Hispaniolan parrots are very sociable and travel in noisy flocks, calling to each other with loud squawks and whistles. Their calls echo through the forest and help the flock stay together when they are flying high and cannot easily see one another.
They nest inside holes in old trees, which is why healthy forests with big old trees are so important for them. The same nest hole may be used year after year by the same pair of parrots. Both parents take turns keeping the eggs warm.
Like all parrots, Hispaniolan parrots have very strong, curved beaks designed for cracking hard seeds, nuts and fruit. Their feet are zygodactyl — two toes point forward and two point back — which makes them brilliant at gripping branches and climbing through the canopy.
In some villages, people keep Hispaniolan parrots as pets and teach them to repeat words and phrases. Conservation groups in the Dominican Republic are working to encourage people to enjoy wild parrots in the forest instead, so the population can thrive.