Today, it is confined to the Palo Colorado, Palma de Sierra and Tabonuco forests types of the upper zones of the Luquillo Mountains within the Caribbean National Forest. It is estimated that before the Spanish colonization of the island the population was about a million birds. By the nineteenth century a large population decline occurred and by the 1950's the population declined to approximately 200 birds. After the Hurricane Hugo the wild population was reduced by about half to an estimated total of 25 birds. Several factors have caused the decline.
Habitat loss is the major cause.
Most Puerto Rican forests were cutover for agriculture and urban development during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Large and mature trees, which served as nests were selectively removed for charcoal production from many forests that formerly were used by parrots. Also, direct impacts on the bird have contributed to the decline. Chicks were robbed from the nests for pets and adults were hunted to avoid crop damage. The Puerto Rican parrot feeds primarily on the fruits of the Sierra Palm, Tabonuco and Cupeillo trees.