Amazon parrot

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Amazon parrots
Image:Blue-fronted amazon parrot 31l07.JPG
Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Subfamily: Psittacinae
Tribe: Arini
Genus: Amazona
Lesson, 1830
Species

Many, see text.[1]

An Amazon parrot is a large parrot of the genus Amazona native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Most Amazons are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on the species and can be quite vivid. Amazons, like all parrots, are zygodactyl, having four toes on each foot—two front and two back. They feed primarily on nuts and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter.

Several amazon species are commonly kept as pets, including the Yellow-headed Amazon, Yellow-naped Amazon, and Blue-fronted Amazon.

Amazons are known for their exceptional vocal abilities, playfulness, and dexterity with their feet. They are very loyal, loving companions; having them is somewhat like having a two-year-old human child in ability and temperament for 50-plus years.[citation needed] However, some Amazons are aggressive (usually during their mating time), and they all require a lot of attention when kept as pets. Parrots require more attention and care than domesticated pets such as dogs or cats. Parrots are highly intelligent wild animals. While there are a number of species of birds that can be kept as cage-bird pets with little human attention, parrots must have daily attention in order to keep them mentally healthy. Parrots are not for the inexperienced bird owner. All parrots need a lot of stimulating activities to keep from being bored and terribly destructive to themselves and their surroundings. In particular, since Amazons are cavity nesters in the wild, their desire to chew wood is strong, and they need to be provided with destructible toys to satisfy this innate urge.

Contents

[edit] Classification

The following species was originally placed within this genus, however, recent research suggests that it belongs to its own separate genus Alipiopsitta:

The Amazona ochrocephala species historically contained many sub-species, such as auropalliata and oratrix. However, new taxonomic classification puts those in their own species.

[edit] Gallery

Buberel green parrot.jpg

Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix)

Stavenn Amazona leucocephala 00.jpg

Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala)

Stavenn Amazona albifrons 00.jpg

White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)

BxZ Amazona guildingii 00.jpg

St. Vincent Amazon (Amazona guildingii)

Charlie White-fronted Amazon Parrot Redvers.jpg

Male White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)

[edit] References

  1. ^ ITIS standard report page: Amazonarecord last updated 1998 (URL accessed May 22, 2006)
  2. ^ Duarte JMB and Caparroz R (1995) Cytotaxonomic analysis of Brazilian species of the genus Amazona (Psittacidae, Aves) and confirmation of the genus Salvatoria (Ribeiro, 1920). Braz J Genet 18:623-628.
  3. ^ Russello, M.A. & Amato, G (2004) A molecular phylogeny of Amazona: implications for Neotropical parrot biogeography, taxonomy, and conservation. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 30: 421-437.

Caparroz, R. and J.F. Pacheco, 2006: A homonymy in Psittacidae an new name for Salvatoria Miranda-Ribeiro. Ararajuba: Rev. Brasileira de Ornitologia. V. 14, n 2, pp. 91-93.

[edit] External links

de:Amazonenpapageien es:Amazona (género) fr:Amazone (oiseau) lt:Amazonės (paukštis) nl:Amazonepapegaai pl:Amazonka (ptak) pt:Amazona ru:Амазоны fi:Amatsonit (linnut) sv:Amazonpapegojor uk:Амазон

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