The Hispaniolan Parrot in Puerto Rico

How to recognize the Hispaniolan Parrot

The Hispaniolan Parrot is a medium-sized amazon, about 28 centimeters long, with a green body, a pale bill, and a white eye-ring. The marks that separate it from other amazons are the white forehead, a dark ear patch, and a maroon patch on the belly. In flight it shows blue in the primary feathers.

The Iguaca shares the green body, white eye-ring, and blue in the wing, so overall color is not enough. Check the forehead first: red and narrow on the Iguaca, white on the Hispaniolan. Then look at the belly: green on the Iguaca, with a maroon patch on the Hispaniolan. One side view of the head and one of the belly usually settle the identification.

An unexpected ally of the Iguaca

The Hispaniolan Parrot has its own place in Puerto Rican conservation history. According to Kirkpatrick (1994), the Luquillo Aviary kept Hispaniolan Parrots as surrogates from the early 1980s, and the Río Abajo Aviary, which began breeding birds in August 1990, was founded on the principle of using this species to incubate eggs and raise Iguaca chicks.

Hispaniolan Parrots also let aviculturists practice husbandry and breeding techniques before using them on the endangered species. Between 1991 and 1994, fertile Hispaniolan pairs at Río Abajo rose from 6 to 9 and their fledglings from 6 to 23. By 1994, the aviary had produced its first Iguaca fledglings. This history explains why Hispaniolan Parrots are linked to the program, but it does not mean they were released to form wild populations in Puerto Rico.

Does it live in the wild in Puerto Rico?

The honest answer is: very little, if at all. The study by Falcón and Tremblay (2018), which reviewed literature, eBird, citizen science, and field surveys, placed the Hispaniolan Parrot in an invasion range of C0–C3. In their scheme, that spans released birds that do not survive long through to a self-sustaining population—in other words, the data did not support calling it established.

Recent citizen science points the same way. In September 2026, iNaturalist showed a single Amazona ventralis observation from Puerto Rico, from 2017 and not research grade. So if you see a white-fronted parrot flying free, the prudent course is to document it with photos and treat it as a possible escape, not as proof of an established flock.

Other green parrots that cause confusion

Puerto Rico has several introduced amazons. The Orange-winged Amazon (Amazona amazonica) shows yellow and blue on the face and orange in the wing; the Red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) has a red crown and has been documented around Salinas and Mayagüez; the White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons) also has a white forehead, but with red around the eye, and it is smaller.

With the Hispaniolan Parrot, the usual trap is the White-fronted Amazon, which Falcón and Tremblay placed in Mayagüez with very few recent individuals. If you see a white forehead, look for red around the eye (White-fronted) or a maroon belly patch (Hispaniolan). Also avoid confusing it with the Hispaniolan Parakeet (Psittacara chloropterus), a long, pointed-tailed parakeet that is also from Hispaniola.

Pets, escapes, and responsibility

Falcón and Tremblay found that at least 85% of the psittacines present in Puerto Rico are offered in the pet trade and that most introduced species arrived that way. For the Hispaniolan Parrot, the same study listed its presence in the local trade as unknown, so it should not be assumed to be common in stores.

If you own a parrot, do not release it: psittacines can carry diseases and parasites, and the same study warns that hybridization between introduced amazons and the Iguaca, while unlikely today, is a future possibility. If you find an escaped parrot, photograph it and share it through eBird or iNaturalist; those records are what make it possible to measure whether a species becomes established.

What is the Hispaniolan Parrot?

It is the Hispaniolan Amazon (Amazona ventralis), an amazon parrot endemic to the Dominican Republic and Haiti and listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. It is about 28 cm long, green, with a white forehead, dark ear patch, and maroon belly patch. In Puerto Rico it is an introduced species.

What is the difference between the Puerto Rican and Hispaniolan parrots?

The Puerto Rican Parrot, or Iguaca, has a red forehead band and a green belly; the Hispaniolan has a white forehead, a dark ear patch, and a maroon belly patch. Both are about 28 cm long with a white eye-ring, so check the forehead and belly.

Are there wild Hispaniolan Parrots in Puerto Rico?

There is no solid evidence of an established population. Falcón and Tremblay (2018) gave it an uncertain invasion stage (C0–C3), and in 2026 iNaturalist showed only one observation on the island. A free-flying bird should be treated as a possible escape.

Why were Hispaniolan Parrots part of the Iguaca program?

Because it is a close relative and was more plentiful. The Luquillo and Río Abajo aviaries used it as a surrogate parent to incubate and raise Puerto Rican Parrot chicks and to test techniques before using them on the endangered species.

What should I do if I see a white-fronted parrot flying free?

Photograph the head in profile and the belly, note municipality, date, and whether it was alone or in a group, and upload the record to eBird or iNaturalist. Look for red around the eye (White-fronted Amazon) or a maroon belly patch (Hispaniolan). Do not try to catch it.