Happy World Parrot Day!
The Puerto Rican Amazon also known as the Puerto Rican parrot or the iguaca, is a critically endangered species of parrot belonging to the Neotropical genus Amazona and is the only extant parrot endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico. A social species, they inhabit Old Growth Tropical forest between 1,300ft and 2,700 ft in elevation traveling in pairs or small family flocks as they feed upon flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, bark and nectar. Puerto Rican Parrots have several natural predators such as peregrine falcons, red tailed hawks, and pearly eyed thrashers, but are especially effected by invasive predators such as black rats and Indian mongooses which frequently hunt and kill parrot chicks. The Puerto Rican amazon typically measures 11.0–12 inches in length 8 to 11 ounces in weight. Both males and females have predominantly green plumage, with the primary flight feathers and covert feathers of the wings being a dark blue. Their underparts are paler and yellow-tinged, their foreheads are red, and they have white ovals around the eyes. The iris is brown, the bill a horn color, and the legs yellow-tan. Like other Parrots, The Puerto Rican amazon usually mates for life, with pairs only changing mates if one bird perishes or abandons the nest. The pairing process is unknown; however, new pairs tend to participate in mutual mating dances characterized by coordinated bows, partial extension of the wings and full tail expansion. The Puerto Rican amazon is a secondary cavity nester, nesting in tree trunk cavities some 20 -50 feet off the ground, both naturally occurring and excavated by other species, using said cavities as protection against predators and the elements. Mating occurs in the dry season sometime between January and July, after which the female lays 2–4 eggs that she exclusively incubates for a period of 24 to 28 days. After hatching the chicks are feed and raised by both parents and fledge at around 60-65 days, however they remain dependent on their parents and travel with them until the next breeding season. Under Ideal conditions Puerto Rican Amazons reach sexual maturity at around 3-4 years of age and may live upwards of 50 years.
