The extinction of the passenger pigeon in North America was marked by the death of the last known individual, Martha, in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. Once numbering in the billions, passenger pigeons faced massive habitat loss and commercial hunting, leading to their rapid decline. Their extinction serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of human activity on biodiversity and conservation efforts.

The extinction of the passenger pigeon in North America in 1914 inspired poignant poetry and prose on the tragedy of abundance turned to absence. Writers like John James Audubon and later poets addressed themes of loss and environmental awareness, shaping ecological literature.