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47-563: The Saint Vincent amazon ( Amazona guildingii ), also known as Saint Vincent parrot , is a large, approximately 40 cm (16 in) long, multi-colored amazon parrot with a yellowish white, blue and green head, greenish-bronze upperparts plumage , and violet blue-green wings. The bird is a 40 centimetres (16 in) long, mostly green, multi-colored amazon parrot with a yellowish white, blue and green head, greenish-bronze upperparts, grey feet, reddish eye, and violet blue-green wings. Its tail feathers are blue with broad yellow tips. There

94-427: A foot. 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. During

141-593: A large increase in its population. Low (2005) describes adaptability and joyfulness as the special positive attributes of the genus from an avicultural perspective. The yellow-headed amazon , yellow-naped amazon, and turquoise-fronted amazon are some of the species which are commonly kept as pets. They can live for 30 to 50 years, with one report of a yellow-crowned amazon living for 56 years in captivity. However, some amazons can have hormonally-induced aggressiveness and attack their owners, which has led to owners seeking behavior modification for their parrots. On

188-516: A large non-indigenous population of naturalized parrots. According to the Parrot Project of Los Angeles, the parrots are of at least five species. Residents have come to enjoy the birds as part of their city's culture, and like other Southern California residents they have become "local icons" to the citizens there. Many theories surround the mystery of how the parrots landed in Pasadena and claimed

235-449: 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. Captive birds are likelier to be less fertile. A variety of hypotheses to explain the phenomenon have been proposed - Low (1995) suggests that this

282-461: 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. 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

329-546: Is a less yellow-brown morph and a less common green morph. Both sexes are similar. The young has lighter plumage and brown iris . The Saint Vincent amazon is endemic to the heavily forested mountains of the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent in the Lesser Antilles . Its diet consists mainly of fruits, nuts, flowers and seeds. The female usually lays one to two eggs . The Nicholls' Wildlife Aviary Complex, located within

376-550: Is a population of mainly red-masked or cherry-headed parakeets, a female mitred parakeet (and thus several inter-specific hybrids), as depicted in the documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill . In the greater San Francisco Bay Area, there are several populations of red-masked parakeets, including in Palo Alto , Menlo Park , and Sunnyvale . A breeding population of the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), has been present in east-central Miami-Dade County , Florida since

423-589: Is available. 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. Amazon parrots are traded and exploited as pets. 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

470-403: 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. Amazon parrots feed primarily on seeds , nuts , fruits , berries , buds , nectar , and flowers , supplemented by leafy matter. Their beaks enable them to crack nut shells with ease, and they hold their food with

517-598: The Atacama Desert region of Chile . 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

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564-774: The Canary Islands , where it has been observed successfully hybridizing with a feral scaly-headed parrot ( Pionus maximiliani ) and also attempting to breed with feral monk parakeet ( Myiopsitta monachus ) and rose-ringed parakeet ( Psittacula krameri ), even involving itself in the former species' unusual nest-building behaviour. Note: Species found as introduced to the State of Rio de Janeiro , outside their historical ranges; further research can detect other species in other regions. Feral parrot flocks can be formed after mass escapes of newly imported, wild-caught parrots from airports or quarantine facilities. Large groups of escapees have

611-461: The Cuban amazon , festive amazon , and red-necked amazon . The taxonomy of the yellow-crowned amazon ( Amazona ochrocephala complex) is disputed, with some authorities only listing a single species ( A. ochrocephala ), while others split it into as many as three species ( A. ochrocephala , A. auropalliata and A. oratrix ). The split is primarily based on differences related to extension of yellow to

658-741: The East Coast from Florida to coastal Connecticut , in parts of the lower Great Lakes near Chicago, and in parts of Texas . A population of naturalized peach-faced lovebirds ( Agapornis roseicollis ) is found in Phoenix, Arizona . Several species, including red-lored parrots ( Amazona autumnalis ), lilac-crowned parrots ( Amazona finschi ) and yellow-chevroned parakeets ( Brotogeris chiriri ), have become well established in Southern California , and in San Francisco 's Telegraph Hill area there

705-636: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as threatened or extinct in the wild . The most common threats are habitat loss, persecution, the pet trade, and the introduction of other species. The Puerto Rican amazon is critically endangered. 15 species are on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species , while 16 are on Appendix 2. In the case of illegal smuggling of amazon parrots, some smugglers bleach

752-625: The Luquillo forest in which most Puerto Rican parrots were living. 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

799-576: The Neotropical Americas , ranging from South America to Mexico , and the Caribbean . Outside of their native habitats, more than 14 species of amazon parrots have been observed. In Italy , there are 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

