Over the past 100 years hunting and habitat loss many parrots have been going extinct or critically endangered. Parrots have the most threatened and endangered species in all the bird families. About a third of all parrots are threatened.
Spix macaws, for example, are almost extinct, and they are extinct in the wild(They were also the main characters in the movie Rio). The Glaucous Macaw is thought to be extinct but it is not certain. There has not been a sighting for over 50 years. The Carolina parakeet, due to hunting for feathers, became extinct in 1918. Kakapos are also almost extinct.
,Spix Macaws, Wikimedia commons
The main cause for population decline is habitat loss, like the cause of many other animals. When forests are cleared it makes less space for them to live and breed. Parrots need trees to lay their eggs, they cannot make nests on buildings. They nest inside tree trunks.
Another cause is illegal trade for pets. Many parrots had been taken from the wild over the past century. Now there are more laws against this but smuggling still occurs and the rarer birds are at most risk since rarer birds fetch a greater price.
A more rare cause for extinction is invasive species. In New Zealand, before humans came and brought other animals, birds had almost no predators. When people brought animals such as cats they began to hunt local animals, some being Kakapos. Kakapos are flightless and slow, this makes them very vulnerable. There are only 100 left now.
Thankfully there are many measures taken to preserve these beautiful birds. There are laws against taking parrots from the wild. Spix's macaws are being breeded in captivity(hopefully to be released into the wild soon). Some are even thinking possibly of bringing some extinct species back, such as the Carolina Parakeet, through their genes.
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