Imperial Parrot
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| Amazona imperialis Richmond, 1899 |
The Imperial Parrot, Amazona imperialis also known as the Imperial Amazon or Sisserou Parrot is a beautiful green and purple plumage amazon parrot. The largest member in the genus Amazona, it measures up to 45cm in body length. The Imperial Parrot has a green back, purple neck, green-tipped red tail and purple below. Both sexes are similar and nest in hollow trees.
The Imperial Parrot is endemic to mountain forests of the Caribbean island nation of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles, where it is the national bird and is featured on the Dominican flag. The diet consists mainly of fruits and seeds.
Due to very small population, ongoing habitat lost, trapping for cage bird trade and occasional hurricane related damages gives the Imperial Parrot its Endangered status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I and II of CITES.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Amazona imperialis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered
