The beautiful, multi-colored St. Vincent Parrot — also known as the St. Vincent Amazon — is the national animal of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Measuring in at 16 inches in length, the large bird has a head that is a lively mixture of white, yellow, blue and green, and body feathers that are a greenish-bronze color. The parrot — which belongs to the "Amazona" genus — also has reddish eyes, grey feet, and dark blue tail plumage with a yellow tip. The wings have an attractive violet-blue-green hue. Juveniles have lighter plumage and brown eyes. There is little difference in appearance between males and females.

The bird's natural habitat is primarily the moist hill forests in the northern part of St. Vincent, where it feeds mostly on fruit, nuts, seeds and flowers. Females usually lay one or two eggs. It is one of just two bird species native to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the other being the Whistling Warbler.

Unfortunately, the long-term survival of the St. Vincent Parrot is in question. On the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of threatened species, the parrot is listed as "vulnerable." The species is threatened due to continuous loss of its habitat, its small distribution on a single island, trapping for caged bird trade, and natural disasters. There has, however, been a large effort in recent years to conserve the St. Vincent Parrot. The species and its habitat are both protected by law. On top of that, the aviary in the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens provides a crucial captive breeding program for conservation of the species.

If ever you take a vacation to St. Vincent, keep a lookout for this rare and beautiful bird.