Also known as: Cotorra, Cotorra de la Española (ES); Jako, Perroquet (Haitian Creole).
The cotorra of Hispaniola
The Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis), commonly called the cotorra in Spanish, is endemic to Hispaniola — the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It is among the most cherished birds in Dominican culture and a frequent (if legally fraught) household pet.
In Spanish it carries several names — Cotorra, Cotorra de la Española, Cotorra Dominicana — and in Haitian Creole it is known as Jako or Perroquet.
Identification
This is a medium-sized green Amazon parrot with a clean white forehead, a pale ear patch, whitish cheeks, and a distinctive deep maroon patch on the belly. The flight feathers show blue, most visible when the bird is in the air. The voice is the loud, varied squawking typical of Amazon parrots, especially noisy at roost.
Range and habitat
The species occupies a range of habitats across Hispaniola, from lowland dry forest to montane pine and broadleaf forest, and has been introduced to Puerto Rico and some other islands. Within its native range it has contracted to the larger forest blocks and protected areas as lowland habitat has been cleared.
Threats and conservation
The Hispaniolan Parrot is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, reflecting a restricted range and ongoing decline. Habitat loss is the primary driver, compounded by capture of chicks and adults for the pet trade — despite legal protection, parrots remain common in Dominican homes and demand appears to be rising.
Conservation measures include CITES Appendix II listing and national environmental legislation in the Dominican Republic. Zoos and conservation organisations take in confiscated and surrendered birds, support research, and run education programmes aimed at reducing demand for wild-caught parrots.
