Extinct parrots
There are approximately 400 species of parrots in the world – and more than a quarter of them face an immediate threat of extinction. Roughly twenty of them have even died out in modern history, the main reasons being habitat destruction and persecution.
SMALL AREAS
Most parrot species that have recently become extinct came from islands – and the same goes for many of the most threatened parrots today. Small ranges make them more susceptible to any kind of threat, including unforeseen events such as fires, hurricanes or poor seed crops. In addition, island species often have difficulty coping with introduced predators and competitors such as rats.
HABITAT LOSS
One of the main threats faced by parrots – a threat that has already caused some of them to go extinct – is habitat loss. Cutting down forests or burning savannas has a visible destructive effect. However, the disappearance of just a few plant species that the parrots depend upon or the felling of mature trees providing suitable cavities for nesting can also cause problems.
PERSECUTION
Since ancient times, parrots have been extensively caught as exotic companions. The captured individual is, however, lost to the wild population as if it had been killed. In some parts of the world, parrots have been also hunted for their feathers, used to make various adornments. A great threat that has already contributed to the extinction of several parrot species is their persecution by farmers as crop pests.
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