846-590: The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Botanic Gardens of Saint Vincent maintains a vital captive breeding and conservation program to conserve the St Vincent Parrot. Hunting for food, trapping for the cage-bird trade and habitat loss were the principal causes of this species' decline. Deforestation has been the result of forestry activities, the expansion of banana cultivation, charcoal production,

893-714: The cloud-forest . Yellow-headed amazons nest in the canopy of tall trees, mostly in Astronium graveolens and Enterolobium cyclocarpum . 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. Amazon parrots average 5 weeks for nest initiation, with most successful nestings averaging 2.2 fledglings . Amazon parrots mostly breed during late winter and spring, as they are seasonal breeders . This may happen due to seasonal food availability or

940-498: The genus Amazona . They are medium-sized, short-tailed parrots native to the Americas , with their range extending from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean . Amazona is one of the 92 genera of parrots that make up the order Psittaciformes and is in the family Psittacidae , one of three families of true parrots . It contains about thirty species. Most amazons are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on

987-705: The stitchbird and kākā in New Zealand and the swift parrot in Tasmania may be at risk of contracting diseases from or being outcompeted by the invasive lorikeets. They also pose an economic threat to the horticultural industry as they damage soft fruits such as grapes and apples. The eastern rosella ( Platycercus eximius ) has become naturalized in the North Island of New Zealand . Native to India, Sri Lanka and parts of Africa, sizeable populations of naturalized rose-ringed parakeets ( Psittacula krameri ) exist around

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1034-459: The white-fronted amazon , Yucatan amazon and the turquoise-fronted amazon , the latter species being sexually dimorphic when viewed in the ultraviolet spectrum, invisible to humans. They can weigh from 190g to more than 565g. 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. Amazon parrots are native to

1081-411: The 20th century, with no more evidence than the earlier observations and without specimens. 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. Most amazon parrots are predominantly green, with contrasting colors on parts of the body such as

1128-661: The European side where they can be seen in Gülhane Park , Yıldız Park and Eyüp, and on the Anatolian side. It can also be found in Japan. Also found in the United States are various naturalized Brotogeris species, mainly B. versicolurus ( canary-winged parakeet ) and B. chiriri ( yellow-chevroned parakeet ). Myiopsitta monachus ( Monk parakeet ) are found in some coastal areas of

1175-571: The French naturalist René Lesson in 1830. The type species was subsequently designated as the mealy amazon ( Amazona farinosa ) by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori in 1891. 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. Amazona contains about thirty species of parrots, such as

1222-588: The Sanctuary, the deliberate cutting off of the Sanctuary's water supply, and little or no support from the local Police when raids occur, all mean that this small population is unlikely to survive. Due to all of these contributing factors, the St. Vincent Parrot is considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES . Amazon parrot Amazon parrots are parrots in

1269-978: The United States. Feral parrot Feral parrots may become invasive species that affect native biodiversity , human economy and wellness. They are present in many countries, including in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and in the Middle East. Native to the eastern seaboard of mainland Australia , several feral colonies of rainbow lorikeets ( Trichoglossus haematodus ) have been established in Perth, Western Australia , Tasmania , and Auckland , New Zealand . They are considered to be an invasive species as they outcompete native birds for food and nest hollows, carry disease and can breed prolifically, producing up to three broods of eggs in one breeding season. Native threatened species such as

1316-562: The area as their home. A widely accepted story is that they were part of the stock that were set free for their survival from the large pet emporium at Simpson's Garden Town on East Colorado Boulevard, which burned down in 1959. Malibu, California has populations of black hooded or Nanday Parakeet ( Nandayus nenday ), lilac crowned amazon parrots ( Amazona finschi ), red-crowned amazon parrots ( Amazona viridigenalis ), and mitred parakeets ( Aratinga mitrata ). The orange-winged amazon ( Amazona amazonica ) has been introduced to Tenerife in

1363-406: 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. One of the main problems amazon parrots face in captivity is obesity, which can be avoided with the correct diet and exercise. Within captivity, it is recommended to feed amazon parrots

1410-514: The crown, face and flight feathers; these colours vary by species. They are medium- to large-sized parrots, measuring between 23–45 cm (9– 17 + 3 ⁄ 4  in) long, and have short, rounded tails and wings. They are heavy-billed, and have a distinct notch on the upper mandible and a prominent naked cere with setae on it. Male and female amazon parrots are roughly the same size, though males can be larger at times - most amazon parrots do not show sexual dimorphism, exceptions being

