Amazon parrot

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Amazon parrots
Collage of four amazon parrots (in clockwise:
White-fronted parrot
).
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Tribe: Androglossini
Genus: Amazona
Lesson
, 1830
Type species
Psittacus farinosus[1]
Boddaert, 1783
Diversity[2]
c. 30 species

Amazon parrots are

true parrots. It contains about thirty species. Most amazons are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on the species, and they can be quite vivid. They feed primarily on seeds, nuts, and fruits
, supplemented by leafy matter.

Many amazons have the ability to mimic human speech and other sounds. Partly because of this, they are popular as

pet trade illegal in an attempt to help protect wild populations. Feral populations of amazons can be found in different parts of the world, including in South Africa, Europe
, and major cities in the Americas.

Taxonomy

Festive amazon (Amazona festiva), color illustration by Keulemans, 1891
Color drawing of an unidentified Jamaican parrot, possibly belonging to this genus, 1764

The genus Amazona was introduced by the French naturalist René Lesson in 1830.[3] The type species was subsequently designated as the southern mealy amazon (Amazona farinosa) by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori in 1891.[4] The genus name is a Latinized version of the name Amazone given to them in the 18th century by the Comte de Buffon, who believed they were native to Amazonian jungles.[5]

Amazona contains about thirty species of parrots, such as the

mtDNA do not support the traditional split.[6]

A 2017 study published by ornithologists Tony Silva, Antonio Guzmán, Adam D. Urantówka and Paweł Mackiewicz proposed a new species from the Yucatán Peninsula area in Mexico called the blue-winged amazon (

Amazona gomezgarzai).[7] However, subsequent studies question its validity, indicating that these organisms possibly had an artificial hybrid origin.[8]

The

monotypic genus Alipiopsitta.[9][10]

Extinct hypothetical species

Populations of amazon parrots that lived on the Caribbean islands of

hypothetical extinct species. No evidence of them remains, and their taxonomy may never be established. Populations of several parrot species were described mainly in the unscientific writings of early travelers, and subsequently scientifically described by several naturalists (to have their names linked to the species that they were proposing) mainly in the 20th century, with no more evidence than the earlier observations and without specimens.[11] An illustration of a specimen termed "George Edwards' parrot" has sometimes been considered a possibly distinct, extinct species, but it may also have been a yellow-billed or Cuban amazon with aberrant colouration.[12]

Description

Most amazon parrots are predominantly green, with contrasting colors on parts of the body such as the crown, face and flight feathers; these colours vary by species.

turquoise-fronted amazon, the latter species being sexually dimorphic when viewed in the ultraviolet spectrum, invisible to humans.[20] They can weigh from 190g to more than 565g.[17]: 6  The average body temperature of an amazon parrot is 41.8 degrees Celsius, or 107.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Their heart rates range from 340 to 600 beats per minute, with 15-45 breaths per minute.[21]

Distribution and habitat

Amazon parrots are native to the

Neotropical Americas, ranging from South America to Mexico, and the Caribbean.[22] Outside of their native habitats, more than 14 species of amazon parrots have been observed. In Italy, there are only two reproductive populations of Amazona, dating back to their introduction in 1991 to the city of Genoa. The birds are present in Germany, but their status is unclear. They are also found in Spain, where the most common parrot present is the turquoise-fronted amazon. Portugal, California (where the birds were largely introduced during the 20th century), Puerto Rico, South Africa, and the Netherlands have also reported sightings of Amazona parrots. More than 12 species of amazon parrots can be found in the US state of Florida, mostly around the city of Miami. Feral populations are also present in São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Buenos Aires, and Río Cuarto within South America.[23]
: 52–56 

Amazon parrots mostly inhabit forests such as

cloud-forest.[25]: 398  Yellow-headed amazons nest in the canopy of tall trees, mostly in Astronium graveolens and Enterolobium cyclocarpum.[26]

Behavior

Breeding

The exact breeding age of wild birds is not precisely known. For captive-bred birds, the average breeding age is around four years, with some larger groups like yellow-crowned amazons requiring six years. Captive birds as old as 30 years have laid eggs.

fledglings.[28] Amazon parrots mostly breed during late winter and spring, as they are seasonal breeders.[29]: 255  This may happen due to seasonal food availability or a lower chance of flooding, as the period is generally dry. West Indian amazon parrots tend to breed earlier than Mexican amazon parrots, with Mexican amazon parrots having their peak at March to April while West Indian amazon parrots peak in March.[30]
: 16 

Captive birds are likelier to be less fertile. A variety of hypotheses to explain the phenomenon have been proposed - Low (1995) suggests that this is because amazon parrots have shorter breeding seasons, while Hagen (1994) suggests that this is because male and female parrots may not be ready for breeding at the same times.[31]: 12 

Feeding

Amazon parrots feed primarily on seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, buds, nectar, and flowers, supplemented by leafy matter.[32]: 43  Their beaks enable them to crack nut shells with ease, and they hold their food with a foot.[17]: 18  In captivity, the birds enjoy vegetables such as squash, boiled potato, peas, beans, and carrots. Mainland amazon parrots forage and then feed their young twice a day (usually one hour after sunrise and one and a half hours before sunset), while West Indian amazon parrots do so 4-5 times. Hypotheses proposed for why this is include the nutritional value of food in the region as well as temperature stress.[30]: 19  During the downtime before foraging expeditions in the afternoon, amazon parrots spend their time preening themselves and their mates.[33]: 22 

