Amazon of the week, 2/27/10 *Special*

[Jayd]

This week's Amazon of the Week is a Yellow-headed Amazon and it is a favorite among Bird keepers. It is also deeply disturbing that it is almost extinct in the wild.

Believe it ot not, the Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix), also known as the Yellow-headed Parrot and Double Yellow-headed Amazon, is an endangered amazon parrot of Mexico and northern Central America. It runs 15 to 17 inches in length and is stocky with a short tail and a yellow head.

It's favored habitat is in mangrove forests or forests near rivers or other bodies of water.

It is a popular pet and an excellent talker.

The Yellow-headed Amazon is robust with a bright green body, yellow on the head, dark scallops on the neck, red at the bend of the wing, yellow thighs, rounded wings and a square tail. {There's also a number of mutations in captivity.}

The flight feathers are blackish to bluish violet with a red patch on the outer secondaries. The base of the tail also has a red patch, which is usually hidden. The outer tail feathers have yellowish tips. The bill is horn-colored. The eye ring is whitish in Mexican birds and grayish in others.

The popularity of Yellow-headed Amazons as a pet continues to fuel poaching efforts, which have nearly driven it to extinction in the wild. The wild population has declined from 70,000 to 7000 or less in the last twenty years.

An estimated 90% of poached Yellow-headed Amazons die before they are sold.:dry:

Jay;)

 

 

http://www.avianweb.com/yellowheadedamazon.html

http://www.avesinternational.com/dyha.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-headed_Amazon

 

Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/02/27 05:57<br><br>Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/02/27 05:59

[pearllyn]

Another gorgeous Amazon Jay. If I hadn't gotten Alfie, I'd have looked for one of these - I think they're smashing.

Thanks for this weeks Amazon!

[JillyBeanz]

What a gorgeous bird - I particularly like the yellow ones at the bottom - beautiful birds. It's such a shame about the poachers - they should all have their hands chopped off!

[Talon]

Wow! I never knew they were so extinct. Karma for you Jayd and for taking time from your precious flock to teach us so much! :cheer:

[judygram]

I am amazed that this particular amazon is getting close to extinct in the wild and that is so sad that so many die that are captured for sale, why can't they leave them alone, if I were over there and caught them doing it those poachers would not take another breath:angry:

 

Those all yellow ones are gorgeous, bet they would shine in the dark, thanks for sharing these with us Jay.

[Jayd]

Yes it's sad, so many of our feathered friend have lost or are losing there natural habitats, and when there original homes are destroyed, what will be missing from our captive raised fid's? Pearllyn, 1st post Karma, Thanks... Jay:)

[Luvparrots]

Thanks Jay, I totally love "Tommy" the rare mutation of the yellow-headed amazon.