Puerto Rican Parrot

Formerly known as Amazona vittata, the Puerto Rican Parrot is sadly close to extinction.  Considered as a magnificent parrot that was once abundant throughout the South American country of Puerto Rico, this bird is now just a small, wild population that lives in the Caribbean National Forest rainforest.  To ensure this parrot exists, a number of programs have been created providing needed research and intervention. 

This particular breed of parrot has a beautiful, foot-long emerald green color with a red forehead, huge white eye-rings, and flesh-toned feet and bill.  In fact, the Puerto Rican Parrot also has the same type of stocky body, short-tailed shape that you would find with other parrots found in the Amazon.  When the Puerto Rican Parrot flies, the broad wings show vivid blue primaries, giving it a unique bugling type call.  The sound of this parrot is both a squawk and squeal. 

Different names of Puerto Rican Parrots include the Cotorra de Puerto Rico and Iguaca, which refer to the bird’s nature.  For more than 60 years, this species of parrot has been limited to a single mountain refuge.  However, one particular species called the Hispaniolan Parrot has been spotted in the lowlands of Puerto Rico, which looks a lot like the Puerto Rican Parrot. 

Prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus, this breed of parrot was found in abundance throughout the country, as well as smaller nearby islands or Culebra, Mona, and Vieques.  Through the middle of the colonial period, the Puerto Rican Parrot thrived.  However, by the start of the 18^th century and then into the 19^th century, the human population exploded.  With this, forests were destroyed, making room for new homes and businesses, resulting in a reduction of the parrot’s home. 

Eventually, almost 90% of the country had been stripped of the forest.  Therefore, the Puerto Rican Parrot was all but destroyed prior to 1900.  However, smaller populations headed to the isolated residual forests, being reduced due to predators, hurricanes, and other challenges.  Then by 1940, the Caribbean National Forest in eastern Sierra de Luquillo was the only place you could find the Puerto Rican Parrot with a population of just 13 birds, which had at one time been close to one million. 

Today, we see aggressive management of land to help rebuild this species of parrots.  This particular parrot travels in pairs, often spending time in trees with other birds, especially during fruit season.  However, the sierra palm is the primary diet.  Even so, the tabonuco tree along with the cupeillo is also used.  Interestingly, the Puerto Rican Parrot is believed to have influenced the composition of the forest through dispersing of seeds. 

Like many species of parrots, the Puerto Rican Parrot chooses one mate for life.  To live, they will find a tree trunk with a large space and then breed starting in February.  While the female incubates the two to four eggs, the male does the feeding.  Then when the chicks hatch, both parents take an active role in raising them.  Sometime around nine weeks old, the chicks start becoming independent although mom and dad are never far away.  In fact, the chicks will remain with the parents, flying where they go until the following February breeding season.