Puerto Rican Parrot
November 3rd 2007 00:30
Our native parrot is called, the Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata), also known as the Puerto Rican Parrot, is an endemic parrot of the archipelago of Puerto Rico belonging to the Amazona genus of the Psittacidae family. The Tainos called them, "Iguaca", an onomatopoeic that resembled the sound the parrots make when they take flight.
Measuring 28 to 30 cm (11-12 in) in size, the Puerto Rican Amazon is predominantly green in color with a red forehead and white rings around the eyes. It is small for an Amazon parrot.
Initially, they were widespread and abundant, the Puerto Rican Amazon declined drastically in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the removal of most of its native habitat. Sadly, the species is the only remaining native parrot in Puerto Rico and one of the ten most endangered bird species in the world. Conservation efforts were started in 1968 to save this species from likely extinction. As of 2006 the total wild population is estimated at anywhere between 30 and 35 individuals.
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