Lilac-crowned amazon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lilac-crowned amazon |
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| At Xcaret Eco Park, Mexico | |
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Amazona
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| Species: |
finschi
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The lilac-crowned amazon (Amazona finschi) is a special type of parrot. It lives only on the Pacific side of Mexico. People also call it the lilac-crowned parrot or Finsch's amazon. This bird is mostly green. It has a reddish-brown forehead and a pretty violet-blue color on its head and neck.
In 2006, experts said this parrot was "vulnerable." This means it was at risk of disappearing. By 2014, its status changed to "endangered." This means it faces an even higher risk of becoming extinct.
The name finschi honors a German explorer and naturalist named Otto Finsch.
Contents
What Does the Lilac-crowned Amazon Look Like?
Adult lilac-crowned amazons are mostly green. Their belly feathers are a bit yellowish. Many of their feathers have black edges.
Their forehead is a deep maroon, which is a reddish-brown color. Their neck, the back of their head, and the top of their head are a light blue-lilac color. Their cheeks and ear feathers are yellowish-green. These feathers do not have the black edges seen on other parts of their body.
The main flight feathers on their wings are dark blue. The feathers next to them are green with dark blue tips. The first five of these feathers also have a bright red spot on their edge. The feathers under their wings and their tail are green. The tip of their tail is yellowish, like their cheeks.
Their beak, the skin around their eyes, and their legs are a light brown-grey. Adult lilac-crowned parrots have amber-colored eyes.
Young lilac-crowned amazons look a lot like the adults. But there are a few small differences. Young birds have dark brown eyes, not amber ones. Also, they have less maroon color on their forehead. After about one year, young parrots start to look more like the adults.
Where Do Lilac-crowned Amazons Live?
The lilac-crowned amazon naturally lives along the Pacific coast of Mexico. Their home stretches from southeastern Sonora and southwestern Chihuahua all the way down to southern Oaxaca. In some areas, like Sinaloa and northern Nayarit, they live above 375 meters (about 1,230 feet) in elevation. Further south, in Jalisco and Oaxaca, they can be found closer to sea level.
The places where lilac-crowned amazons live in Mexico are often in danger. The number of these parrots has gone down in almost all their natural homes. Studies show that the population of Amazona finschi has dropped by 20%. This is mainly because they are losing their natural habitat.
There is also a growing group of about 100 lilac-crowned amazons in Southern California. You can find them especially in the San Gabriel Valley and Orange County. These birds often live in neighborhoods. Sometimes, they even nest with red-crowned parrots in local forests or planted trees.
Lilac-crowned Amazon Life Cycle and Reproduction
The lilac-crowned amazon's breeding season is from February to June. After the female lays her eggs, they take about 28 days to hatch. The young birds then stay in the nest for about 60 days as they grow.
These parrots usually build their nests in natural holes found in trees within dry forests. A female typically lays between one and four eggs. On average, about 1.8 young birds hatch from these eggs. About 0.99 young birds successfully leave the nest per female. In the end, about 0.70 young birds become independent for every pair of parents.
These low success rates might be due to changes in the weather in dry forests. Climate changes can affect how many eggs are laid and how many young birds survive.
Lilac-crowned Amazons as Pets
Lilac-crowned amazons that are raised by humans can be very friendly pets. They can learn many words, even though they are not known as the best "talkers" among parrots. They can make good companion parrots for people.
