Northern mealy amazon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern mealy amazon |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Genus: | Amazona |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
A. f. guatemalae
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| Trinomial name | |
| Amazona farinosa guatemalae (PL Sclater, 1860)
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The northern mealy amazon (also called the northern mealy parrot) is a really cool bird! Its scientific name is Amazona farinosa guatemalae. This parrot is one of the biggest amazon parrots you can find.
It's mostly green and grows to be about 38 to 41 centimeters (15 to 16 inches) long. These amazing parrots live only in the warm, wet areas of tropical Central America. The northern mealy amazon and the southern mealy amazon used to be thought of as different kinds of birds. But now, scientists know they are actually the same species!
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What Does It Look Like?
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The northern mealy amazon is a good-sized parrot. It measures about 38 to 41 centimeters (15 to 16 inches) long. It usually weighs between 540 and 700 grams (19 to 25 ounces).
Like other parrots in the Amazona family, it has a tail that is fairly short and square-shaped. This parrot is mostly green all over its body. Its back and the back of its neck often look a bit whitish. It's almost like someone sprinkled a thin layer of flour on them! This is why it's called "mealy."
The outer part of its tail is lighter and more yellow. The part closer to its body is darker. This makes its tail look like it has two different colors. When it flies, you can see a dark bluish-black edge on its wings. It also has a bright red patch on its wing, called a speculum. Sometimes, you might spot a few yellow feathers on top of its head. Its crown (the top of its head) can have a bluish tint. Its eyes are usually maroon or orange. From far away, they often look dark. Around its eyes, there's a wide white ring of bare skin.
Where Do They Live?
The northern mealy amazon lives in the tropical parts of Central America. They love to live in forests that are humid or semi-humid. You might only rarely find them in forests where trees lose their leaves. They also live in plantations, which are large farms where crops are grown.
In areas that are mostly open or dry, these parrots stick to gallery forests. These are forests that grow along rivers or streams. If there are no such forests, you won't find them there at all.
How Do They Act?
Northern mealy amazons are very social birds. You can often see them in pairs. They also gather in large flocks with many other parrots. They even hang out with other types of parrots, like macaws!
These parrots are usually quiet during the day. But they can get quite loud when the sun is setting and when it's rising.
What Do They Eat?
The northern mealy amazon's diet is mostly made up of fruits and seeds. They also enjoy eating berries and nuts. Sometimes, they munch on blossoms and fresh leaf buds.
Life Cycle and Family Life
Once northern mealy amazons are old enough to have babies, they usually find one partner. They stay with this partner for their whole lives. Each year, they usually start looking for a mate in early spring.
The female parrot will typically lay three or four white eggs. She lays them in a nest hidden inside a tree cavity. The female then sits on the eggs to keep them warm for about 26 days. This is called incubation. While she is incubating, the male parrot brings her food. He will also bring food for the baby chicks once they hatch. The chicks usually leave the nest when they are about 60 days old.
Protecting These Parrots
The northern mealy amazon is quite common in most places where it lives. However, its numbers have gone down in some areas. This is because their homes are being destroyed. Also, people sometimes trap them to sell as pets.
Selling these birds as exotic pets is against the law in many countries. But sadly, some people still try to smuggle them into places like the United States from Mexico. Sometimes, northern mealy amazons eat crops that humans grow, like corn. Because of this, some farmers might see them as a pest.
