Hispaniolan Parrot

Amazona ventralis

28-31 cm.. length and 250 g. of weight.

The Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis) has the forecrown Lords color and white (variable extension); the crown and upper cheeks with blue feathers and black colored ends; ear-coverts and lower cheeks, charcoal colored (variable measure); feathers nape and the sides of the neck, emerald green with visible black tips.

Mantle and back green grass with black tips, which become progressively less visible to the bottom; rump green, slightly yellowish; uppertail-coverts brighter yellowish green. greater coverts blue; remaining coberteras grass-green. Primaries and secondaries, blue, darker towards the tips, on the innerwebs. Under the wings, green; flight feather bluish green.

The underparts usually green, slightly yellowish, with most feathers showing fairly conspicuous black margins (especially in the upper region) but sometimes with some red feathers chin; patch resizable brown in the center of belly; undertail-coverts pale yellow-green. Upper, the tail is green (perhaps a little darker than the rest of the upperparts) with visible yellowish tip and outerweb external feathers with blue margins; undertail, the tail It is yellowish with the bases of the outer feathers red. Bill Pink; cere brownish white; skin bare periophthalmic white; brown the irises; legs pale grey.

There is no sexual dimorphism. Immature as an adult but less blue in the crown and the patch abdominal is paler brown.

NOTE

Some authors consider that the Hispaniolan Parrot It conspecific (belonging to the same species) with the Cuban Parrot. Although closely related, It is believed to be quite different due to differences in hue pronounced plumage.

• Sound of the Hispaniolan Parrot.

The Hispaniolan Parrot They are distributed in a variety of forested habitats, from lowland sandy palm savannahs to montane pine forests and moist montane forests. Currently most commonly observed in montane forests on the island Hispaniola, due to continued deforestation, although birds also feed at lower altitudes. Observed above 1,500 m (Hispaniola).

Views in pairs during breeding; outside the breeding season, observed in small flocks, usually up to a dozen birds; much larger meetings, until 500 reported in the nineteenth century birds. Couples and couples with young often identifiable in flocks.

Nests generally constructed in tree cavities, but also in rock crevices, cactus voids and cavities in coconut. Territorial and very aggressive while playing. The breeding season It covers the months of February to May. Clutch 2-3 eggs.

They feed on, among others, of seeds or fruits of Caesalpinia, Psidium and Ficus, seeds of oranges wild Citrus, corn and bananas.

Size of its range (breeding/resident): 99.000 km2

The Hispaniolan Parrot are distributed by the islands of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Gonave Island (Haiti), Isla Saona (Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico and probably Snake (Puerto Rico) in the West Indies. It is found in moderate numbers in parts of the Sierra de Bahoruco, Sierra Neiba and Cordillera Central in Dominican Republic. More restricted and less numerous in Haiti, with the remaining population apparently largely in the south of the country.

introduced in Puerto Rico, where the wild population derived from captive birds escaped and at least one consignment of illegally traded birds were released after discovering an attempt to import Puerto Rico. Also wild populations in US Virgin Islands.

Formerly very common in Hispaniola, although there have been during the twentieth century a strong decline in its population, mainly due to the habitat destruction (arising from agriculture and charcoal production). As well persecuted due to crop damage, hunted for food and trapped for sale as pets at local and international level.

In the Decade of 1930 It was limited to the interior mountain forests of the island of largely Hispaniola.

Although it remains locally common, it is enough rare and rare in the wild.

The population in Puerto Rico It is at least several hundred birds and apparently increasing.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

• Current category of the Red List of the UICN: Vulnerable.

• Population trend: Decreasing.

• Population size : 6000-15000

Rationale for the Red List category

This species is considered Vulnerable because anecdotal evidence suggests there has been a rapid reduction of the population. The size of the population and the exact extent of the decline are unclear, clarification and may lead to the species be reclassified as near threatened.

Justification of the population

The population size It is preliminarily estimated to fall in the band between 10.000 and 19.999 individuals. This is equivalent to 6,667-13,333 mature individuals, rounded here to 6,000-15,000 mature individuals.

Justification of trend

No new data on population trends, but it is suspected that the species is declining quickly, as a result of the hunting, the loss of habitat and capture.

Threats

The agricultural conversion and charcoal production have destroyed the most suitable habitat. It is also persecuted as a crop pest, hunted as food and trapped for Local trade and above for international trade cage birds. (Juniper and Parr 1998).

Trapping adults and stealing hatchlings from nests to supply the Local pet trade It is a particular concern because in some areas most families own a parrot, and they only live a few years before they have to be replaced (G. Woolmer in some. T. White one bit., 2012). It also, activities theft nests often they cause destruction of the nest cavity or nest tree, further aggravating the loss of nesting habitat other causes (T. White in a little .

It is easily reproduced in captivity and used as substitute mother to raise the young Puerto Rican Parrot as part of the recovery program for the species (highly threatened).

Each captive specimen of this species which is capable of reproducing, It is placed in a well-managed program captive breeding and not be sold as a pet, with the objective of ensure their survival long-term.

– Hispaniolan Amazon, Hispaniolan Parrot, Salle’s Amazon, Salle’s Parrot, San Domingo Amazon, San Domingo Parrot (English).
– Amazone à ventre pourpre, Amazone de Sallé, Amazone d’Hispaniola (French).
– Blaukronenamazone, Haitiamazone (German).
– Papagaio-de-hispaniola (Portuguese).
– Amazona de la Española, Amazona Dominicana, Cotorra, Cotorra de la Española (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittacidae
– Genus: Amazona
– Scientific name: Amazona ventralis
– Citation: (Statius Müller, 1776)
– Protonimo: Psittacus ventralis

Sources:

Sounds: Ante Strand, XC15749. accessible www.xeno-canto.org/15749