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AMAZON PARROTS (GENUS AMAZONA)

(4 species). Relatively large New World parrots,

with broad rounded wings, relatively short squared tails, red upperwing patches; fly with distinctive

shallow stiff wingbeats. For species ID note head patterns, voice, habitat. Heavily affected by illegal

capture for pet trade.

WHITE-FRONTED AMAZON (PARROT)  Amazona albifrons 25.5–27cm.

Only small amazon in Costa Rica, mainly in drier forest and edge, open areas

with scattered trees, mangroves, but also ranges up to clearings in cloud forest.

In pairs and loose flocks; often flies lower than large amazons, at or below

canopy height, but roost flights can be high overhead. Wingbeats relatively

quick, flight looks hurried relative to large amazons. Note distinctive head

pattern, red on forewing of male but no red on secondaries. SOUNDS: Raucous

screaming and yapping, typically faster-paced than large amazons, including

sharp kyi kyeh-kyeh..., and rapid, often paired yapping kyak-yak-yak-yak, yak-

yak. Mellower, rolled and screeching calls especially when perched. STATUS: Fairly common to common on

n. Pacific slope; spreading to n. Caribbean slope and Central Valley, to 1500m. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

YELLOW-NAPED AMAZON (PARROT)  Amazona [ochrocephala] auropalliata

35.5–38cm. Large amazon of ranchland, other semi-open country with forest

patches, taller trees, mangroves. In pairs and loose flocks, like other large

amazons. Often detected by voice, which carries well. Distinctive in range

(where only other widespread amazon is much smaller White-fronted), with

large size, yellow nape, dusky bill, voice. Juv. lacks yellow on head or can show

a few yellow flecks, crown tinged greenish blue; cf. Northern Mealy Amazon.

SOUNDS: Raucous but relatively deep and mellow calls have vaguely human

quality, including gruff rolled rrowh or grrrowh, repeated; flight calls include

rolled chrr’rrr uhrr’rr, etc. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common locally on n. Pacific slope, mainly below

600m; widely extirpated by capture for pet trade. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

YELLOW-CROWNED AMAZON  Amazona ochrocephala (not shown) occurs in open country of Pacific

lowlands in w. Panama; with forest clearing, might expand into adjacent s. Costa Rica (one record to

date), although potential population expansion countered by capture for pet trade. Similar to Yellow-

naped Parrot in habits and voice; adult has yellow forecrown patch on green head.

RED-LORED AMAZON (PARROT)  Amazona autumnalis 32–35.5cm. Large

amazon of humid forest and edge habitats, open and semi-open areas with

forest patches, taller trees; more tolerant of forest clearing than Northern Mealy

Amazon. In pairs and loose flocks; typically flies high overhead, feeds mainly in

canopy. Commonest and most conspicuous large amazon in much of range,

often seen perched on high open snags. Note red forehead, trace of yellow on

cheeks, voice. SOUNDS: Varied raucous screams, often with fairly shrill, slightly

shrieking quality, zeek churrik churrik and ch-reek ch-reek...; quieter and

mellower calls mainly when perched. Typically slightly higher, shriekier than

Northern Mealy Amazon. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes, mainly below 1200m.

(Mexico to nw. S America.)

NORTHERN MEALY AMAZON (PARROT)  Amazona [farinosa] guatemalae

38–43cm. Large, rather plain amazon of humid lowland forest and edge,

adjacent taller second growth; locally in tree-scattered farmland with forest

patches. In pairs and loose flocks; heard more often than seen in forested

habitat, where feeds mainly in canopy. Broad pale eyering often more noticeable

than bluish crown (beware Red-lored Parrot facing away, when face colors may

not be visible, also has contrasting pale eyering); hindneck has pale, ‘mealy’

scalloping. Overlaps mainly with Red-lored Amazon, which favors edge and

more-open habitats; also cf. imm. Yellow-naped Amazon. SOUNDS: Loud and

raucous, but lower, less shrieky than Red-lored Amazon, including chíuk chíuk..., and chriuk chriuk

churh.…Often silent in flight. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on both slopes, mainly below

600m; widely extirpated by forest clearing. (Mexico to w. Panama.)