Hispaniolan Parrot - Amazona ventralis

Hispaniolan Parrot

Amazona ventralis

Order : Psittaciformes

Family : Psittacidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 28 cm
Wingspan :
Weight : 250 à 300 g

Longevity : 80 years

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Amazona de la Española (es), Amazzone di Hispaniola (it), Haitiamazone (al), Hispaniola-amazone (nl), Hispaniolan Parrot (en)

Family description :
Psittacidae is a large family, including several races of parrots of different sizes and colours, but with almost similar behaviour throughout their wide range. We find two main kinds of birds, the Cockatoos and the Parrots. The Cockatoos are large to medium-sized, with strong bill and conspicuo... to be continued

Physical description :
An endemic of Hispaniola, found in a variety of forest types to quite high elevations. Like many Amazona species, its population is declining due to removal of young birds from nests for the pet trade.
The Loro Parque Fundación supports a project in the Dominican Republic by the Hispaniolan Ornithological Society to protect this Amazona and the endemic Hispaniolan Conure - Aratinga chloroptera. (Text by Loro Parque Fundación)

Hispaniolan Parrot adult male has green plumage with black edges on the back, giving loose scaled effect. Wings show blue primary flight feathers with black inner webs, and blue-green secondaries. The uppertail coverts are paler green. The tail is green, washed red at the base, and with narrow yellow-green terminal band.
On the underparts, throat and belly show reddish patch, more chestnut-red on belly. The green feathers are black-edged, making light scaled effect. On the underwings, coverts are green. Flight feathers are pale blue-green. The wings are tipped black. The undertail coverts are yellow-green. The undertail is green, with yellow-green central rectrices and reddish base.
On the head, forehead and lores are white. The crown and the upper cheeks are dull blue, with black-edged feathers. The ear-coverts are dark blue to blackish. Nape is green with black edges.
The strong, hooked bill is horn-coloured. Eyes are dark brown with bare, white eye-ring. Legs and feet are flesh-coloured.
Both sexes are similar.
Juvenile resembles adults, but it lacks the blue colour on crown and cheeks. The white forehead is washed yellow, and the reddish belly patch is smaller or absent. It shows some grey at the base of the upper mandible.

Voice : Hispaniolan Parrot screeches loudly when in flight, but when it is resting or feeding, it utters soft growls or chatter.
During the breeding season, we can hear the melodious chattering uttered by the males.

Habitat : Hispaniolan Parrot lives in tropical and subtropical dry forests and lowland palm savannahs, and it also frequents moist montane forests, up to 1500 metres of elevation.

Geographic range : Hispaniolan Parrot is endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Greater Antilles and West Indies.
This species is introduced in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, A. ventralis is reared in captivity for helping the population of the endemic Puerto Rican Amazon, A. vittata which is one of the rarest parrots in the world.

Behaviour : Hispaniolan Parrot feeds mainly on fruits and seeds from palms and cacti. It also takes fruits from cultivated plants' species such as bananas, and also seeds from maize fields. This species is persecuted and killed as crop pest.
It is often seen in flocks when feeding. This parrot feeds high in the canopy, hidden into foliage. However, it may be seen sometimes perched on exposed treetop.
During the breeding season, the Hispaniolan Parrot often lives in pairs or trios, but also small groups.
They gather in large numbers at nighttimes roosts. They give loud calls at sunrise, before to leave the roost in a single large flock. Then, several small groups of two or three birds follow the large flock.
Hispaniolan Parrot is resident in its range. It may perform daily movements, according to the food resources.

Flight : Hispaniolan Parrot performs rapid flight with shallow, active wing beats. During the flight, the wings are not raised above the body-level.

Reproduction-nesting : Hispaniolan Parrot breeds between February and May.
It is a cavity nester, as most of Psittacidae. It nests in holes in trees, often an old woodpecker hole in palm trunk. But it also can be found nesting in cactus or on rock ledges.
Hispaniolan Parrot is monogamous and pairs for the life.
Female lays 2 to 4 white eggs. Incubation lasts about 25 to 28 days. The young remain at nest during 8 weeks.

Food habits : Hispaniolan Parrot frequently forages in banana plantations and maize fields. It usually feeds on fruits, berries, nuts, seeds and leaves.
When feeding in tree, the flock alights while calling loudly. All the members of the group begin to chew the bark of the tree, and they take the fresh plant juice.
The strong bill allows the bird to crack open hard nuts and seeds.

Protection / threats : Hispaniolan Parrot is considered as Vulnerable.
This species is threatened by habitat loss. It lives in restricted range. Hunting and persecution as crop pest, heavy trapping with destruction of the cavity-nest, removal of nestlings for illegal pet-trade, are very important facts which cause the decline of the species.
However, the Hispaniolan Parrot is locally common in restricted protected areas.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

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