Bird Guide

Monk Parakeet vs Red-lored Amazon

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Monk Parakeet

Myiopsitta monachus

Medium120 gUrban

The nominate subspecies of this parrot is 29 cm (11 in) long on average, with a 48-centimetre (19 in) wingspan, and weighs 100 g (3.5 oz). Females tend to be 10–20% smaller, but can only be reliably sexed by DNA or feather testing. Monk parakeets display very subtle sexual dimorphism in the colouration of their crown and wing coverts, but this is not noticeable to the human eye. It has bright-green upperparts. The forehead and breast are pale grey with darker scalloping and the rest of the underparts are very light-green to yellow. The remiges are dark blue, and the tail is long and tapering.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Tanguy Loïs · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joaquín Krasuk · CC BY 4.0
Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis)

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Large416 gForest

The red-lored amazon is 32–35 centimetres (13–14 in) in length, with a weight of 310–480 g. The plumage is primarily green, with a red forehead and, in some subspecies, yellow cheeks (sometimes with red spots). The crown is blue. Adult males and females do not differ in plumage. Juveniles have less yellow on the cheeks, less red on the forehead, and dark irises.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Monk Parakeet and Red-lored Amazon.