The eradication of this species is a notable example of anthropogenic extinction. Martha, thought to be the last passenger pigeon, died on September 1, 1914, at the Cincinnati Zoo. The last captive birds were divided in three groups around the turn of the 20th century, some of which were photographed alive. The last confirmed wild bird is thought to have been shot in 1901. A slow decline between about 18 was followed by a rapid decline between 18. There were several other factors contributing to the decline and subsequent extinction of the species, including shrinking of the large breeding populations necessary for preservation of the species and widespread deforestation, which destroyed its habitat. Pigeon meat was commercialized as cheap food, resulting in hunting on a massive scale for many decades. Passenger pigeons were hunted by Native Americans, but hunting intensified after the arrival of Europeans, particularly in the 19th century. It practiced communal roosting and communal breeding, and its extreme gregariousness may be linked with searching for food and predator satiation. The bird fed mainly on mast, and also fruits and invertebrates. A very fast flyer, it could reach 100 km/h (62 mph). It was not always as abundant, and the population size fluctuated rapidly over time. The pigeon migrated in enormous flocks, constantly searching for food, shelter, and breeding grounds, and was once the most abundant bird in North America, numbering around 3 to 5 billion at the height of its population. It mainly inhabited the deciduous forests of eastern North America and was also recorded elsewhere, but bred primarily around the Great Lakes. The juvenile was similar to the female, but without iridescence. The female was 38 to 40 cm (15.0 to 15.7 in), and was duller and browner than the male overall. The male was 39 to 41 cm (15.4 to 16.1 in) in length, mainly gray on the upperparts, lighter on the underparts, with iridescent bronze feathers on the neck, and black spots on the wings. The passenger pigeon was sexually dimorphic in size and coloration.
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