Puerto Rican amazon

ThePuerto Rican amazon(Amazona vittata), also known as thePuerto Rican parrot(Spanish:cotorra puertorriqueña) origuaca(Taíno), is the only extant parrotendemicto thearchipelagoofPuerto Rico, and belongs to theNeotropicalgenusAmazona. Measuring 28–30 cm (11.0–11.8 in), the bird is a predominantly greenparrotwith a red forehead and white rings around the eyes. Its closest relatives are believed to be theCuban amazon(Amazona leucocephala) and theHispaniolan amazon(Amazona ventralis).
The Puerto Rican amazon reaches sexual maturity at between three and four years of age. It reproduces once a year and is acavity nester. Once the female lays eggs she will remain in the nest and continuously incubate them until hatching. The chicks are fed by both parents and willfledge60 to 65 days after hatching. This parrot's diet is varied and consists of flowers, fruits, leaves, bark and nectar obtained from the forestcanopy.
The species is the only remaining native parrot to Puerto Rico and has been listed ascritically endangeredby theWorld Conservation Unionsince 1994. Once widespread and abundant, the population declined drastically in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the removal of most of its native habitat; the species has completely vanished fromViequesandMona Island. Conservation efforts commenced in 1968 to save the bird from extinction.
The Puerto Rican amazon was described by the French polymathGeorges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffonin 1780 in hisHistoire Naturelle des Oiseaux.The bird was also illustrated in a hand-coloured plate engraved byFrançois-Nicolas Martinetin thePlanches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturellewhich was produced under the supervision ofEdme-Louis Daubentonto accompany Buffon's text.Neither the plate caption nor Buffon's description included a scientific name but in 1783 the Dutch naturalistPieter Boddaertcoined thebinomial namePsittacus vittatusin his catalogue of thePlanches Enluminées.Buffon mistakenly believed that his specimen had been collected in the French colony ofSaint-Domingue(modern Haiti), rather than inPuerto Rico.The Puerto Rican amazon is now placed in the largeNeotropicalgenusAmazonathat was introduced by the French naturalistRené Lessonin 1830.The specific epithetvittatusis Latin for "banded".
Birds in the genusAmazonaare commonly known asamazons. They have also been given the generic epithet of "parrot" by theAmerican Ornithologists' Union, and hence "Puerto Rican parrot" is an alternative common name in North America.The indigenousTaíno peoplecalled it theiguaca, anonomatopoeicname that resembled the parrots' flight call.
There are two recognized subspecies:
The various native parrot species in theWest Indiesare assumed to be descended from a singular group that immigrated to theCaribbeanat some point. Some small species would have encountered problems traversing large bodies of water, but parrots have flight strength and various behavioral characteristics that would facilitate "over-water" dispersion.Most Caribbean bird species originate fromCentral,NorthandSouth America.TheAmazonaspecies found in the Caribbean are divided in two groups: five mid-sized species found in theGreater Antillesand seven large species in theLesser Antilles.All the Greater Antillean amazons display characteristics leading to suppositions of relatedness, including predominantly green-toned color patterns and white rings around the eyes.Russello and Amato conclude that all Greater AntilleanAmazonadescend fromAmazona albifronswithAmazona vittata,Amazona leucocephala, andAmazona ventralisconstituting a complex, a cluster of species so closely related that theyintergrade.
British ornithologistDavid Lackconsidered that the Puerto Rican amazon had evolved from the Hispaniolan amazon (A. ventralis) found inHispaniola, but it has since been argued that he omitted some elements in his analysis, including the similarities found between theblack-billed amazon(A. agilis) ofJamaicaand the Puerto Rican amazon.Subsequent studies showed that size and color patterns were not sufficient to assess evolutionary relationships, and that patterns changed with relative ease even within members of the same species.The research concluded that the Puerto Rican amazon may share a common ancestor with the JamaicanA. agilis.However, recentphylogeneticstudies show that the Puerto Rican amazon is more closely related to the Hispaniolan amazon and the Cuban amazon than to the black-billed amazon.
The Puerto Rican amazon measures 28–30 cm (11.0–11.8 in) and weighs 250–300 g (8.8–10.6 oz), or 275 g (9.7 oz) on average. Although small compared to amazons in general, it is similar in size to other Greater AntillesAmazonaspecies.Sexual dimorphismis not present. Both males and females have predominantly green plumage, though their feathers have blue edges. Theprimary flight feathersof the wings and the maincovertfeathers are dark blue. The color of the feathers on the underside varies depending on the body part: the feathers on the underside of the wings, which can be seen during flight, are bright blue; those in the tail have yellow-green tone. 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.Aside from DNA tests, males and females can only be distinguished by behavioral differences during the breeding season. Immature birds have plumage similar to adults.
