Yellow-headed Amazon

Amazona oratrix

African and New World Parrots · Psittaciformes · Rare

The Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) is a rare african and new world parrot found in 6 countries, weighing about 477 g. The yellow-headed amazon, also known as the yellow-headed parrot and double yellow-headed amazon, is an endangered amazon parrot of Mexico and northern Central America.

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About the Yellow-headed Amazon

The yellow-headed amazon, also known as the yellow-headed parrot and double yellow-headed amazon, is an endangered amazon parrot of Mexico and northern Central America. Measuring 38–43 centimetres (15–17 in) in length, it is a stocky short-tailed green parrot with a yellow head. It prefers to live in mangrove forests or forests near rivers or other bodies of water. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the yellow-crowned amazon. It is a popular pet and an excellent talker. Poaching for the international pet trade has driven the species to near-extinction in the wild; around half of all wild-caught birds are thought to die in the process.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The yellow-headed amazon averages 38–43 centimetres (15–17 in) long. The shape is typical of amazons, with a robust build, rounded wings, and a square tail. The body is bright green, with yellow on the head, dark scallops on the neck, red at the bend of the wing, and yellow thighs. The flight feathers are blackish to bluish violet with a red patch on the outer secondaries. The base of the tail also has a red patch, which is usually hidden. The outer tail feathers have yellowish tips. The bill is horn-colored (gray), darker in immatures of the Belizean subspecies.

What the Yellow-headed Amazon sounds like

Recording: Oliver Komar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Guatemala, Belize.

When to see it

The Yellow-headed Amazon can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Yellow-headed Amazon?
The yellow-headed amazon averages 38–43 centimetres (15–17 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Yellow-headed Amazon?
The Yellow-headed Amazon is a large sized bird weighing about 477 g.
Where can you see a Yellow-headed Amazon?
The Yellow-headed Amazon occurs in 6 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Germany and Puerto Rico.
What does a Yellow-headed Amazon sound like?
You can listen to a field recording of the Yellow-headed Amazon on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Yellow-headed Amazon?
The Yellow-headed Amazon is most easily confused with the Lilac-crowned Amazon, the Festive Amazon and the Cuban Amazon.
Is the Yellow-headed Amazon endangered?
The Yellow-headed Amazon is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Yellow-headed Amazon for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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