carolina parakeet
1. Bird Name:
The bird under discussion is the Carolina Parakeet, scientifically identified as Conuropsis carolinensis.
2. Appearance:
Featuring an attractive and distinctive coloration, the Carolina Parakeet was one of the most vibrant birds of North America. With a length of approximately 33 cm, these birds boasted a vibrant display of greens, yellows, and orange. The main body was predominantly bright green, with the shoulders and flight feathers featuring a lighter yellow-green hue. The head and neck of the bird exhibited a vivid shade of orange or yellow, often mixed with red accents. The beak was whitish in colour with a slight curve while the eyes were circled with white skin and sparkled with a lively brown hue. Interestingly, there were no marked differences in appearance between males and females, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.
3. Size:
The Carolina Parakeet reached an average length of 33 cm (around 13 inches). It had an average wingspan of 56 cm (about 22 inches), while their weight ranged from 240 to 280 grams.
4. Habitat & Distribution:
Well-adapted to a broad range of habitats, the Carolina Parakeet resided in areas ranging from lowland swamps and forests to mountain valleys and rolling meadows. They were found across the eastern, midwest, and plains states of the United States down into Florida and Texas.
5. Interesting Facts:
The Carolina Parakeet is the only parrot species ever native to the eastern United States. They exhibited fascinating behaviors, like roosting communally and nesting in hollow trees. The species held cultural significance for Native American tribes, who used its feathers for decoration.
6. Diet:
The Carolina Parakeet was primarily a herbivore, feeding on seeds of cockleburs, thistles and sycamores, along with fruits and flowers.
7. Behavior & Sounds:
These social birds lived in large flocks and condemned any violation of their privacy loudly and vehemently with shrill, harsh screams and squawks. Their calls could be heard over long distances, particularly when the birds were distressed or in flight.
8. Conservation Status:
Tragically, the Carolina Parakeet is now extinct. The last known individual of the species died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918. The causes of its extinction were largely due to deforestation, hunting for its vibrant feathers, and susceptibility to disease.
9. Lifespan:
The exact lifespan of the Carolina Parakeet is not known, but related species typically live between 15 and 20 years.
10. Additional Notes:
The Carolina Parakeet played a crucial role in seed disbursement across their habitats, aiding in the proliferation of various plant species. They occasionally made a nuisance of themselves to farmers by feasting on cultivated fruit, causing early settlers to hunt them extensively. Their feathers, particularly the brilliantly colored head plumage, was often used to adorn women’s hats in the late 19th century, leading to further hunting for commercial purposes. The bird was called Puzzi-la-nee in Cherokee, meaning ‘head of yellow’, signifying their distinctive color. Today, the legacy of the Carolina Parakeet is recognized in several place names across the United States, evoking memories of a vibrant species that once adorned the American skies.
