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Red-tailed Amazon

 (Amazona brasiliensis)

Also known as: Purple-faced Parrot, Blue-faced Amazon (Parrot), Brazilian Green Amazon Parrot

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Red-tailed Amazon
© Jamie Gilardi

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Related publications: Amazona brasiliensis

Species Profile

Genus: Amazona | Species: brasiliensis

Size:

37cm (14.4 in)

Weight:

430g (15 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Both adults green in colour, grey edging feathers of neck to area of mantle; red forehead and lores, turning to rose/red on crown and occiput where a few feathers are tipped with purple; pink/blue chin, cheeks and ear coverts to sides of neck, the feathers edged with dull lilac; red carpal edge; centre tail feathers green, widely tipped with yellow/green, the side tail feathers widely tipped with green/yellow and banded with red near end, outer three feathers deep purple/blue at bases of outer webs. Bill dull yellow with grey near tip of upper mandible. Eye ring pale grey. Eye orange.

Colour Juvenile:

As in adult but with duller head colours; forehead to occiput pale pink/red; pink/mauve chin and cheeks, turning to grey/blue on ear coverts to sides of neck. Bill yellow with grey/brown at tip of upper mandible. Eye ring paler grey, eye brown.

Call:

Calls similar to Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva): musical growls and high-pitched sounds.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 81406, Red-tailed Parrot Amazona brasiliensis, Donahue, Paul, Espirito Santo, Brazil, Jun. 30 1987, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2012 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.

Click photo to visit gallery

Red-tailed Amazon
© Jamie Gilardi

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona brasiliensis

Species Care

Captive Status:

Rare

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

Aviary or suspended enclosure, minimum length 3m (9.8 ft).

Diet:

Fruit such as: apple, pear, orange, banana, cactus fruits, pomegranate, forming about 30 % of the diet; fresh vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green peas, beans, fresh corn, green leaves; spray millet and limited mixed seed, cooked beans and pulses, complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Not recorded.

Nest Box Size:

12" x 12" x 24" (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 61cm) vertical box.

Clutch Size:

3 to 4

Incubation Time:

28 days

Fledging Age:

Around 8 weeks.

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Red-tailed Amazon
© Jamie Gilardi

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona brasiliensis

Species Wild Status

World Population:

6000-6700

IUCN Red List Status:

Near Threatened

CITES Listing:

Appendix I

Threat Summary:

Restricted-range species. Previously listed as Endangered. Heavily affected by local bird trade and deforestation for banana plantations, grazing and beach houses on coastal areas. Sport hunting has also caused declines. The species is present inside several protected areas, but poaching persists in many of them.

Range:

SE coast of Brazil, near São Paulo and Paraná.

Habitat:

Restricted area of lowland forest on coast, and wetlands such as freshwater swamps, humid forest and mangroves. Usual habitat is complex network of channels, swamps and other wet areas. Found up to 700m (2296 ft); usually 300-400m (984-1312 ft).

Wild Diet:

Main food plants are Syagrus romanzoffianum and Psidium cattleianum and Calophyllum brasiliense fruits. Over sixty other food plants have been identified; seeds, flowers and nectar also taken, and occasionally invertebrates such as beetle larvae and small spiders and pupae in old seed capsules.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Roosts in groups on small islands in channels; resident in flooded forest. Part of the year communal in mobs up to 750 individuals. Feeds in pairs or flocks up to 20.

Clutch and Egg Size:

3 to 4

Breeding Season:

September-February, occasionally to April. Nest is in cavity in flooded forest trees or arboreal termitaria.

Related Links:

Ecology and conservation of the Red-tailed Amazon Amazona brasiliensis in south-eastern Brazil

Click photo to visit gallery

Red-tailed Amazon
© Jamie Gilardi

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona brasiliensis

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