Meet Tahite

Puerto Rican Parrot, photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service

Puerto Rican Parrot, photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service

Bienvenidos! My name is Tahite. I’m a Puerto Rican parrot. Here are some things you should know about me:

I like to fly around where there are lots of tall trees. You can find me in the Caribbean National Rainforest or “El Yunque.”

I am mostly green with red feathers on my forehead and blue feathers under my wings.

I am about 12 inches long.

I like to eat seeds and fruits.

My scientific name is Amazona vittata but the Taínos call me “Iguaca.”

I make my nest high up in the cavities of tall trees like the palo colorado to stay safe from harm.

500 years ago there were almost a million of us on Borikén. Today, because there isn’t much tall forest left on Puerto Rico, there are only about 500 of us in the wild.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is breeding Puerto Rican parrots in captivity. These efforts have increased the population to more than 500 birds with three sanctuaries located in El Yunque National Forest, Rio Abajo Commonwealth Forest, and Maricao Commonwealth Forest.

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