# Hispaniolan Parrot

Scientific name: Amazona ventralis

Bird group: [parrot](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/parrot)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/212/Hispaniolan-Parrot

## Identification

The Hispaniolan amazon or Hispaniolan parrot (Amazona ventralis), colloquially known as cuca, is a species of Amazon parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and has been introduced to Puerto Rico.
The main features that differentiate it from other amazons are the white forehead, pale beak, white eye-ring, blue ear patch, and red belly.
Its plumage is green, and most feathers are edged with blue. It has a distinct white forehead and area around the eyes; some blue patches on cheeks and crown; a red patch under the chin; and black ear coverts. This amazon also has red feathers on its abdomen; blue wind coverts; green edging to the outer webs; yellowish green plumage under the tail; an upper-side green tail with yellow tips; red outer tail feathers at base; a horn coloured bill, and brown irises with pale feet. Its body length is about 28 cm long. An average adult weighs 250g (8.75 oz), and has a heavy and powerful beak; their bite has been noted to cut open skin and cut deep.


## Distribution and habitat

The Hispaniolan Parrot is endemic to Hispaniola and 
satellite islands (Juniper and Parr 
1998, Raffaele and others 1998). 
It was introduced on Puerto 
Rico, where it was found mostly 
in the metropolitan area in the 
west and north-central regions 
of the island (Raffaele and others 
1998). It has been observed in 
shade coffee plantations and 
pine forests in the Cordillera 
Central of the Dominican 
Republic (Latta and Wunderle, 
Jr. 1998, Wunderle, Jr. 1999). 
The species usually inhabits 
woodlands, scrub, and forests at all elevations on Hispaniola, 
whereas in Puerto Rico it occurs 
in forests and foothill woodlands 
(Raffaele and others 1998). The 
atlas fieldwork yielded a total of 
one record within one hexagon 
or 0.2 percent of the 479 total 
hexagons (see map). Breeding 
is probable in the only hexagon 
where the species occurs (100 
percent) (see map). Hispaniolan Parrot distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding. 

## Breeding

The Hispaniolan Parrot nests in tree cavities and occasionally in 
cliff potholes, and breeds from 
February to June, according to 
previously published reports       203Hispaniolan Parrot/Cotorra de la Española(Raffaele and others 1998). Atlas results suggest that this species 
breeds in February and that the 
breeding activity could occur 
within the subtropical moist 
forest life zone (100 percent of 
the hexagons) (see table and 
map), although it doesnt seem 
to be reproducing at all on 
the island.

## Conservation

This species is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN (BirdLife 
International 2016). Based on the 
atlas surveys, it appears that the 
introduced Hispaniolan Parrot 
on Puerto Rico has decreased 
in abundance and distribution 
relative to the earlier description 
by Raffaele (1998). Locally, this species is not listed in any of 
the threatened categories of 
PRDNER and USFWS. In Puerto 
Rico, the Hispaniolan Parrot has 
a protected habitat in land of 10 
percent or 2.5 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons 
where evidence of breeding was 
found for this species (24 km2). 

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_212_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_212_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.