*Amazon of the Week* 4/4/10

[Jayd]

Greetings everyone and Happy Easter to all. The Amazon I picked this week may be considered by some as the "Plain Jane" of the Amazon world but it seems to be one of the best companion Amazons of all. And again, thanks to all the Amazon Challenge winners!!!!!!

The selection this week is a Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa), one of the largest Amazon parrot species. It is called the Mealy Amazon in the United States and a Blue-crowned Mealy Parrot in the United Kingdom. These parrots may not be as colorful as other species but they have a patch of blue, purple, or violet on the top of their heads. They sometimes have patches of yellow on the head and usually have a green or mostly green body, with tail feathers being light green or lime at the tip. Some Mealy Parrots have a light blue/teal sheen to their green coat, and an undercoat of yellow, blue, purple, red, and/or teal. The beaks are usually yellowish. The eyes are a reddish-orange color, and underneath the eyes are usually white unfeathered rings.

They are a large bird, averaging about 38-41 cm (15 - 17 inches) in length, including the tail and typically weigh between 540 to 700 g (19.01-24.64 ounces). Some Mealy parrots, however, are much larger than this.

The Mealy Parrot is endemic to tropical Central and South America. Its range stretches from southern Mexico south into south-eastern Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, northern Bolivia and eastern Brazil; where they inhabit the sparse Amazon Rainforest.

The Mealy Parrots are a social species and can usually be found in pairs or in groups and are often found with Macaws.

Captive Mealy Parrots are amongst the gentlest and calmest of all amazon parrots.

All amazons can be aggressive but the Mealy Amazons are considered the gentle giants of the Amazon parrots and is not a naturally aggressive species. They are described as the gentlest and calmest of all amazon parrots. They generally have a docile temperament and tend to get along well with other birds.

Thanks

Jayd

 

http://www.parrots.org/index.php/parrotgallery/image_full/3292/ [*Must See!!!*

 

 

 

http://www.avianweb.com/mealyparrots.html#chapman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealy_Amazon

http://www.mealyamazon.com/

[judygram]

Plain Jane, no way Jay, that is another beautiful entry into the amazon of the week, lovely colors in this one.

[judygram]

When you said "must see" you weren't kidding, what a beautiful "carpet" of those amazons but I am curious about the blue headed ones I see, smaller but have a striking blue head, do you know what they are?

[Jayd]

Blue headed Pionus..... Vivid!!!

 

http://www.parrots.org/index.php/parrotgallery/category/C225/P12/

[pearllyn]

Not plain but beautiful for sure. And so is that little Pionus - stunning!

[Luvparrots]

Another great amazon on the week Jay!!!! Thanks!!!!