Carolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from southern New York and Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It is the only species classified in the genus Conuropsis. It was called puzzi la née ("head of yellow") or pot pot chee by the Seminole and kelinky in Chickasaw.
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| Carolina Parakeet |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ideonexus/
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| Carolina Parakeet |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41381438@N04/
Biology
The Carolina Parakeet's habitats were forests along rivers, with large hollow trees to use as roosting and nesting sites. It mostly ate the seeds of forest shrubs and other plants (such as thistles) and also ate fruits (often from orchards by the time of its decline).
Carolina Parakeets were probably poisonous—John James Audubon noted that cats apparently died from eating them, and they are known to have eaten the toxic seeds of cockleburs.
According to a study of mitochondrial DNA recovered from museum specimens, their closest living relatives include the Sun Parakeet, the Golden-capped Parakeet, and the Nanday Parakeet.
Carolina Parakeets were probably poisonous—John James Audubon noted that cats apparently died from eating them, and they are known to have eaten the toxic seeds of cockleburs.
According to a study of mitochondrial DNA recovered from museum specimens, their closest living relatives include the Sun Parakeet, the Golden-capped Parakeet, and the Nanday Parakeet.
