Passenger Pigeon

The Passenger Pigeon was a highly abundant bird native to North America, known for forming vast flocks that could stretch for miles and contain billions of birds. Once incredibly common, they were driven to extinction mainly due to overhunting and habitat destruction in the 19th century. Despite their huge numbers, their populations declined rapidly, and the last known wild individual died in 1914. The Passenger Pigeon is often cited as a cautionary example of how human activity can lead to the rapid loss of even the most numerous species.