The Caribbean Amazon Parrot or Cuban Amazon Parrot (Amazona leucocephala leucocephala) originates from Cuba (94 miles (151 km south of Florida, USA), hence its name.
In Cuba, it is referred to as “Loro o Cotorra de Cuba.” It also occurs on nearby islands – on the Bahamas (north of Cuba), where it is known as Bahama / Abaco Parrot; on Cayman Islands (south of Cuba), where it is known as Grand Cayman Parrot and Cayman Brac Parrot.
It is also named for its physical characteristics: Rose-throated Parrot or White-headed Amazon Parrot.
The Cuban Amazon is currently considered to form *superspecies with the Yellow-billed Amazon / Jamaican Amazon (Amazona collaria) and the Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis), and all may be conspecific (one and the same species).
(*Superspecies are closely related species with non-overlapping distributions; they are thought to have evolved from the same species).
In the wild, they typically gather in large, noisy flocks, which separate into pairs during the breeding season.
Cuban Amazons are endangered and are on both the international and on the U.S. federal endangered species lists. This makes them illegal to ship across state lines to anyone that does not have a federal permit to keep them.
They are rare and expensive; in fact, this is one of the most expensive Amazon species on the market.
Alternate (Global) Names:
Chinese: ?????? … Czech: Amazonan kubánský, amazo?an kubánský … Danish: Cuba-amazone … Dutch: Cuba-amazone, Cubaanse Amazone … German: Kubaamazone … Estonian: kuuba amatsoonpapagoi … Finnish: Kuubanamatsoni … French: Amazone à face rouge, Amazone à tête blanche, Amazone de Cuba … Italian: Amazzone di Cuba … Japanese: sakuraboushiinko … Norwegian: Kubaamason, Kuba-amasonpapegøye, Kubaamazon … Polish: amazonka kubanska, amazonka kuba?ska … Russian: ??????????? ??????, ????????? ?????? … Spanish: Amazona Cubana, Cotorra … Slovak: amazonan bielohlavý … Swedish: Kubaamazon
Distribution / Range
The Caribbean Amazon Parrot is native to the Bahamas, Cuba and Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. These parrots are rare in the United States and can mostly be found in Florida, where they were imported by Cuban immigrants and bird collectors.
Status / Threats
The Cuban Amazon is classified by Birdlife International as Near Threatened as their numbers have been declining due to agricultural conversion of its habitat, hurricanes, predation by feral cats, and trapping for the pet trade.
This species is listed with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (C.I.T.E.S.), as an Appendix I species (close to extinction).
They are also listed as an endangered species on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Endangered Species List. A USFWS Captive Wildlife Permit is required for any international or interstate movement of these birds.
Native Range / Status:
Cuba:
Cuban Amazons are locally common in Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Zapata Swamp, Sierra de Najasa, and some mountains of Oriente Province.
In 1995, it was estimated that 1,100 – 1,320 birds could be found on the Isla de la Juventud and the total population for both Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud was believed to exceed 10,000 individuals.
Formerly widespread and common, they have disappeared in some areas and their numbers have decreased in others due to habitat loss, hurricanes, and capturing of chicks and fledglings for the pet trade.
Even though their trapping is now forbidden in in Cuba and other Caribbean islands, illegal poaching continues.
However, due to conservation efforts in recent years, its numbers have stabilized and appear to be increasing particularly in protected areas.
Habitat: In Cuba (including Isle of Pines), they inhabit dense native broadleaf and pine woodland
Bahamas:
In the Bahamas, they are restricted to Abaco and Great Inagua Islands, where they used to be common, but are not considered rare.
In 2006, its population on Abaco was estimated to consist of 3,550 birds and on Inagua of 6,353 birds.
Historically, they also occurred on New Providence, San Salvador, Long Island, Crooked Island and Acklins, but they are now extinct on these islands.
Bones of this parrot were found on New Providence that have been dated back to the Pleistocene Era – more than 50,000 years ago.
The Abaco National Park (20,500 acres / 8,302 hectares of Caribbean Pine Forest) was established in southern Abaco to protect the threatened Bahama Parrot.
On Abaco, the parrot’s ground–nesting behavior made them vulnerable to predation. A predator control program is being implemented in the park.
Habitat: They inhabit native dry broadleaf and pine woodlands and adjacent agricultural land;
Cayman Islands:
In the Cayman Islands, they only occur on the Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac islands – where they are fairly common.A survey in 2006 indicated that the population on Grand Cayman consisted of 3,402 individuals (in 1992, estimated population was 1,500).