The precise distribution of the Puerto Rican amazon before the arrival ofSpanishcolonialists is uncertain, because of a lack of contemporary records and then the extermination of the indigenousTaíno people, but the species was apparently widespread and abundant.There is also evidence the species may have inhabited other nearby islands, such asAntigua,Barbudaand theVirgin Islands.Estimates of the parrot's early numbers vary greatly. Some authorities claim that there were once more than a million individuals,while others suggest a more modest population of 100,000. During the first 150 years of Spanish rule the human population was small, and in 1650, when the population of the island was 880 people, the species was still abundant throughout the archipelago.After 1650, human habitation increased exponentially, and by the 18th century the Puerto Rican amazon population started to be affected.  Heinrich Moritz Gaede, a German naturalist, declared that by 1836 the parrot population had noticeably declined.Even so, as late as 1864, British ornithologist Edward Cavendish Taylor noted that the parrots were still common near the island's capital,San Juan.
At first, human activity had not posed a significant threat to the Puerto Rican amazon. The Taíno hunted the parrot but without much effect on its population.In the past 200 years, however, many factors have led to a drastic decrease in the birds' numbers: agricultural development, the construction of roads, hydroelectric development, and the adoption of young chicks as pets.Especially during the latter half of the 19th century, most of Puerto Rico's virgin forests, a historical habitat of the species, were cleared for agricultural development, primarily for the production of sugar, cotton, corn and rice. The amazon quickly came to rely on these crops as its main food source and so became seen as a pest; local farmers repelled or hunted the bird if possible.As agriculture expanded, the amazon's habitat disappeared further and its population declined.
The species was historically found in mature or old-growth forests in Puerto Rico at all elevations, and in holes, cliffs, and other diverse habitats at lower elevations. The species could be found at medium elevations in theGuajataca State Forest(until 1910) and theRio Abajo State Forest(until the 1920s), and at high elevations in theCarite State Forest(until the 1930s).Accounts from the early 1900s describe the parrots traveling away from theLuquilloforest and theSierra de Cayeytowards the main island's coast to find food.The species was extirpated from Culebra by the early 20th century.Akarst-limestone regionin the northwestern part of Puerto Rico was identified as a haven for the species. In particular, a region namedValle de las Cotorras(Valley of the Parrots), located betweenSan SebastiánandMorovis, was home to a sizable population.Eventually their natural habitat was reduced to theCordillera Central.By 1960 they were only to be found in primary forest at the Luquillo Mountains inEl Yunque National Forest.The species is currently found at elevations between 396 and 823 m (1,299 and 2,700 ft). Since the species requires mature forests with open-cavity trees for reproduction, it does not occur indwarfandsecondary forests.
By the 1950s, there were only 200 parrots in the wild, and in 1975 the population reached an absolute low of 13 individuals. Numbers then recovered, and in August 1989 there were an estimated minimum of 47 individuals. But on September 18, 1989,Hurricane Hugostruck the northeast coast of Puerto Rico inflicting heavy casualties on the remaining birds. In the aftermath of the hurricane the population was estimated at 23 individuals. In 2004, the wild population was 30–35 individuals, and the long-term trend appears to be stable albeit with some fluctuations.The current range of the species is 16 km(6.2 sq mi), 0.2% of what it once was.In the aftermath ofHurricane Maríait was estimated only 3 of the 50 parrots survived in the wild, representing a loss of 90%.Recovery programs continue and as of 2021 the total population is around 500 including those in captivity and in the wild.
The Puerto Rican amazon is diurnal, typically beginning its day half an hour after sunrise.It is generally secretive when inside its nest, using its green plumage as camouflage. In contrast, it may be vocal and noisy when outside the nest. Upon taking flight, its color pattern provides some contrast to the forest. The flight mechanism of this species is similar to the one found in other amazons, and involves strokes below the body axis, unlike most birds whose wings flow above their bodies in flight. Amazons can fly moderately fast, reaching a top speed of approximately 30 km/h (19 mph), and are fairly agile when evading predators in mid-air.When in search of food, the parrots group in pairs. Couples and theirfledgedyoung display a tendency to stay together.The amazon makes two flight calls, a take-off squawk which consist of a pattern of long squawks, and a loud "bugle", commonly used in flight and which may have several meanings depending on the circumstances when it is used.
