Extinction of the Carolina Parakeet

Date: February 21, 1918 • Location: Cincinnati, United States

The last Carolina parakeet dies in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Carolina parakeet, or Carolina conure, is an extinct species of small green neotropical parrot with a bright yellow head, reddish orange face, and pale beak that was native to the Eastern, Midwest, and Plains States of the United States. It was the only indigenous parrot within its range, and one of only three parrot species native to the United States. The others are the thick-billed parrot, now extirpated; and the green parakeet, still present in Texas. A fourth parrot species, the red-crowned amazon, is debated.