A. panamensis

[Jayd]

Yellow-Headed Amazons

 

The yellow-crowned Amazon, A. ochrocephala, double yellow-headed Amazon, A. oratrix, the Panama Amazon, A. panamensis, and the yellow-naped Amazon, A. auropalliata, are often confused by novice aviculturists and avian veterinarians. Recent changes by taxonomists have separated these birds into distinct genus and species. Previously, they were all considered sub-species of the yellow-crowned Amazon. Variations within each species occur, depending on the region of origin. Some yellow-napes have yellow at the crown and also around the nape of the neck, others have no yellow nape at all, and some may have a small amount of yellow at the crown. The most northerly representative of the family is the double yellow-head, ranging through Mexico. The beak of the double yellow-head is horn colored. Southern Mexico begins the range of the yellow-naped Amazon. Their territory ranges though Central America to Costa Rica. Many napes were imported from Honduras in the 1980's, making them the most popular pet Amazon in the United States. The beak of the nape may vary from almost black to a light gray, depending on the area of origin. The parvipes yellow-nape, A. auropalliata parvipes, has a bicolored beak, whereas the nominate species, A. auropalliata auropalliata, has a black beak. According to Low, only the parvipes yellow-nape has red on the bend of the wing.

The Panama Amazon is naturally only found in Panama. This is the smallest of this group of Amazons, and the least colorful, only possessing a small patch of yellow on the front of the forehead. The beak can be horn colored or may vary to horn with black streaks. It has a larger white eye ring in proportion to its size, when compared to the yellow-crowned.

Moving farther south and over the border of mainland South America, to the jungles of Columbia, the color of the Panama Amazon's beak darkens and the body size increases. This Amazon is known as the yellow-crowned or yellow-fronted Amazon.

 

Side note: panamensis there's a number of creatures who carry this same name, ciclid fish to hummingbirds....

Edited July 14, 2012 by Jayd