The species is widely distributed throughout the island and is an important part of the Puerto Rican ecosystem because of its help in seed dispersal and plant reproduction.

The report concluded, based on differences in weight, color, pattern, distribution, and voice, that a split of S. zena was necessary.

It is distributed throughout the entire main island of Puerto Rico and is rarely found above 1000 meters in elevation.

Females, on the other hand, sing "whisper songs" usually from dense areas close to the ground.

The most common vocalization is described as a "continuing series of high-pitched, thin, sibilant notes, given in a rhythmic pattern.

[2] The Puerto Rican spindalis commonly eats fruit from Didymopanax morototoni, Cecropia schreberiana, Cordia sulcata, Ficus species, Phoradendron species and Inga vera trees, with fruit from S. morototoni being the most important.

Eggs are usually light blue in color with brown patches around the large end, but regional variations are known to exist.