Yellow-headed Parrot

Amazona oratrix

 

Cool Facts

Photo taken from:
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America by David Allen Sibley
  • The Yellow-headed Parrot was first described in 1887 by Robert Ridgway, an American ornithologist. It is also known as the Double Yellow-headed Amazon.
  • Their popularity as pets continues to fuel poaching efforts, which have nearly driven it to extinction in the wild. Their population has declined from 70,000 to 7,000 in the past two decades alone.
  • They have been kept as pets for centuries because they are among the parrots that "talk" best. Their vocal abilities are generally considered to be bested only by the African Grey Parrot.
  • A group of parrots has many collective nouns, including a "company", "pandemonium", "prattle", and "psittacosis" of parrots.

Description

  • Large green parrot with yellow head.
  • Flight feathers all tipped blue-black, patch of red on secondary feathers and at bend in wing.
  • Curved yellow beak, gray legs and feet.
 
Range Map
 
Taxonomic Hierarchy
No Map because they have been introduced in America as pets that escaped
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
     Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
     Subfamily: Psittacinae
Genus: Amazona
Species: Amazona oratrix
     Subspecies:
  • Amazona oratrix belizensis
  • Amazona oratrix oratrix
  • Amazona oratrix tresmariae
Sound
"kya-a-a-ah"

Identification and Information
See Anatomy of a Bird
Body
  • Length Range: 36-38 cm (14-15 in)
  • Weight: 453-595 g (16-21 oz)
  • Size: Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color Primary: Green, Yellow
  • Underparts: Green
  • Upperparts: Green
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
 
Head
  • Bill Shape: Curved (up or down)
  • Eye Color: No data.
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown Color: Yellow
  • Forehead Color: Yellow
  • Nape Color: Yellow
  • Throat Color: Yellow
  • Cere color: No Data
Flight
  • Flight Pattern: Shallow rapid wingbeats, flies high over canopy.
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Green with dark green sub terminal band and yellow-green terminal band.
  • Under Tail: Yellow-green
  • Leg Color: Gray
Breeding
  • Breeding Location: Forest
  • Breeding Type: Solitary nester
  • Breeding Population:
  • Egg Color: White
  • Number of Eggs: 2 - 3
  • Incubation Days: 24
  • Egg Incubator: Female
  • Nest Material:
  • Migration: Nonmigratory
  • Condition at Hatching:

Other Names

Similar Species

  • Loro cabeza amarilla [Spanish]
  • Yellow-headed Amazon [English]
  • Yellow-headed Parrot [English]
  • Yellow-naped Parrot can be separated by its yellow nape and lack of red at bend in wing.
  • Yellow-crowned Parrot only has yellow on the forehead.

Conservation Status

Classified as an Endangered Species owing to rapid population decline.

Habitat

Sources used to Construct this Page:

Found in pine and deciduous forests and adjacent savannahs.
Food
Feeds on fruits, seeds, and buds.
Behavior
Yellow-headed Parrot: Moves in pairs or small flocks in search of fruits, seeds, and buds.

Adult Sexes Similar

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Additional Photos & Video

Adult Sexes Similar

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Videos
 
 
 
 

All photos © 2008 Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.

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