Yellow-headed Amazon

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Yellow-headed Amazon, Palmitos Park
© William Warby [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons

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Species Profile

Genus: Amazona | Species: oratrix

Size:

36-38cm (14-15cm)

Weight:

500g (17.5oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

four: A.o.oratrix, A.o. tresmariae, A.o. belizensis, A.o. hondurensis

Colour Adult:

A.o. oratrix : Both adults in general green with lightly dusted black neck, back and breast to abdomen feathers; yellow head and neck, occasionally with scattered green feathers in neck area; yellow thighs; orange/red bend of wing and lesser wing coverts mixed with yellow; yellow carpal edge, sometimes mixed with orange/red; bases of secondaries 1-5 red, the remainder green; green tail with red at base. Bill pale yellow/horn in colour. Eye ring white, eye orange. 
A.o. tresmariae: Both adults as in oratrix, but yellow of head paler and reaching to foreneck and upper breast; paler green upperparts; blue wash on underparts. 
A.o. belizensis: Both adults different from oratrix by the restriction of the yellow of the head to the lores, forehead, crown and around eyes to ear coverts and upper cheeks; yellow patch on nape to hindneck in yellow-naped morph and none in yellow-faced morph; yellow absent on carpal edge. Eye ring grey/white. 
A.o. hondurensis: Both adults have varying plumage, differing from belizensis by having only the forehead and crown yellow, with or without yellow patch on nape to hindneck; red mixed with yellow on bend of wing; carpal edge green.

Colour Juvenile:

Juveniles have yellow only on crown to lores. Bill grey at base. Eye brown.

Call:

Raucous screaming and deep, rolling vocalizations; also hoarse calls.

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

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Yellow-headed Amazon, Palmitos Park
© William Warby [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons

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

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Related publications: Amazona oratrix

Species Care

Captive Status:

Fairly common in US; elsewhere somewhat common.

Longevity:

50-60 yrs

Housing:

Aviary or suspended cage, minimum length 3m (9.8 ft). Temperature no lower than 50F (10C).

Diet:

Fruit such as: apple, pear, orange, cactus fruits, pomegranate, banana, forming about 30 percent of diet; fresh vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green peas, beans, fresh corn and green leaves. Cooked/sprouted beans or pulses. Spray millet, mix of small seeds, limited sunflower; complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Bathing using overhead misters or shallow water bowls; foot toys, destructible (non-toxic) wood block or vegetable tanned leather toys, non-destructible (non-toxic plastic) toys, food-finder toys, preening toys, different texture and size hanging perch toys; fir, pine, willow or elder branches, push-and-pull toys (sliding up and down).

Nest Box Size:

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

Clutch Size:

2-4, usually 3

Incubation Time:

26 days

Fledging Age:

9 weeks

Hatch Weight:

15g (0.5oz)

Peak Weight:

500-550g (17.6-19.4oz)

Weaning Weight:

450-500g (15.8-17.6oz)

Your SUPPORT in action »Programs &
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Yellow-headed Amazon, Palmitos Park
© William Warby [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Photos

View in Gallery

Programs & Projects

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

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona oratrix

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Fewer than 7000.

IUCN Red List Status:

Endangered

CITES Listing:

Appendix I

Threat Summary:

Heavy trapping for wild bird trade, hunting and persecution, extensive habitat loss (80% of the Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture and pasture).

Range:

A.o. oratrix: Pacific slope of C Mexico, and Caribbean slope.
A.o. tresmariae: Isla Tres Marías, off coast of W Mexico.
A.o. belizensis: C Belize and El Petén, N Guatemala; isolated populations NE Guatemala and NW Honduras.
A.o. hondurensis: Valle de Sula, NW Honduras.

Habitat:

Deciduous or riparian forest, clearings, savanna woodland, Pinus woodlands on ridges (Belize), dense gallery woodland; in Guatemala, mangroves or coastal swamp forest and cultivated areas with scattered trees.

Wild Diet:

Reported to consume buds, new leaves, palm fruits and flowers. Items include monkeypod Pithecellobium dulce, mango flowers, and seeds of glassywood Astronium graveolens, garlic-pear tree Crataeva tapia and tempisque tree Sideroxylon capiri. Also Ficus fruits.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Birds are found in pairs or flocks with larger gatherings at communal roosts and feed areas.

Clutch and Egg Size:

2 to 4 ovate eggs, 37.0 x 30.0mm (1.4 x 1.2 in)

Breeding Season:

March-April. Nests in cavities of large mature trees such as Astronium graveolens, Bursera arborea, Ebenopsis ebano, and Sideroxylon palmeri.

Related Links:

Wikipedia
California Parrot Project

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Yellow-headed Amazon, Palmitos Park
© William Warby [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Photos

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Programs & Projects

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

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona oratrix

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