Amazon parrot



Amazon parrot is the common name for a parrot of the genus Amazona. These are medium-size parrots native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Most Amazon parrots are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on the species and can be quite vivid. They feed primarily on seeds, nuts, and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter.

Many Amazon parrots have a remarkable ability to mimic human speech and other sounds. Partly because of this they are popular as pets or companion parrots, and a small industry has developed in breeding parrots in captivity for this market. This popularity has led to many parrots being taken from the wild to the extent that some species have become threatened. CITES treaties have made trapping wild parrots for the pet trade illegal to protect wild populations.

Classification

 * Cuban Amazon, Amazona leucocephala
 * Yellow-billed Amazon, Amazona collaria
 * Hispaniolan Amazon, Amazona ventralis
 * Puerto Rican Amazon, Amazona vittata
 * Yucatan Amazon, Amazona xantholora
 * White-fronted Amazon, Amazona albifrons
 * Black-billed Amazon, Amazona agilis
 * Tucumán Amazon, Amazona tucumana
 * Red-spectacled Amazon, Amazona pretrei
 * Red-crowned Amazon, Amazona viridigenalis
 * Lilac-crowned Amazon, Amazona finschi
 * Red-lored Amazon, Amazona autumnalis
 * Lilacine Amazon, Amazona autumnalis lilacina
 * Blue-cheeked Amazon, Amazona dufresniana
 * Red-browed Amazon, Amazona rhodocorytha
 * Red-tailed Amazon, Amazona brasiliensis
 * Festive Amazon, Amazona festiva
 * Yellow-shouldered Amazon, Amazona barbadensis
 * Blue-fronted Amazon, Amazona aestiva
 * Yellow-crowned Amazon, Amazona ochrocephala
 * Panama Amazon, Amazona ochrocephala panamensis
 * Yellow-naped Amazon, Amazona auropalliata
 * Yellow-headed Amazon, Amazona oratrix
 * Kawall's Amazon, Amazona kawalli
 * Orange-winged Amazon, Amazona amazonica
 * Scaly-naped Amazon, Amazona mercenaria
 * Mealy Amazon, Amazona farinosa
 * Vinaceous-breasted Amazon, Amazona vinacea
 * St. Lucia Amazon, Amazona versicolor
 * Red-necked Amazon, Amazona arausiaca
 * St. Vincent Amazon, Amazona guildingii
 * Imperial Amazon, Amazona imperialis

The taxonomy of the Yellow-crowned Amazon (Amazona ochrocephala complex) is disputed, with some authorities only listing a single species (A. ochrocephala), while others split it into as many as three species (A. ochrocephala, A. auropalliata and A. oratrix). The split is primarily based on differences related to extension of yellow to the plumage and the colour of bill and legs. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA do not support the traditional split.

Re-classification of the Yellow-faced Parrot
The Yellow-faced Parrot (Alipiopsitta xanthops) was traditionally placed within this genus of Amazon parrots, but recent research has shown that it is closer to the Short-tailed Parrot and the species from the genus Pionus, resulting in it being transferred to the monotypic genus Alipiopsitta.

Hypothetically extinct species
Populations of Amazon parrots that lived on the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe are now extinct. It is not known if they were separate species, subspecies, or if they originated form parrots introduced to the islands by humans, and so they are regarded as hypothetical extinct species. There are no surviving remains of them, and their taxonomy may never be established. Populations of several parrot species were described mainly in the unscientific writings of early travelers, and subsequently scientifically described by several naturalists (to have their names linked to the species that they were proposing) mainly in the twentieth century, with no more evidence than the earlier observations and without specimens.
 * Martinique Amazon, Amazona martinica (hypothetical extinct species). A.H. Clark, 1905.
 * Guadeloupe Amazon, Amazona violacea (hypothetical extinct species). Originally called Psittacus violaceus by J.F. Gmelin in 1789.

Aviculture
The Yellow-headed Amazon, Yellow-naped Amazon, Orange-winged Amazon, and Blue-fronted Amazon are some of the Amazon parrot species, which are commonly kept as pets. Amazon parrots, together with macaws, and the African Grey Parrot are all known for their exceptional vocal abilities, playfulness, and dexterity with their feet. Hand reared parrots are very loyal loving companions, and they can live for 50 years or more in captivity. However, some amazons—even well trained ones—can be aggressive during mating season. In order to maintain health and happiness, pet parrots require much more attention than domesticated animals such as dogs or cats. They require communication, manipulative toys, supervised time out of the cage, and so forth, or they may develop self-destructive behaviors. They have a strong, innate need to chew, and thus require safe, destructible toys.