On Cayman Brac, the population was estimated to be 400 – 500 birds. They are usually found in dry forests, palm groves, mangroves, plantations, agricultural areas and gardens.
Subspecies: Range and Identification
Presently divided into four subspecies, one occurring on Cuba, two in the Cayman Islands and one in the Bahamas:
Cuban Amazon Amazona leucocephala leucocephala
Present throughout Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud (also known as Island of Pines).The population occurring on the Isla de la Juventud and western Cuba was formerly given subspecies status: Amazona leucocephala leucocephala (Todd, 1916), mostly based on the darker green plumage of a collection of specimen. But in 1928, it was decided that the color difference was caused by preservation.
Bahamas Amazon Amazona leucocephala bahamensis
Currently, two populations exist in the Bahamas; one on the Abaco Islands and one on Great Inagua
ID: Resembles the nominate form, except the plumage is a darker green. The patch on the belly is more extensive and the throat is a deeper red.
Cayman Island Amazon or Grand Cayman Amazon Amazona leucocephala caymanensis
ID: Larger in size than the nominate form. Adult plumage is more yellowish-green, with less evident edging to the feathers. The chest and rump (lower back) is tinged with blue. The white on the head is confined to the forehead. The green on the sides of the neck separate the reddish throat from the cheeks. The belly patch is less extensive.
Cayman Brac Amazon or Cayman Parrots Amazona leucocephala hesterna
Cayman Brac and formerly Little Cayman islands
ID: Smaller in size than the nominate form. The adult plumage is more yellowish-green. The maroon-colored belly patch is larger. The cheeks and throat are a deeper pink/red.
Description:
The Cuban Amazon Parrot measures between 11 – 13″ (28 – 33 cm), with an average length of 12.5 inches or 32 cm (measured from the top of the head to the tip of the tail). It has an average weight of 8.4 – 9.1 oz (240 – 262 g).
The Cuban Amazon Parrot is about the size of a pigeon. It is one of the smallest of the Amazon Parrots, and about the same size as the White Fronted Amazon Parrot.
The plumage is mostly green, except for the bright pinky-red throat and cheeks, white feathers around the eyes and the forecrown, and the dull maroon to purple-pink abdomen.
The outer flight feathers (primaries) are blue. Plumage coloration varies between the different species, particularly on the face, chin and throat. The bill is a pale yellow or horn-colored. The eyes are olive-green.
Gender ID: There is very little difference in the coloration and/or size between males and females. DNA sexing is the most reliable method to determine their sex.
Immature birds have little or no red on the abdomen and less pink on the chin, neck and face. The forecrown is washed with yellow. The feathers have less black edging.
Breeding
The breeding season usually starts in March and goes on until September.
Throughout most of their range, they nest in tree cavities (such as abandoned woodpecker nest holes) and dead palms that have lost their foliage. The Abaco Island (Bahamas) population, however, has adapted to nesting underground in limestone crevices, where they are protected from wildfires.
The average clutch consists of 2 – 5 white eggs, which are incubated by the female for 26 – 28 days. The male assumes responsibility for feeding the brooding female.
The young hatch about 12 – 72 hours apart. The hatchlings are blind with only little down. They are completely dependent on parental care. Their eyes open when they are about 2 – 3 weeks old.
The parents feed them regurgitated (predigested) food and brood them to keep them warm. These amazons have been known to double-clutch given the right conditions.
Captive Amazons / Aviculture:
The Cuban Amazon is considered one of the more difficult-to-breed Amazon Parrots due to the fact that captive males commonly display aggressive behavior towards their mates and chicks.
Until the 1980s, the Cuban Amazon was rarely found outside of its native range and Florida, where it was imported and bred by Cuban immigrants. However, this species is now more readily on the market; however, it is still one of the highest-priced of all Amazons. Several color mutations have occurred in captive-bred stock.
Diet / Feeding
In their natural habitat, these parrots feed on various fruits and seeds, including the fruits of many species of palm trees, oranges and other edible fruits, poisonwood berries, and West Indian mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) seeds. They are sometimes a nuisance to local farmers.
Calls / Vocalizations
Caribbean Amazon Parrots are very noisy, especially when they occur in flocks. Their calls are described as loud shrieks, whistles, screeches and some trumpet-like sounds. Some notes are drawn out and resonant.
In flight, they utter harsh squawk-squawk sounds.
Captive birds have the ability to make outstanding talkers.