1457-572: The downtime before foraging expeditions in the afternoon, amazon parrots spend their time preening themselves and their mates. Amazon parrots mostly communicate vocally. 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. 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

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1504-408: The four species in the Lesser Antilles are less social. Theories for why this is include the lack of predation risk. 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. Extensive studies of vocal behavior in wild yellow-naped amazons show

1551-740: The heads of green-headed parrots to make them look yellow and sell them off as young amazon parrots, which can cause dermatitis . The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Department of Agriculture sometimes confiscate and quarantine parrots for Newcastle disease and then auction them off. 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. However, these efforts were significantly hindered by natural events such as Hurricane Hugo , which affected

1598-408: The islands by humans, so they are regarded as 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

1645-531: The loss of nesting-trees felled by trappers seeking young birds for trade, and natural events such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions. The introduced nine-banded armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus ), undermines large trees causing them to topple, reducing the number of suitable nest trees. A cross-country road is planned, funded by the Taiwanese government, which would destroy large areas of suitable habitat and increase deforestation rates. The genetic isolation of

1692-768: The mid-1980s. They are often sighted in the city of Miami in parks, and are a frequent visitor to University of Miami campus and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida . The Belmont Heights District in Long Beach, California, is also known to have many species of feral parrots, which have become local icons to the citizens of the area. They are known for their loud noises as well as their large communities. These parrots can be found roosting mostly on Ocean Boulevard between Livingston Drive and Redondo Avenue in palm trees. The San Gabriel Valley in California has

1739-1064: 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. Amazon parrots mostly inhabit forests such as scrub forests , palm groves and rainforests , but some prefer drier areas such as savannas . Vinaceous-breasted amazons are thought to prefer parana pine trees, and have been shown to prefer forest fragments or isolated trees, while Tucumán amazons nest at higher elevations than other amazon parrots, mostly in Blepharocalyx trees, within

1786-409: The necessary survival skills to find food or avoid predators and often do not survive long without human caretakers. However, in areas where there are existing feral parrot populations, escaped pets may sometimes successfully join these flocks. The most common era or years that feral parrots were released to non-native environments was from the 1890s to the 1940s, during the wild-caught parrot era. In

1833-490: The other hand, unlike many other amazon species, the lilacine amazon and mealy amazon are said to possess gentle, easy-going and affectionate temperaments. 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

1880-640: The plumage and the colour of bill and legs. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA do not support the traditional split. 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 ). However, subsequent studies question its validity, indicating that these organisms possibly had an artificial hybrid origin. The yellow-faced parrot ( Alipiopsitta xanthops )

1927-402: The presence of vocal dialects, 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 and are meaningful to the parrots; they are less responsive to calls that are not their own dialect. As of June 2020, 58% (18 out of 31) of species were listed by

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1974-409: The protection of a flock and possess the skills to survive and breed in the wild. Some feral parakeets may have descended from escaped zoo birds. Escaped or released pets rarely contribute to establishing feral populations. Escapes typically involve only one or a few birds at a time, so the birds do not have the protection of a flock and often do not have a mate. Most captive-born birds do not possess

2021-590: The separate sub-populations may present further cause for concern. The small population of captive birds at the Graeme Hall Sanctuary in Barbados is at very high risk. This is due to the lethargy of the Barbados Government in working with the St. Vincent Government and the owner of the Graeme Hall Sanctuary to move the birds to an off-shore island or even back to St. Vincent. Increased raids and poaching at

2068-412: 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 pets or companion parrots , and a small industry has developed in breeding parrots in captivity for this market. This popularity has led to many parrots being taken from

2115-574: The wild to the extent that some species have become threatened. The United States and the European Union have made the capture of wild parrots for the 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. The genus Amazona was introduced by

2162-931: The world. They can be found in England , the Netherlands , Belgium and along the river Rhine in Germany . The largest UK roost of these is thought to be in Esher , Surrey , numbering several thousand. Feral rose-ringed parakeets also occur in the United States , South Africa , Egypt (resident, breeding all over Giza territory in June), Israel (with many seasonally present in Yarkon Park in North Tel Aviv ), Lebanon , UAE and Oman . There are also several populations in Istanbul, Turkey, both on

2209-528: Was traditionally placed within this genus, but recent research has shown that it is more closely related to the short-tailed parrot and species in the genus Pionus , resulting in it being transferred to the monotypic genus Alipiopsitta . Populations of amazon parrots that lived on the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe are now extinct. It is not known if they were distinct species or subspecies, or if they originated from parrots introduced to

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