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Imperial Amazon

 (Amazona imperialis)

Also known as: Sisserou, August Amazon (Parrot), Dominican Amazon (Parrot)

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Imperial Amazon
© Lars Lepperhoff

Did You Know?

The Imperial Amazon is the largest of the Amazons at 45cm (17.5 in), 900g (31.5 oz).

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona imperialis

Species Profile

Genus: Amazona | Species: imperialis

Size:

48 cm (18.7 in)

Weight:

900g (31.5 oz) - males 650g (22.75 oz) - females

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Both adults brown/purple forehead and lores, becoming browner on cheeks to ear coverts; burgundy/maroon crown and neck, washed with green/blue, the feathers edged with black; breast and abdomen dark lilac/purple, the feathers edged dusty black; olive/green lower underparts, feathers tipped green/blue; upperparts dark green, feathers edged black; secondary feathers 1-3 dark burgundy at bases, the remaining secondaries green; red carpal edge; tail red/brown. Bill grey/horn. Eye-ring grey/brown, eye orange/red.

Colour Juvenile:

As in adult but duller; face dull red/brown; occiput to hindneck green; area behind cheeks tinged with green. Eye brown.

Call:

Wide variety of calls including whistles, shrieks and squawks. Often loud, but also can be squeaky.

Listen Now

More Information:

Avibase
First observations of the impacts of Hurricane Maria on the endemic Imperial Amazon

Rare Species Conservatory Foundation

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 37824, Imperial Parrot Amazona imperialis, Robbins, Mark, Dominica, Apr. 9 1987, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.

Click photo to visit gallery

Imperial Amazon
© Lars Lepperhoff

Did You Know?

The Imperial Amazon is the largest of the Amazons at 45cm (17.5 in), 900g (31.5 oz).

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona imperialis

Species Care

Captive Status:

Extremely rare

Longevity:

50-60 yrs

Housing:

Outside flight if possible - 10 x 3 x 2.5m (32.8 x 9.8 x 8.2 ft); inside enclosure 3 x 3 x 2.5m (9.8 x 9.8 x 8.2 ft). Metal construction necessary.

Diet:

Not recorded but assumed to be mainly the same as other Amazon parrots with care not to feed high fat diet: fruit such as: apple, pear, orange, cactus fruit, pomegranate, forming about 30 % of diet; vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green peas and beans; green leaves such as: Swiss chard, kale, dandelion, chickweed; fresh corn; spray millet, small seed mixture (lower fat, limited sunflower); peanuts occasionally; complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Provide lots of chew and forage items - bird safe wood such as fir, pine, elder or willow, wood block toys vegetable tanned leather toys, heat sterilized pine cones; also enjoys bathing so provide overhead misters or shallow water bowls.

Nest Box Size:

Nest box 14" x 14" x 48" (35.5cm x 35.5cm x 122cm).

Clutch Size:

2

Incubation Time:

About 28 days.

Fledging Age:

Not recorded.

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Imperial Amazon
© Lars Lepperhoff

Did You Know?

The Imperial Amazon is the largest of the Amazons at 45cm (17.5 in), 900g (31.5 oz).

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona imperialis

Species Wild Status

World Population:

< 50

IUCN Red List Status:

Critically Endangered

CITES Listing:

Appendix I

Threat Summary:

BirdLife 'restricted-range' species. Beginning around 1880, the species declined rapidly because of trapping, hunting and habitat loss. After some recovery, since 1979 hurricanes, most recently Maria, have dropped the population to an all-time low of about 20 individuals.

Range:

Island of Dominica (Lesser Antilles).

Habitat:

Occurs in the canopy of primary mountain rainforest; occurs at 600-1300m (1968-4264 ft) but will descend in response to food shortages or foraging preferences.

Wild Diet:

Flowers, fruits, nuts and young shoots of many trees, including Dacryodes, Licania, Richeria, Amanoa, Simarouba, Symphonia, Pouteria, Tapura and Clusia.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Communal roosts; feeds morning and evening; probably defends nesting territory year round.

Clutch and Egg Size:

2 eggs, 45 x 40mm (1.7 x 1.6 in).

Breeding Season:

February-June. Nest is in cavity in tree, notably Dacryodes excelsa and Sloanea berteriana.

Related Links:

Wikipedia

Click photo to visit gallery

Imperial Amazon
© Lars Lepperhoff

Did You Know?

The Imperial Amazon is the largest of the Amazons at 45cm (17.5 in), 900g (31.5 oz).

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona imperialis

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