Amazona guildingii - The Saint Vincent Amazon is a large parrot with a length of about 40 centimeters. It is found in the mountainous forests of Saint Vincent. It is a canopy feeder preferring seeds, fruits, flowers, and leaves. Dawn and dusk being the ideal feeding times. Once a common sight, the number of Saint Vincent Amazons has been reduced to less than 1,000 birds remaining in the wild. Habitat loss and trapping for the commercial pet trade are the primary causes for its demise.
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The Caribs had established themselves on Saint Vincent prior to the European arrival in the Americas and had referred to their island as “Youloumain.” Being an aggressive people, the Caribs were able to repulse European encroachment until 1719, when French settlers from nearby Martinique were able to gain a foothold on Saint Vincent. The Caribs continued to resist, but were eventually subdued either by being deported from tribal areas or used as slaves to work the coffee, tobacco, and sugar plantations.
