Puerto Rican parakeet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puerto Rican parakeet |
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| 19th-century illustration | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Psittacara
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| Species: |
maugei
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| Synonyms | |
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Aratinga chloroptera maugei |
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The Puerto Rican parakeet (Psittacara maugei) was a type of parrot. It was also known as the Puerto Rican conure. This bird lived on Mona Island, which is near Puerto Rico. It might have also lived in Puerto Rico itself. Sadly, this beautiful bird is now extinct, meaning there are no more left alive.
Contents
What the Puerto Rican Parakeet Looked Like
This parakeet looked a lot like the Hispaniolan parakeet. Before it disappeared, some people even thought it was a subspecies of the Hispaniolan parakeet.
The Puerto Rican parakeet had feathers that were a duller green color. It also had more red markings on its wings compared to its close relatives.
What the Parakeet Ate and Where it Lived
The Puerto Rican parakeet mostly ate seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries. It might have also munched on leaf buds and flowers.
When it was time to build a nest, these birds looked for safe spots. They would nest in hollow trees, old holes made by woodpeckers, or even in nests built by termites in trees.
How the Parakeet Behaved
The Puerto Rican parakeet was a very social bird. This means they liked to live in groups. They were known for making loud, continuous calls.
Normally, these birds were quite careful and tried to stay away from humans. However, when they were busy eating, they became less cautious. They often fed in farmers' fields, eating crops like maize (corn). Because they were less afraid while eating, it made them easier targets for hunting. This sadly played a big part in their disappearance.
Why the Puerto Rican Parakeet Disappeared
The last time someone saw a Puerto Rican parakeet was in 1882. A person named W. W. Brown saw it and collected a specimen. This specimen is now kept at the Field Museum in Chicago.
It's not clear exactly when the bird became extinct. Some reports in 1905 still said it was alive. But by 1950, it was officially reported as extinct.
Most people believe that hunting by humans was the main reason these birds died out. An ornithologist (bird expert) named James Bond noticed something interesting. He said the parakeet didn't seem to be scared of gunshots. This made them very easy to hunt. Bond thought that many pigeon hunters who visited Mona Island were responsible for the parakeet's extinction.
Another reason for their disappearance might have been deforestation. This is when forests are cut down, which destroys the birds' homes and food sources.
Remaining Specimens
Today, only three specimens (preserved birds) of the Puerto Rican parakeet still exist.
- One is at the Field Museum in Chicago.
- Another is at the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum in Leiden, which is in the Netherlands.
- The third one is at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France. This one is called the "type specimen," which is the original example used to describe the species.
Even though some people thought the parakeet might have lived in Puerto Rico, all the existing specimens were collected from Mona Island.
Images for kids
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19th-century illustration
See also
In Spanish: Aratinga de Puerto Rico para niños
