Scaly-naped amazon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scaly-naped amazon |
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| In the cloud forests of western Andes in Ecuador | |
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| Genus: |
Amazona
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| Species: |
mercenarius
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The Scaly-naped Amazon (Amazona mercenarius) is a type of parrot that lives in the Andes mountains of South America. People also call it the Scaly-naped Parrot or Mountain Parrot. This beautiful bird likes to live in warm, wet forests, both in lowlands and in mountains. It belongs to the Psittacidae family, which includes many kinds of parrots.
Contents
What Kind of Parrot Is It?
The Scaly-naped Amazon has two slightly different types, called subspecies. They are very similar, but have small differences in their feathers.
- A. m. mercenarius: This is the main type, also known as the nominate subspecies.
- A. m. canipalliata: This type looks much like the main one. However, it has hidden maroon (dark reddish-brown) marks on its wing feathers. The main type has red marks there instead.
How to Recognize a Scaly-naped Amazon
These parrots grow to be about 34 centimeters (13.2 inches) long. They weigh around 300 grams (10.5 ounces), which is about the same as a can of soda.
Feather Colors and Markings
Scaly-naped Amazons are mostly a bright green color.
- Their heads, from the top down to their necks, have dark green feathers. These feathers often have a dull blue or black tint at the tips.
- Their eyes are red, and they have a pale gray ring around each eye.
- Some of their wing feathers have red bases. These are called secondary wing feathers.
- The edge of their wings, near the shoulder, is a mix of yellow, red, and orange.
- Their tail is green with a yellow-green band. The feathers on the sides of the tail have red and blue-purple bands. The very outermost tail feathers have blue-purple edges.
- Their beak is gray and horn-colored.
Young Parrots
Young Scaly-naped Amazons look a lot like the adult birds. The main differences are that their beaks are a pale horn color with some gray, and their eyes are brown.
What Sounds Do They Make?
These parrots make many different sounds and calls. One of their most common calls sounds like a repeated ka-lee.
How Scaly-naped Amazons Live
Scaly-naped Amazons are usually seen in pairs. Sometimes, you might spot them in small groups or flocks. They are known to be quite shy birds. They often choose places that are hard to reach for their nests.
What Do They Eat?
These parrots love to eat fruit, especially figs. They have also been seen eating corn. They usually feed in the morning and in the afternoon. Large groups of these birds fly together from their sleeping spots to their feeding areas.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The breeding season for Scaly-naped Amazons is from March to May. They build their nests in places that are difficult for others to get to. Their eggs are oval-shaped and measure about 35.5 by 28.0 millimeters (1.4 by 1.1 inches).
Where They Live
You can find the Scaly-naped Amazon in several South American countries. These include Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They typically live at elevations between 800 and 1600 meters (2,600 to 5,200 feet) above sea level.
Their Favorite Places
Within their home range, the Scaly-naped Amazon is often the only type of Amazona parrot you will find. They live in:
- Hill and mountain forests in warm, tropical, and cooler temperate areas.
- Open woodlands that have many large trees.
- Open forests found on ridges.
- Wooded valleys and ravines in the paramo zone, which is a type of grassland found in high mountains.
Protecting the Scaly-naped Amazon
The Scaly-naped Amazon is currently listed as a least concern species. This means that experts believe it is not in immediate danger of disappearing. It lives across a very large area. Even though we don't know the exact number of these parrots, they are thought to be quite common in the places they live. However, there is some concern that their numbers might be slowly decreasing.
