from Wikipedia - "Carolina parakeets were probably poisonous – Audubon noted that cats apparently died from eating them, and they are known to have eaten the toxic seeds of cockleburs."
Interesting that this apparently didn't stop him from eating one.
I think toxins distribute in various areas with different amounts in the body. Eating the flesh should have less than some organs I guess. Cats probably eat everything and they are quite small.
Interesting that this apparently didn't stop him from eating one.