Like almost all amazons, the Puerto Rican amazon is aherbivore. Its diet consists of flowers, fruits, leaves, bark and nectar obtained from the forest'scanopy. The species has been recorded to consume more than 60 different materials, although its diet was historically more varied due to its largerrange. Among the items it consumes are thepericarpof the seeds of sierra palm (Prestoea montana), tabonuco (Dacryodes excelsa), and negra lora (Matayba domingensis); the fruits ofbejuco de rana(Marcgravia sintenisii), camasey (Miconia sintenisii), cupey de altura (Clusia gundlachii), andpalo de cruz(Rheedia portoricensis); the flowers of bejuco de rana, achiotillo (Alchornea latifolia), andPiptocarpha tetrantha; the leaves and twigs of cupeillo (Clusia grisebachiana), laurel sabino (Magnolia splendens), caimitillo verde (Micropholis garciniaefolia), andPiptocarpha tetrantha; the bark of bejuco de rana, cupeillo, and cachimbo cumun (Psychotria berteriana); and thebudsof cuaba (Inga vera).It normally selects the fruits positioned directly in front of its eyes, picking them one at a time with some rare exceptions.When feeding, it uses a foot to pick up the food.The amazon feeds in a slow, paused manner taking 8–60 seconds to consume separate items.
The Puerto Rican amazon usually mates for life, with pairs only changing mates if one bird perishes or abandons the nest.A male may abandon the female if the latter is injured, re-mating with a more "physically perfect" subject.The pairing process is unknown; however, new pairs tend to participate in mutual mating dances characterised by coordinated bows, partial extension of the wings and full tail expansion.
The Puerto Rican amazon is a secondarycavity nester, nesting in tree trunk cavities, both naturally occurring and excavated by other species. It prefers to nest inPalo coloradotrees (Cyrilla racemiflora), but uses other trees, including the laurel sabino (Magnolia splendens) and tabonuco (Dacryodes excelsa), to a lesser extent. These trees are mature cavity-forming trees which provide protection against predators and the entry of water. Recently, the species has also nested in artificial wooden boxes designed as part of the recovery plan for the species. Nest height varies from 7–15 m (23–49 ft) above ground. The male usually leads the search for nest sites, although the final decision seems to be taken by the female.Once a site is selected, the pair will spend some time inspecting and cleaning it. No lining material is added to thenest.
The Puerto Rican amazon reachessexual maturityat 4 years of age in the wild and at 3 years in captivity. The species usually reproduces once a year between the months of January and July (thedry season). Copulation between pairs seems to be closely related to food transfers, with this possibly serving as a trigger for intercourse.Amazons have a copulation pattern similar to that found in other parrots throughout the Americas, with the male gripping a perch with one leg while passively placing the other in the female's back.As the time for egg-laying approaches the pair spends more time in the nest, with the male providing food to the female via regurgitation.The female lays 2–4 eggs that she exclusively incubates for a period of 24 to 28 days, while the male will be present in the vicinity of the nest when providing food.Females only leave the nest on rare occasions involving repelling predators or if the male has not brought food in an extended time frame.The chicks are fed by both parents until they leave the nest, usually 60 to 65 days after they hatch.Nonetheless, they remain dependent on their parents and travel with them until the next breeding season.
Like other amazons, the Puerto Rican amazon is gregarious while performing daily activities, but territorial around its nest.The size of the territory around the nest is usually around 50 meters (164 feet).Pairs are extremely cautious near their nest, usually moving in a slow manner when leaving the nest to avoid the attention of predators.Although territorial defense is mostly composed of loud vocalizations there are instances of actual physical combat.Pairs will defend their nest sites against invading couples, sometimes focusing on the location's defense instead of egg-laying. Pairs nesting in areas uninhabited by other parrots will remain mostly silent unless other parrots enter the zone.Some pairs may display moderate territoriality even when not apparently intending to nest, with these tendencies beginning in the latter half of the breeding season. One hypothesis is that this would occur in young pairs that had still not reached full maturity, serving as "practice territoriality".
On March 11, 1967, the Puerto Rican amazon entered theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species.At the time of inclusion the population was estimated at 70 individuals. In 1968, recovery efforts began to increase the population in the wild.In 1972, when the estimated population was 16 individuals, theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) at the Luquillo Aviary began efforts to breed parrots in captivity and yielded good results. In June 2006, it was reported by the USFWS that its birds in captivity had successfully hatched 39 chicks (the yearly average is around 16). In 2006, 22 birds were released in the Rio Abajo State Forest to initiate a second wild population, and a further 19 were released at the same site on 27 December 2008.In 2012, the total estimated population was 58–80 individuals in the wild and over 300 individuals in captivity.
TheWorld Conservation Union(IUCN) lists the Puerto Rican amazon as acritically endangered speciessince 1994.The species is regulated under Appendix I of theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES),which prohibits commercial international trade in the species or its parts/derivatives.
