(Guadeloupe Macaw, Left, Guadeloupe Amazon, Right)Two possible renditions of the birds. Their authenticity cannot be verified.
Guadeloupe Parrot refers to two hypothetical species of new world parrot, the Guadeloupe Macaw and the Guadeloupe Amazon.
Guadeloupe Macaw[]
The Lesser Antillean macaw, or Guadeloupe macaw (scientific name: Ara guadeloupensis), is a bird species believed to have lived exclusively on the Lesser Antillean island region of Guadeloupe. Despite the absence of preserved specimens, knowledge about this bird comes from historical accounts and illustrations. First described by Austin Hobart Clark in 1905, doubts about its existence arose due to the lack of physical evidence and the possibility of confusion with mainland macaw species.
Recent discoveries have shed some light on its existence. In 2015, a bone discovered on Marie-Galante Island, associated with the Ara genus, provided tentative evidence of a macaw species in the region before human arrival. Additionally, historical sources differentiating between local red macaws and mainland scarlet macaws support its potential validity.
Described as primarily red with blue and yellow on its wings, this bird resembled the scarlet macaw but was smaller. It likely fed on fruits, including some toxic ones like the manchineel fruit. Breeding behaviors included monogamy and nesting in trees to lay eggs.
Unfortunately, human activities such as hunting and habitat destruction likely led to its extinction. By the 1700s, these birds became rare and eventually disappeared.
Guadeloupe Amazon[]
The Guadeloupe amazon, or Guadeloupe parrot (scientific name: Amazona violacea), was a bird species native to the Lesser Antillean island of Guadeloupe. Like the Lesser Antillean macaw, this species is known primarily from historical accounts and illustrations, with no preserved specimens available for study. It was first described by early naturalists and explorers who visited the region.
Descriptions from historical records indicate that the Guadeloupe amazon was a medium-sized parrot with predominantly green plumage. It likely had a diet consisting of fruits and seeds, typical for parrot species. Breeding behaviors and nesting habits are not as well-documented as those of the macaw, but it is assumed to have had similar traits such as monogamous pair bonding and nesting in trees.
As with many endemic species of the Caribbean, the Guadeloupe amazon faced threats from human activities such as habitat destruction and hunting. By the 1700s, reports suggest that these parrots had become scarce, and they likely went extinct shortly thereafter due to a combination of these factors. Today, the Guadeloupe amazon is remembered primarily through historical accounts and depictions, serving as a reminder of the rich biodiversity that once existed in the region.