Amazon of the week, 1/24/10

[Jayd]

This week's Amazon is a Green-Cheek Amazon, also known as a Red-Crowned or Mexican Red-head Amazon.

The scientific name is: Amazona viridigenalis

 

The color of the crown and forehead is a deep scarlet. The cheeks are an iridescent light green and there is blue lilac color behind the eyes.

 

Native to Mexico, this colorful parrot species, with the ability to mimic the human voice, has been significantly reduced in numbers due to a huge demand for these lovely pet birds, especially from the United States. Even after prohibiting the sale of these green-cheeked birds, the species are still being illegally traded across the Mexico/US border .

According to the World Wildlife Federation, there are only 3000 to 6500 in the wild and the numbers are decreasing. They are one of the 10 endangered species.

 

Size - Weight: Mature birds are about 13 inches long from the head to the tip of the tail.

 

There are some really nice photos here:

http://www.parrots.org/index.php/parrotgallery/category/C2/

Jayd

[judygram]

These are beautiful birds, love that red cap on the head and that lilac coloring behind the eyes, you have came up with another beauty, thanks for sharing it.

[pearllyn]

What a stunning bird Jay - another sad story though on how rare they are!

Is that a honeycomb that bird is showing interest in in that lower pic? How unusual!

Thanks Jay for another interesting thread!

[pearllyn]

Oh yes - lol! I just read the caption that goes with the pic! I'm terrible for just looking and pictures and not reading the words!! It is honeycomb right enough!:laugh:

[Luvparrots]

Thanks again Jay for another beautiful amazon to learn about!

[JillyBeanz]

Thanks Jay - another beautiful, though rare bird. The colouring is marvellous - I wonder if it ate the honeycomb?

[kittykittykitty]

Beautiful birds! So many endangered species! Thank you Jay.