Carolina Parakeet †

Conuropsis carolinensis

32 to 34 cm. length and 280 g. of weight.

Male and female adults of Carolina parrot (Conuropsis carolinensis) They were identical in plumage, however males were slightly larger than females.

Most of the plumage It was green with underparts light green. The primary feathers They were mainly green, but with yellow edges in outer primary. The shoulders They were yellow, continuing along the outer edge of the wings. The the thighs They were green and yellow up to the feet. The legs and feet They were light brown. The most distinctive feature of this species was the forecrown and face orange. The feathers orange spread to behind the eyes and upper cheeks (lores). The skin around the eyes It was white and bill They were pale flesh color. The plumage of the head It was completely bright.

The immature They differed slightly in coloration of adults. The face and all body They were green, with underparts paler. They lacked yellow or orange plumage on the face, wings and thighs. The young were covered in mouse-gray gray, up to approximately 39-40 days when the wings and queues green. The chicks had full adult plumage around 1 año de edad.

• Conuropsis carolinensis carolinensis †

  (Linnaeus, 1758) – Nominal.




• Conuropsis carolinensis ludoviciana †

  (Gmelin, 1788) –

The habitats Preferred of Carolina parrot were the heavily vegetated and heavily forested lands that bordered swamps and rivers.. These parrots also lived on agricultural land and ate the crops.. Anidaban in large groups of hollow shafts. The forests of sicomoro and swamp cypress. (” Parakeets”, 2000; Fuller, 2001; Mauler, 2001; Snyder and Russell, 2002)

They were traveling in flocks of 100 to 1000 birds. Anidaban up 30 birds in a nest. They were supposed to be Monogamie. It was about very social birds, it was probably one of the many factors that led to their extinction. When a man shot a bird, fellow herd member flitted over his lost flock, making them vulnerable too. Farmers were shooting all flock to save their crops. It is doubtful that the Carolina parrot migrated, as seen in the northern states during the cold winters. They were attracted to salt pacifiers and were observed ingesting saline waters., earth and sand.

The Carolina parrot They are walking, They are jumping and climbing trees using their beaks as a third leg. Its flight was registered as a fast and elegant, but very noisy as birds rarely stayed silent during flight. Were involved in cleaning and grooming to keep their social cohesion. During the day they rested, slept or sunbathed. They fed in the morning and evening. (“Parakeets”, 2000;”Nature Serve, Conuropsis carolinensis”, 2005; Howell, 1932; Rising, 2004; Snyder and Russell, 2002; Strattersfield y Capper, 2000)

Some sources say that Carolina parrot they were Monogamie, having only one partner for life. But, no studies were conducted on mating systems and many birds apparently shared nests. (Laycock, Audobon Magazine, March of 1969; Snyder and Russell, 2002)

There is little information available upon the reproduction of this species. They reproduced in spring, producing 2 to 5 eggs These perpetual Nidada, which then incubaban during 23 days. (Snyder and Russell, 2002; Snyder and Russell, 2002)

The Carolina parrot ate mainly seeds of genre Xanthium. They also consumed the fruits and seeds many other plants, as well as flower buds and, occasionally, insects. They were recorded as ruin of many fruit crops. They would pluck the immature fruit from the tree and eat the seeds. Flocks could ruin the fruit of a tree in a matter of minutes. When they ate, the Carolina parrot They are taking food with their beaks, they placed them in their claws and held them while using their beaks to eat them.. (Greenway, JR. 1967; Howell, 1932; Snyder and Russell, 2002; Strattersfield y Capper, 2000; Greenway, JR. 1967; Howell, 1932; Snyder and Russell, 2002; Strattersfield y Capper, 2000)

the former Conuropsis carolinensis It was found from southern Florida until North Carolina and in coastal areas as far north as New York City. The Carolina parrot he was in the states Gulf as far west as Texas eastern and northern along the rivers Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio and its tributaries. They were also recorded in South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and W.V.. The westernmost appearances were in eastern Colorado. (” Nature Serve, Conuropsis carolinensis”, 2005; Fuller, 2001; Laycock, Audobon Magazine, March of 1969; Snyder and Russell, 2002)

• Conuropsis carolinensis carolinensis †

  (Linnaeus, 1758) – Nominal.




• Conuropsis carolinensis ludoviciana †

  (Gmelin, 1788) – Paler overall than the nominal.

This species was previously in the southeastern United States, but now it is EXTINCT, primarily as a result of persecution. The last wild records are of the subspecies Conuropsis carolinensis ludoviciana in 1910.

The main causes of extinction of the species were the persecution (for feeding, crop protection, poultry production and trade of hats for ladies), and also deforestation (especially lowland), probably aggravated by his gregarious nature (Saikku 1991), and competition with introduced bees (McKinley 1960).

One of the reasons for his extinction was the hunting of birds in the wild before their attempt to breed in captivity to sell them as pets, possibly because it was more profitable for them and it was difficult for them to breed in captivity. They could live up to 30 years in captivity.

– Carolina Conure, Carolina Parakeet, Carolina Paroquet, Louisiana Parakeet (English).
– Conure de Caroline, Perriche à tête jaune, Perruche à tête jaune, Perruche de la Caroline du Sud (French).
– Carolinasittich, Karolinasittich (German).
– Periquito-da-carolina (Portuguese).
– Cotorra de Carolina (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittacidae
– Genus: conuropsis
– Scientific name: Conuropsis carolinensis
– Citation: (Linnaeus, 1758)
– Protonimo: Psittacus carolinensis

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