Double Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot

NAME:

Double Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot

ZOO NAME:

Jenny & Angel

CLASS:

Aves

ORDER:

Psittaciformes

GENUS:

Amazona

SPECIES:

Oratix

LENGTH:

15″ Tall, 1-2 ft. Wingspan

WEIGHT:

1 lb.

LIFESPAN:

30 – 50 yrs.

DIET:

Berries, Nuts, Seeds, Fruit, Occasional Worm

PREDATORS:

Large tree-dwelling snakes and arboreal cats

RANGE

Central & South America

HABITAT

Riperian Forests, Tropical Forest Canopy, Open Forest, Grasslands with scattered trees

CHARACTERISTICS

Yellow Headed Amazon Parrots have a green body with bright yellow on the head and patches of red on the secondary flight feathers on the wings. The base of the square tail has a red patch of feathers. Females and males look alike.

BEHAVIOR

Amazon Parrots are prevalent in the pet trade because of their ability to “talk”, or mimic human voices. The birds have loud vocalizations ranging from mimicry to squawks to whistles. Excellent climbers, Amazon Parrots use their hooked beaks and dexterous feet to travel through the treetops.

REPRODUCTION

These birds make nests of branches and leaves or utilize unlined hollows in trees or stumps. Generally, the female lays 4 eggs per clutch with the chicks hatching 30 days later.

THREATS

Illegal pet trade.