Meet America’s Only 3 Native Parrots — One Is Extinct, One Relocated To Mexico, And One Thrives In This Southern State

Bird species are abundant throughout the world. However, they used to be much more abundant. One study published in PLOS ONE reports that at least 279 bird species have gone extinct since 1500. If you go back to the late Pleistocene epoch (about 10,000+ years ago), research suggests that number grows to about 1,400 species.

That said, it’s difficult to correctly estimate the number of extinct birds due to what scientists refer to as “low fossilization potential.” In other words, birds, being smaller than, say, saber-toothed cats or woolly mammoths, are less likely to have been adequately preserved in the fossil record.

We know, definitively, that the following three parrot species inhabited what is now considered the continental United States — and one still does. Here’s their story.

Carolina Parakeet

Once common across the eastern and midwestern United States, the Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) was a striking sight with its vivid green body, yellow head and orange face. This parrot was the only native parrot species known to inhabit such a broad range of temperate North America, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. These birds were often found in old-growth forests and swamps, nesting in hollow trees and foraging for seeds and fruit.

Unfortunately, by the early 20th century, the Carolina parakeet was extinct. Habitat destruction played a significant role in their decline, as forests were cleared for agriculture and urban development.

(Sidebar: From America’s forests to Asia’s jungles, human pressure has erased countless animals — including three tiger subspecies lost in our lifetime. Read their story here.)

But the most devastating impacts came from human persecution: farmers killed them in large numbers, believing they were crop pests, and the birds’ habit of returning to mourn fallen flockmates made them easy targets.

They were also captured for the pet trade and for use in hat-making.

The last known wild specimen was seen in Florida in the early 1900s, and the final captive bird, named “Incas,” died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918 – coincidentally in the same aviary where the last passenger pigeon died.

Despite scattered unconfirmed sightings over the years, the Carolina parakeet is officially extinct.

Thick-billed Parrot

Unlike the extinct Carolina parakeet, the thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) still exists, but not in the United States. Once found in the highlands of Arizona and New Mexico, this robust green parrot with a bright red forehead and loud, crow-like call was driven out of its U.S. range by the mid-20th century due to logging, hunting, and habitat fragmentation. Its reliance on old-growth coniferous forests, particularly those containing large pines, made it especially vulnerable to deforestation.

In the 1980s and 1990s, efforts were made to reintroduce the thick-billed parrot to the U.S., but these attempts were unsuccessful. Captive-bred birds released into the wild faced multiple challenges, including predators, inadequate survival skills and a lack of suitable habitat. Some also flew back to Mexico, where the species still survives in the Sierra Madre Occidental.

(Sidebar: The thick-billed parrot and Carolina parakeet aren’t the only U.S. birds lost to time. Meet three more beautiful birds that vanished from America forever.)

Today, the thick-billed parrot is classified as endangered and is found only in northern Mexico. Conservationists are working to protect its remaining habitat and stabilize its population. Discussions about future reintroduction efforts in the U.S. continue, but any such plan would require significant restoration of its native forest ecosystem.

Green Parakeet

Unlike the other two native parrots, the green parakeet (Psittacara holochlorus) is alive and well in southern Texas. Native to northeastern Mexico, this medium-sized parrot with vivid green feathers and a loud, screeching call has successfully expanded its range northward. Small flocks have established breeding populations in the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding areas, thanks in part to urban environments providing plenty of food and nesting spots.

Green parakeets are social birds, often seen in large flocks roosting in palm trees or on utility lines. They’re highly adaptable, feeding on fruits, seeds, and cultivated crops. Some ornithologists debate whether the Texas populations are entirely natural or partly the result of escaped or released pets blending with wild flocks. Regardless, these birds have become a charismatic part of the regional ecosystem.

Unlike the Carolina parakeet or thick-billed parrot, the green parakeet’s presence in the U.S. isn’t tied to ancient history but rather to more recent cross-border expansion. While not officially listed as threatened or endangered, their status is monitored, especially as urban sprawl and climate change continue to reshape the landscape.

Does thinking about the extinction of a species instantly change your mood? Take the Connectedness to Nature Scale to see where you stand on this unique personality dimension.