Communication and sociality

Amazon parrots mostly communicate vocally.[34]: 150  Species such as orange-winged amazons have nine different recorded vocalizations used in different situations. However, patterns of gestural communication have been observed with the birds, thought to be used to avoid predators.[35] In general, amazon parrots are very social birds in their foraging, roosting, and nesting. Most amazon parrots travel in large groups and have clumped nesting, but the four species in the Lesser Antilles are less social. Theories for why this is include the lack of predation risk.[30]: 15  In captivity, amazon parrots are known for their ability to talk- learning to communicate by mimicking speech and other sounds of human origin. They also appear to have an affinity for human music and singing.[36]

Extensive studies of vocal behavior in wild yellow-naped amazons show the presence of vocal dialects,[37] in which the repertoire of calls that parrots vocalize change at discrete geographic boundaries, similar to how humans have different languages or dialects. Dialects are stable over long periods of time[38] and are meaningful to the parrots; they are less responsive to calls that are not their own dialect.[39]

  • A. autumnalis salvini (red-lored parrot) feeding
    A. autumnalis salvini
    (red-lored parrot) feeding
  • A. leucocephala (Cuban parrot) feeding using its foot
    A. leucocephala
    (Cuban parrot) feeding using its foot
  • Two captive A. auropalliata (Yellow-naped parrots) feeding
    Two captive
    A. auropalliata
    (Yellow-naped parrots) feeding
  • Two A. autumnalis salvini (red-lored parrots) flying together
    Two
    A. autumnalis salvini
    (red-lored parrots) flying together

Conservation status

As of June 2020, 58% (18 out of 31) of species were listed by the

Newcastle disease and then auction them off.[29]
: 255 

The Puerto Rican parrot in particular, as a critically endangered species, has seen considerable conservation efforts, including but not limited to changes in land management, legal protection, research, and increasing nesting success.[41]: 18–21  However, these efforts were significantly hindered by natural events such as Hurricane Hugo, which affected the Luquillo forest in which most Puerto Rican parrots were living.[42]: 70 

Within the rest of the West Indies, the four species of amazon parrots in the Lesser Antilles have seen successful attempts at increasing their population. In the Greater Antilles, the population of amazon parrots has been stable. The Cuban amazon has seen greatly successful conservation efforts and as a result has experienced a large increase in its population.[43]: 94 

Aviculture

A. pretrei in a cage.

Low (2005) describes adaptability and joyfulness as the special positive attributes of the genus from an avicultural perspective.

turquoise-fronted amazon are some of the species which are commonly kept as pets.[29]: 255  They can live for 30 to 50 years,[13]: 8  with one report of a yellow-crowned amazon living for 56 years in captivity.[44] However, some amazons can have hormonally-induced aggressiveness and attack their owners, which has led to owners seeking behavior modification for their parrots.[29]: 255  On the other hand, unlike many other amazon species, the lilacine amazon and mealy amazon are said to possess gentle, easy-going and affectionate temperaments.[45][46][47][48][49] To maintain health and happiness, pet parrots require much more training than domesticated animals such as dogs or even cats. They require understanding, manipulative toys, and rewards for good pet-like behavior, or they can develop quite aggressive behaviors (particularly male birds), which can be clearly observed through the bird's body language - pinning the eyes, flaring the tail, raising the head and neck feathers and engaging in a "macho strut". They have a strong, innate need to chew; thus, they require safe, destructible toys.[36] One of the main problems amazon parrots face in captivity is obesity, which can be avoided with the correct diet and exercise.[29]: 255  Within captivity, it is recommended to feed amazon parrots a variety of food, mostly consisting of pelleted food. Seeds should never be used as a whole diet and should be used as part of a balanced diet, balanced with food such as fresh fruit (except avocado, which is toxic to parrots) and vegetables, with nuts and seed provided only in moderation.[50] Amazon parrots should also be given opportunities to forage for food instead of simply being given it, as they are motivated to forage even when an easier alternative is available.[51]
: 184 

Amazon parrots should be given a dark and quiet sleeping area. It is recommended to give the bird either downtime and naps or to keep them in total darkness for 12 hours so they can rest. Parrots also need to be bathed or sprayed with water once every week to allow for bathing behaviors.[51]: 185 

Trade

Amazon parrots are traded and exploited as pets.[52]: 69  Archeological evidence shows that the parrot trade has existed in South America since pre-Columbian times, with mummified parrots (including amazon species) being found in the Atacama Desert region of Chile.[53] The most traded species of amazons are blue-fronted amazons and yellow-crowned/yellow-headed amazons. A 1992 ban on wild bird trade by the US led to a sharp drop in the trade and a diversion of 66% of it to the European Union, and a further EU ban on the trade in 2005 led to another drop. Between 1980 and 2013, 372,988 amazon parrots were traded. Some illegal trade still occurs between Mexico and the United States.[23]: 58 [29]: 255 

References

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Further reading

  • Caparroz, R. and J.F. Pacheco, 2006: A homonymy in Psittacidae a new name for Salvatoria Miranda-Ribeiro. Ararajuba: Rev. Brasileira de Ornitologia. V. 14, n 2, pp. 91–93.

External links

  • Media related to Amazona at Wikimedia Commons