Mealy amazon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mealy amazon |
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| Tambopata River, Peru | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amazona
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| Species: |
farinosa
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The mealy amazon or mealy parrot (Amazona farinosa) is a large, green parrot. It is one of the biggest amazon parrots. These birds are about 38 to 41 centimeters (15 to 16 inches) long. Mealy amazons live in warm, wet areas of Central America and South America.
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Types of Mealy Amazons
There are different types, or subspecies, of the mealy amazon. They live in various parts of Central and South America:
- A. f. guatemalae: This type is found from southeastern Mexico to Honduras. It is also called the northern mealy amazon.
- A. f. virenticeps: You can find this type in Nicaragua and western Panama. It is sometimes called the Costa Rican mealy amazon.
- A. f. farinosa : This type lives in tropical Central America and South America. It is known as the southern mealy amazon.
The name farinosa comes from a Latin word meaning "sprinkled with flour." This refers to the powdery look on some of its feathers.
What the Mealy Amazon Looks Like
The mealy amazon is a large parrot, usually weighing between 540 and 700 grams (19 to 25 ounces). It is mostly green. Its back and the back of its neck often look a bit whitish. This makes it seem as if it has been dusted with flour, which is how it got its name.
The tail of the mealy amazon is fairly short and square-shaped. The end part of its tail is lighter and more yellow than the part closer to its body. This gives its tail a two-color look. When it flies, you can see a bluish-black edge on its wings. It also has a bright red patch on its wing feathers. Sometimes, a few yellow feathers can be seen on the top of its head.
People sometimes confuse the mealy amazon with the yellow-crowned amazon. However, the mealy amazon is bigger. It also has less yellow on its head and a whitish look to its feathers. Its voice is also very different.
Where They Live and Their Home
Mealy amazons live in warm parts of Central and South America. They like forests that are humid or somewhat humid. You might also find them in plantations. In areas with dry, open land, they usually stick to forests along rivers.
Mealy Amazon Behavior
Mealy amazons are social birds. They can be seen in pairs or in large flocks. They even hang out with other types of parrots, like macaws. These parrots are usually quiet. However, they can get loud in the morning and evening. When kept as pets, they are known to be very gentle and calm.
Mealy Amazon Reproduction
Once mealy amazons are old enough, they usually find one partner and stay with them for life. Each year, they start looking for a mate in early spring. The female parrot typically lays three or four white eggs inside a tree hole.
The female sits on the eggs for about 26 days to keep them warm. During this time, the male parrot brings food back up from his stomach to feed her. Later, he also feeds the baby chicks in the nest. The young parrots leave the nest when they are about 60 days old.
What They Eat
The mealy amazon eats many different things. Their diet mainly includes fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, blossoms, and young leaf buds.
Status and Keeping Them Safe
Mealy amazons are quite common in most places where they live. However, their numbers have gone down in some areas. This is because their homes are being destroyed. Also, people illegally catch them to sell as pets. It is against the law in many countries to trade these birds. Even so, some are still smuggled into places like the United States.
In some areas, people hunt mealy amazons for food. Sometimes, these parrots eat crops that farmers grow, like corn. When this happens, they can be seen as a pest.
Mealy amazons are also raised by people. They are sometimes kept as companion parrots. Owners often say these birds are calm, gentle, and loving towards humans.
