The Saint Lucia amazon, also known as the St. Lucia amazon and St. Lucia parrot, is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Saint Lucia in the Lesser Antilles and is the country's national bird.
Region
Lesser Antilles
Typical Environment
Endemic to the central and eastern montane rainforests of Saint Lucia, favoring mature, undisturbed broadleaf forest. It uses tall emergent trees for nesting cavities and nearby fruiting trees for feeding. The species may visit secondary forest and forest edges but depends on intact canopy for breeding. Occasional movements to adjacent valleys occur when fruiting patterns shift seasonally.
Altitude Range
150–1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Saint Lucia amazon is the national bird of Saint Lucia and a conservation success story, rebounding from near-extinction in the 1970s through intensive protection and public education. Locally known as the “jacquot,” it nests in tree cavities of mature rainforest. It is a highly social, noisy parrot that forms strong, long-term pair bonds.
Temperament
social and noisy
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small, chattering groups, with larger gatherings at favored roosts. Monogamous pairs nest in high tree cavities and defend nesting territories vigorously. Breeding is timed to coincide with peak fruit availability, and both parents tend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Loud, ringing squawks and screeches carry over the forest canopy, often given in chorus by small groups. Also produces harsh chatter and contact calls while foraging, with more insistent alarm notes when disturbed.
Plumage
Mostly green with a cobalt-blue head and neck, whitish face and throat, and a maroon-red belly patch. Wings show blue primaries and a small red carpal patch; tail mostly green with bluish tones. Feathering is dense and glossy, giving a vivid multicolored appearance.
Diet
Primarily feeds on fruits, seeds, and berries from native rainforest trees, including figs and palms. It also takes flowers and tender leaf buds when fruit is scarce. Diet varies seasonally as different canopy species ripen, and birds may track fruiting trees across ridges and valleys.
Preferred Environment
Forages mainly in the mid to upper canopy of mature rainforest and along forest edges. Will visit secondary growth and plantation margins when fruiting resources are abundant, but relies on large native trees for staple foods.
