Red-necked amazon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-necked amazon |
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| At the Parrot Conservation and Research Centre Botanical Gardens, Roseau, Dominica | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amazona
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| Species: |
arausiaca
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| Synonyms | |
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Amazona bouqueti |
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The red-necked amazon (Amazona arausiaca) is a beautiful amazon parrot. It is also called the red-necked parrot or jaco parrot. This special bird lives only on the island of Dominica.
It is mostly green, but it has bright splashes of other colors. Its name comes from the red feathers often found on its throat.
Long ago, people described a similar parrot called the Martinique amazon. It was thought to live on Martinique, an island near Dominica. It might have been a related species, or even the same one.
Contents
What the Red-Necked Amazon Looks Like
The red-necked amazon gets its name from the orange and reddish feathers on its lower throat. These feathers are very striking!
Sometimes, this bird also has blue feathers on its forehead, around its eyes, and on its head. These blue feathers can fade to gray on its upper chest. The rest of its body is covered in deep green feathers. A wide band of yellow runs down to the tip of its tail. Both its beak and feet are gray. These parrots are about 40 centimeters (16 inches) long. They usually weigh between 550 and 650 grams (about 1.2 to 1.4 pounds).
Where Red-Necked Amazons Live
The red-necked amazon lives only on the Caribbean island of Dominica. It makes its home in the mountain forests. You can find them in places like Morne Diablotin and other forest reserves. They usually live above 1,500 feet (457 meters) in elevation.
These birds also live at lower heights in farm areas and forests near the coasts. They mainly eat flowers, sprouts, seeds, and fruits from rainforest trees and plants. They also enjoy citrus and other farm crops.
Sadly, there are fewer than 400 of these beautiful parrots left. They are very endangered because their homes are being destroyed. Also, in the past, people used to hunt them.
How Red-Necked Amazons Live Together
Red-necked amazons are very social birds. When they are not breeding, they fly in groups of 30 or more. However, during nesting season, they become very protective of their space.
Breeding starts from January to March. The young birds leave the nest from May to July. Red-necked amazon pairs are very loyal to each other. They often use the same nesting spot for many years. These birds are usually quiet and hard to spot in the wild. This is because their green feathers help them blend in with the trees. They are skilled climbers. They might also move to different areas during the year. This depends on where they can find food.
What Red-Necked Amazons Sound Like
Red-necked amazons are most active and noisy in the early mornings. This is from dawn until about 10 AM. They also become lively again in the late afternoon, after about 4 PM. During these times, they talk to each other the most. The red-necked amazon's call is rough. It is a high-pitched squawk. They usually use two-syllable notes when they call out.
Threats and Recovery
The number of red-necked amazons went down a lot during the 1900s. This was mainly because people hunted them for food. Some were also caught for the pet trade. More recently, forests were cut down for farming. This also hurt their population.
Luckily, hunting and illegal trade are not big problems anymore. This amazing bird has made a great comeback! Its population dropped to only about 150 birds in 1980. But thanks to a lot of conservation work, their numbers grew. By 2003, there were about 750 to 800 birds. Because of this recovery, the species seems to have survived Hurricane Maria in 2017. This hurricane caused a lot of damage across Dominica. All the captive birds were safe after the storm. Many wild birds were also seen flying around the island.
