Yellow Crowned Amazon Fact File
Appearance
The yellow crowned amazon is covered with green feathers across the back. A number of subspecies exist and these have variable coloration. They have yellow feathers on their head which may be just a small patch above the beak or across much of their head. A red bar runs across the front of each wing. Each wing often has a bluish tip.
Their tail is squared off at its base.
Females and males are similar in their appearance and size.
The beak is colored dark grey to black. The beak is curved which helps to open nuts and seeds. Above this is the black cere.
They have an orange eye which is surrounded by a featherless white ring.
Their feet are grey.
An average yellow-crowned amazon will measure between 33 and 38cm (13-15in) long with an average weight of 397-597g (14-20oz). Their wingspan is between 58 and 65cm (23-25.6in) across.
Diet
Yellow-crowned amazons are herbivores. Thy feed on fruits, berries, grains, nuts, seeds and flowers.
They are an important part of the food web and ecosystem in their habitat. They will drop much of their feed while they eat. This provides food to animals such as tortoises which will pick up the scraps.
The yellow-crowned amazons will also ingest seeds which are softened as they go through the digestive tract. They can then excrete this which helps them to germinate in the soil and grow new trees.
Scientific Name
Amazona ochrocephala
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Weight
397-597g (14-20oz)
Length
33-38cm (13-15in)
Wingspan
58-65cm (23-25.6in)
Lifespan
Wild 30-50 years
Captive 100+ years
Diet
Herbivorous
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Range
South and Central America is the native home of the yellow-crowned amazon. Here they can be found in the following countries - Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
Habitat
They make their home in rainforest, woodlands, mangroves and savannas.
Reproduction
Breeding takes place from December to May. Each season a pair produces one clutch of eggs.
Yellow-crowned amazons are monogamous with pairs remaining together for life. To attract a mate they will bow, droop and flick their wings, raise their foot and dilate their pupils.
The pair will form a nest in the treetops of the forest. Their nests are created in tree hollows. In to this they deposit between 2 and 3 eggs which will hatch after a 25 to 26 day incubation period. Their eggs are plain white with no markings. While the female incubates the eggs the male will bring her food.
Upon hatching they are reliant on their parents for care. They will remain in the nest for between 50 and 60 days. The male will help to feed the chicks but the female is their primary caregiver.
Sexual maturity is reached at 3 years old.
Behavior
Yellow-crowned amazons will crumble a specialized feather on their chest in to dust which is then used to care for their plumage.
These birds will form flocks of up to 30 birds with many flocks coming together at feeding sites.
They have a range of loud vocalizations including shrieks, whistles squawks and screeches.
Predators and Threats
Natural predators of the yellow crowned amazon include snakes such as boa constrictors.
Humans affect the population of yellow-crowned amazon through collection for the pet trade and are hunted locally for food.
Quick facts
They are also known as the yellow-crowned parrot and yellow-fronted Amazon.
Yellow-crowned amazon parrots have been popular within the pet trade. Due to their long lifespan they often outlive their owners leaving them abandoned.
These parrots are able to mimic human voice and speak some words.
Photo Credits
Top
Smartneddy., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=311399
Middle One
Under License
Bottom
By Steve Wilson from Chester, UK - Yellow-crowned Amazon, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40569524
References
Christiansen, P. 2019. Birds. 2nd Ed. London: Amber Books Ltd.
BirdLife International. 2018. Amazona ochrocephala. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22686346A131919991. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22686346A131919991.en. Downloaded on 02 January 2021.
Elmwood Park Zoo. 2021. Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrots | Elmwood Park Zoo. [online] Available at: <https://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/animal/yellow-crowned-amazon-parrots/> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
Hoglezoo.org. 2021. Yellow-Crowned Amazon | Utah's Hogle Zoo. [online] Available at: <https://www.hoglezoo.org/meet_our_animals/animal_finder/yellow-crowned_amazon_/> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
Parrot Garden. 2021. Yellow Crowned Amazon - Parrot Garden. [online] Available at: <https://www.parrotgarden.com.au/yellow-crowned-amazon/> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
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