Human activity is arguably the main reason for the population decline of the Puerto Rican amazon.Early settlers of Puerto Rico, such as the Taíno, hunted it for food consumption but managed to maintain a healthy ecological balance. Later, habitat destruction, capture of immature individuals for the pet industry, hunting and predation contributed to the sharp population decline. The clearing of mature forests for agricultural development is the main reason for the decline of population.
Natural predators of the Puerto Rican amazon include thered-tailed hawk(Buteo jamaicensis), thebroad-winged hawk(Buteo platypterus), theperegrine falcon(Falco peregrinus) and thepearly-eyed thrasher(Margarops fuscatus).The thrasher was first recorded in Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century and has been a problem for the parrot population since 1973; to combat this, specially designed deep nests were prepared for the parrots in subsequent years to prevent competition from the invaders.Introduced species are a threat:honeybees(Apis mellifera) and related Hispaniolan amazons may compete for nesting cavities, andblack rats(Rattus rattus) andsmall Indian mongooses(Urva auropunctata) may eat eggs and chicks.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, were not a threat to the Puerto Rican parrot population when it was more readily self-maintaining, but as a result of the fragmentation and reduction of the population these disasters are now a threat as well.Hurricane Hugopassed through the species' range in September 1989, and reduced the population from 47 to 23 individuals.
In response to the Puerto Rican amazon's low population and endangered status, a recovery plan was drafted and implemented in 1968. Its main objective was to downlist the species to threatened status by the year 2020.Other objectives included establishing two separate viable wild populations (each of which would consist of 500 or more individuals for a period of at least five years), protecting habitat for those populations, and controlling predators, parasites and competitors.  A third site was planned in 2011 by theCaribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.As part of the conservation efforts, a captive population was established in the Luquillo Aviary in 1973.Another was established in 1993 when some individuals were transferred from the Luquillo Aviary to the Rio Abajo State Forest under the administration of the Puerto Rican Department of Natural Resources (Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales).In 2007, expanded facilities at the Iguaca Aviary at theEl Yunque National Forestwere inaugurated and dedicated to the late Priscilla Stubbe, who was a major fundraiser for the new facility.
Human activity once again threatened the amazon during the following years. In 2012, it was reported that the unsanctioned flight of light aircraft from adjacent islands was disrupting the reproductive and social behaviors of the species.Via Verde, a gas pipeline grid proposed by theLuis Fortuñoadministration, raised concerns among conservationists due to further deforestation of the regions where the birds feed.New conservation efforts have also begun during this timeframe. In 2011, a research team of theUniversity of Puerto Rico at Mayagüezsequenced the amazon's genome.On August 15, 2013, the discovery of non-assisted nests in the Río Abajo State Forest was announced.Experts considered this a sign of expansion, implying that the reintroduced amazon population was fully adapting to wild life and was dispersing throughout the region. This was noted as a significant advance, since El Yunque is not an ideal habitat for the bird due to its humidity, which precipitates sickness in some of the individuals. This was accompanied by a second announcement, which noted that added to the known number of amazons in the wild (fluctuating between 64 and 112 specimens) there is an unmonitored population of approximately 50 birds dispersed throughout Puerto Rico.
The creation of another aviary and captive reproduction center was considered throughout 2013, with the municipalities of Maricao and Isabela being analyzed.In November 2013, plans for the establishment of a third population in theMaricao State Forestwere formally announced.The following month, ten amazons were released at Río Abajo.2013 set a new record for the reproduction program, which produced 51 fledglings and shattered the previous record of 34 that was established in 2011.The wild population grew by 15 chicks, an improvement from the 12 born during the previous year.During this time frame, the known number of amazon specimens rounded 500 individuals.A severe drought caused by the emergence ofEl Niñobegan during the spring of 2015 and extended throughout the summer, benefitting the breeding of the amazons in El Yunque by extending their reproductive season.However, this weather pattern also increased the number of mongooses present in the forest, representing a risk for the population.On August 13, 2015, a group of 25 amazons was moved from the other aviaries to a repurposed installation in Maricao.Each member was brought individually in order to ensure their safety while being transported and later placed in an acclimation program that is expected to last a year, before they are released to create a new population in the region.
To assist in improving the understanding of the overall population health of this species and aid in captive breeding programs the genome was sequenced by researchers atUniversity of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez.As an emblematic species ofPuerto Rico, this was carried out as a uniquely community-funded project.The research budget raised by student-organized art and fashion shows dedicated to the effort plus small personal donations from Puerto Rican citizens who wanted to support the work.The data were used to producemicrosatellite markersets to aid captive breeding efforts and population monitoring studies by providing unique identifiers for individual birds.In early 2020, 30 parrots were released into the El Yunque rainforest.