeet in the wild was in 1920, however questionable sightings occurred as late as 1938. The last bird in captivity died at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden in September 1914.
US Migratory Bird Act: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: extinct
Carolina parakeets ruined many fruit crops, causing economic loss for farmers.
Negative Impacts: crop pest
Carolina parakeets served a certain aesthetic role to humans. They were kept as pets, eaten, and their feathers were traded.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; food ; body parts are source of valuable material
Carolina parakeets fed mainly on cocklebur seeds (Xanthium strumarium) and other seeds. They played an important role in seed dispersal of these plants.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
Carolina parakeets ate primarily seeds of cockleburs (Xanthium sp.). They also ate the fruits and seeds of many other plants, as well as flower buds and, occasionally, insects. They were recorded as ruining many fruit crops. They would rip the unripe fruit off of the tree and eat the seeds. Flocks could ruin the fruit of a particular tree in a matter of minutes. When eating, Carolina parakeets grabbed food items with their beaks, placed it in their claws, and held onto it while using the beak to eat the item.
Animal Foods: insects
Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers
Primary Diet: herbivore (Frugivore , Granivore )
Found in the Americas, the extinct Conuropsis carolinensis was found from southern Florida to North Carolina and in coastal areas as far north as New York. Carolina parakeets occurred in the Gulf states as far west as eastern Texas and north along the Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries. Carolina parakeets were also recorded in South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Westernmost occurrences were in eastern Colorado.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Overgrown and heavily timbered lands bordering swamps and rivers were preferred habitats of Carolina parakeets. These parakeets also lived on farmlands and ate the crops. They nested in hollowed trees in large groups. They preferred sycamore woodlands and cypress swamps.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Wetlands: swamp
Other Habitat Features: agricultural ; riparian
No studies on lifespan were conducted while Carolina parakeets were still living. They lived up to 30 years in captivity.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 10 to 30 years.
Some sources say that Carolina parakeets were monogamous, having only one partner for their entire lives. However, no studies were conducted on mating systems and many birds apparently shared nests.
There is little information available on reproduction in Carolina parakeets. They bred in the spring, producing 2 to 5 eggs in each clutch that were then incubated for 23 days.
Breeding interval: Carolina parakeets bred once a year.
Breeding season: Breeding usually occurred between March and April.
Range eggs per season: 2 to 5.
Average time to hatching: 23 days.
Range fledging age: 18 to 19 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
It is thought that females were responsible for the eggs during the incubation period. Both parents cared for young parakeets. Adults were observed as careless when feeding the offspring and were often unsuccessful in rearing young.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)
The only native parrot in its range, the Carolina Parakeet (12-14 inches) was a striking bird with a bright green body, yellow head, red forehead, and long tail. Recently, populations of escaped parakeets (particularly the Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus) have become established in areas formerly inhabited by the Carolina Parakeet, and might perhaps have complicated the identification of this species had it survived to the present. In its lifetime, however, the Carolina Parakeet was unmistakable. Males and females are believed to have been similar. Historically, the Carolina Parakeet inhabited large areas of the southeastern United States west to the Great Plains and north to the Mid-Atlantic Region. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the range of the Carolina Parakeet contracted rapidly, eventually confining this species to central Florida. Logging of habitat, persecution of this species as a crop pest, and infectious avian diseases have all been suggested as possible reasons for the Carolina Parakeet’s decline, but the true cause is yet unknown. The last confirmed sighting of this species was in central Florida in the early 1920s, with unsubstantiated reports continuing for another decade. Carolina Parakeets utilized a variety of habitat types. Much of this species’ habitat was swampland and other wet woodland, where nesting took place in cavities in large, mature trees. Carolina Parakeets also visited more open habitat, such as forest clearings and fields. This species primarily ate seeds and fruits, and was often shot by farmers in retaliation for entering orchards to feed on fruit crops. Although relatively few studies of Carolina Parakeet behavior took place before this species’ extinction, it is known that Carolina Parakeets congregated in large groups while nesting and feeding. Carolina Parakeets were observed by early naturalists climbing along branches in search of food and flying in large flocks between feeding areas. This species was primarily active during the day.
The only native parrot in its range, the Carolina Parakeet (12-14 inches) was a striking bird with a bright green body, yellow head, red forehead, and long tail. Recently, populations of escaped parakeets (particularly the Monk Parakeet,Myiopsitta monachus) have become established in areas formerly inhabited by the Carolina Parakeet, and might perhaps have complicated the identification of this species had it survived to the present. In its lifetime, however, the Carolina Parakeet was unmistakable. Males and females are believed to have been similar. Historically, the Carolina Parakeet inhabited large areas of the southeastern United States west to the Great Plains and north to the Mid-Atlantic Region. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the range of the Carolina Parakeet contracted rapidly, eventually confining this species to central Florida. Logging of habitat, persecution of this species as a crop pest, and infectious avian diseases have all been suggested as possible reasons for the Carolina Parakeet’s decline, but the true cause is yet unknown. The last confirmed sighting of this species was in central Florida in the early 1920s, with unsubstantiated reports continuing for another decade. Carolina Parakeets utilized a variety of habitat types. Much of this species’ habitat was swampland and other wet woodland, where nesting took place in cavities in large, mature trees. Carolina Parakeets also visited more open habitat, such as forest clearings and fields. This species primarily ate seeds and fruits, and was often shot by farmers in retaliation for entering orchards to feed on fruit crops. Although relatively few studies of Carolina Parakeet behavior took place before this species’ extinction, it is known that Carolina Parakeets congregated in large groups while nesting and feeding. Carolina Parakeets were observed by early naturalists climbing along branches in search of food and flying in large flocks between feeding areas. This species was primarily active during the day.
