Amazon of the Week 6/6/10

[Jayd]

This weeks Amazon is yet another almost ex-stink bird.

 

Red-spectacled Amazon Parrots or Pretre's Amazons

 

Natural habitat: South East Brazil from Sao Paulo to Rio Grande, North East Argentina and occasionally in Uruguay and Paraguay

 

They usually congregate in family groups or flocks of between 5 and 150 birds. Some times large gatherings can be seen in roosting places. During the breeding season, pairs usually separate to prepare for the task of raising a family. The average clutch size consists of 3 to 4 eggs which are incubated for 26 to 27 days.

 

They tend to be quiet during breeding seasons and difficult to detect. Outside these times, they are conspicuous and noisy, and they can frequently be seen flying over trees. They often fly great distances and seasonal migration has been noted depending on availability of food sources.

This parrot is now very rare and close to extinction due to habitat destruction and trapping for the pet trade.

 

This parrot averages 12.4 - 12.5 ins. (31 - 32 cm) in length. The plumage is generally green; with exception of wings all feathers with distinct black edging and some sparse red spots on head, variable extent of red on forehead, lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head) and around the eyes,.

The forehead, lores, crown, eye area, lower thighs, bend, edge of wing as well as feathers in between are green and the primary wing feathers are red. The primaries (= longest wing feathers) are green with blue tips. The under-wing and under-tail coverts as well as underside of wings are green. The upper-side of the tail is green with yellowish-green tips and red to base of inner webs of three outer feathers. The periophthalmic (eye) ring is whitish. The bill horn-colored / yellowish and the irises are orange-yellow. The feet are pale yellowish-gray.

 

Female look alike, but they have less red on the bend of the wing (up to six red primary wing feathers). The remainder of the primary wing feathers are green. The edges of the wings are often green. The feathers between bend and edge of wing are green.

Immature s look like females, but they have dark brown irises and some green primary wing feathers. There is less red to the plumage.

 

Interesting fact: Red Spectacled Amazons are now a rare sight, to encourage them to nest some reserves are supplying artificial nest boxes in the hope they will eventually use them.

 

They nest in hollows in trees, normally Eucalyptus or Acacia, and a normal clutch is 3-5 eggs. may not attain the full adult coloration until they are four years old.

 

http://www.parrots.org/index.php/parrotgallery/category/C224/

http://www.parrotlink.com/cms//index.php?page=red-spectacled-amazon---newRed

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

 

[JillyBeanz]

Wow - look at those vivid red "spectacles" - that black edging on the wing is special too. Yet another great Amazon Jay - thank you so much for taking the time to educate me

[judygram]

So many birds going extinct it breaks my heart but this is a beautiful bird, I love that vivid red mask around the eyes and forehead, stunningly beautiful in my opinion, thanks so much Jay for taking the time to show us the many species of amazons, I look forward to seeing these every week.

[Luvparrots]

Thanks Jay, I look forward to seeing the Amazon of the Week posts. The Red-Speculated Amazon is a truly beautiful amazon. Thanks Jay!

[Yossi]

Almost got one of these guys. About the same size as my red lored. Not known as talkers, they're very smart and vivacious birds. The ones I looked at were like kids on a playground. The antics were amazing! Great pick for the week, thanks!