One of the 3 amazons on WAnimals
Birds · Psittaciformes · Psittacidae
Saint Lucia Amazon
Amazona versicolor
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The Saint Lucia amazon is the national bird of the Caribbean island of the same name, a green parrot with a violet-blue head and a reddish breast. In 1975 barely 100 individuals remained, hemmed in by deforestation, hurricanes and trapping. A campaign of environmental education that turned it into a national symbol, together with legal protection of the montane forest, has multiplied the population more than fifteenfold.
Weight
700 g – 800 g
Size
42 cm – 46 cm
Lifespan
50 years
Diet
Herbivore
Feeds mainly on plants.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Estimated population
Between 1,500 and 2,000 individuals
Fun facts
- Its recovery began with a campaign of national identity: it was declared the national bird, appeared on stamps and banknotes and was taught in schools, and within a few years hunting it went from custom to social disgrace.
- The entire world population lives in the montane forest of an island of 600 square kilometres, which leaves it very vulnerable to a single high-intensity hurricane.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Humid montane forest of the interior of the island of Saint Lucia, in the Lesser Antilles
- Sexual maturity
- 4 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 28 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 2 eggs
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazona_versicolor
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Saint Lucia Amazon — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Yellow-eared Parrot
Ognorhynchus icterotis
Tucuman Amazon
Amazona tucumana
Military Macaw
Ara militaris
Seychelles Parrot
Coracopsis barklyi
Hispaniolan Amazon
Amazona ventralis
Cuban Brown Anole
Anolis sagrei
How to help
The saint lucia amazon is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 1 real protected area — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about saint lucia amazon.
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