Saint Vincent amazon
Saint Vincent amazon | |
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Specimen atBotanic Gardens St. Vincent,Kingstown | |
Scientific classification![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Psittacidae |
Genus: | Amazona |
Species: | A. guildingii
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Binomial name | |
Amazona guildingii (Vigors,1837)
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TheSaint Vincent amazon(Amazona guildingii), also known asSaint Vincent parrot,is a large, approximately 40 cm (16 in) long, multi-coloredamazon parrotwith a yellowish white, blue and green head, greenish-bronze upperpartsplumage,and violet blue-green wings.
Description
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/BxZ_Amazona_guildingii_00.jpg/220px-BxZ_Amazona_guildingii_00.jpg)
The bird is a 40 centimetres (16 in) long, mostly green, multi-colored amazon parrot with a yellowish white, blue and green head, greenish-bronze upperparts, grey feet, reddish eye, and violet blue-green wings. Its tail feathers are blue with broad yellow tips. There is a less yellow-brownmorphand a less common green morph.[3]Both sexes are similar. The young has lighter plumage and browniris.
Range
[edit]The Saint Vincent amazon isendemicto the heavily forested mountains of theCaribbeanisland ofSaint Vincentin theLesser Antilles.Its diet consists mainly of fruits, nuts, flowers and seeds. The female usually lays one to twoeggs.
Conservation
[edit]The Nicholls' Wildlife Aviary Complex, located within theBotanic GardensofSaint Vincentmaintains a vital captive breeding and conservation program to conserve the St Vincent Parrot.
Threats and status
[edit]Hunting for food, trapping for the cage-bird trade and habitat loss were the principal causes of this species' decline.[4]Deforestation has been the result of forestry activities, the expansion of banana cultivation, charcoal production, the loss of nesting-trees felled by trappers seeking young birds for trade, and natural events such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.[5]
The introducednine-banded armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus), undermines large trees causing them to topple, reducing the number of suitable nest trees.[6]
A cross-country road is planned, funded by the Taiwanese government, which would destroy large areas of suitable habitat and increase deforestation rates.[6]
The genetic isolation of the separate sub-populations may present further cause for concern.
The small population of captive birds at the Graeme Hall Sanctuary in Barbados is at very high risk. This is due to the lethargy of the Barbados Government in working with the St. Vincent Government and the owner of the Graeme Hall Sanctuary to move the birds to an off-shore island or even back to St. Vincent. Increased raids and poaching at the Sanctuary, the deliberate cutting off of the Sanctuary's water supply, and little or no support from the local Police when raids occur, all mean that this small population is unlikely to survive.[neutralityisdisputed]
Due to all of these contributing factors, the St. Vincent Parrot is considered Vulnerable on theIUCN Red Listof Threatened Species.[1]It is listed on Appendix I ofCITES.[2]
References
[edit]- ^abBirdLife International (2020)."Amazona guildingii".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2020:e.T22686403A179396130.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22686403A179396130.en.Retrieved12 November2021.
- ^ab"Appendices | CITES".cites.org.Retrieved2022-01-14.
- ^"Species factsheet:Amazona guildingii".BirdLife International (2008).Retrieved27 August2008.
- ^ARKive
- ^Snyder, N.; McGowan, P.; Gilardi, J.; Grajal, A. 2000. Parrots: status survey and conservation action plan 2000-2004. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK
- ^abCulzac-Wilson, L. (2005) Species conservation plan for the St. Vincent Parrot Amazona guildingii. Loro Parque Fundacion, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
External links
[edit]- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Relocation of Endangered Parrots From Graham Hall Sanctuary Delayed by Barbados Ministry of Environment
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