Red-lored amazon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-lored amazon |
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| At Xcaret Eco Park, Mexico | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amazona
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| Species: |
autumnalis
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| Synonyms | |
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Psittacus autumnalis Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The red-lored amazon or red-lored parrot (Amazona autumnalis) is a colorful parrot that lives in warm, tropical parts of the Americas. You can find it from eastern Mexico all the way south to Ecuador. These parrots prefer humid evergreen forests, which are like jungles that stay green all year. They can live in areas up to 1,100 meters high. While not originally found in El Salvador, some parrots, possibly escaped pets, successfully nested there in the 1990s. This means they might start living there permanently. Red-lored amazons have also started living in the wild in some cities in California.
Contents
About the Red-Lored Amazon
The red-lored amazon parrot is about 32 to 35 centimeters (12.5 to 14 inches) long. It usually weighs between 310 and 480 grams (11 to 17 ounces). Most of its feathers are green. It has a bright red forehead and blue feathers on its crown (the top of its head). Some types of these parrots also have yellow cheeks, which might have red spots.
Boy and girl parrots look very similar. Young parrots have less yellow on their cheeks and less red on their foreheads. Their eyes are also dark.
What Do Red-Lored Amazons Eat?
These parrots enjoy a varied diet. In the wild, they eat fruits, nuts, and seeds. If you have a red-lored amazon as a pet, it needs a special diet. This includes high-quality pellets, a good mix of seeds, and fresh fruits and vegetables every day. It's important to know that some foods are bad for them. For example, avocados and eggplants are poisonous to parrots and can make them very sick or even kill them.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Red-lored amazons build their nests inside hollow tree trunks. The female parrot lays white eggs, usually three or four at a time. She keeps the eggs warm for about 26 days until they hatch. The baby parrots, called chicks, stay in the nest for about 60 days after they hatch. Then, they are ready to leave the nest and explore the world.
Where Do They Live?
These parrots are native to tropical areas of the Americas. They live in forests that are always green or mostly green. You won't find them on the Pacific side of Central America north of Costa Rica.
There are three main types, or subspecies, of the red-lored amazon:
- A. a. autumnalis: Found from eastern Mexico to northern Nicaragua.
- A. a. salvini: Lives from northern Nicaragua to southwestern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
- A. a. lilacina: Found in western Ecuador. This type is sometimes thought to be its own separate species, called the lilacine amazon.
Red-Lored Amazons as Pets
Red-lored amazons are popular pets in the Americas. They can be very loving companions and some can even learn to talk quite well! Like many amazon parrots, they can sometimes be loud. They might also try to bite if they are not trained properly. Their behavior can range from quiet and curious to a bit aggressive. With good training when they are young, they can become well-behaved pets. These parrots can live for a long time, sometimes up to 80 years!
Status in the Wild
In some places, like parts of Mexico and Venezuela, the number of red-lored amazons has gone down. This is mainly because people catch them to sell as pets. However, these parrots are quite good at living in places where humans have changed the environment. This helps them survive even when their natural homes are disturbed.
Gallery
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Vocalizing
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The head feathers of adult parrots are special. The color of their cheeks changes between different types of parrots. This one, A. a. autumnalis, is the only one with a bright yellow patch.
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A. a. lilacina lives in a very small area, which makes people worried about its future.
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A. a. salvini flying in Panama
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A. a. salvini eating in the wild in Panama
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A young pet parrot in Costa Rica
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