Amazon and Pionus parrots - HarlequinParrots.co.uk

In general Amazons are much noiser and extrovert than the pionus parrots. Some of the more rarely bred Amazon parrots are less often kept as pets and often not thought to be particularly suitable. However they do make interesting and desirable aviary parrots.

Blue-fronted Amazon (a.aestiva)

Length 13-14" is found in Brazil, Paraquay and Northern Argintina. One of the most common pet Amazon sold. there are two races, the second being known as the Bolivian Blue-fronted Amazon (a.xanthopteryx) this is less often seen than the nominate race but has much more extensive yellowing on the head and wings.

Both races are found in collections.

Orange-winged Amazon (a.amazonica)

Length 12" this amazon is found throughout most of South America. Another favourite pet Amazon has a particularly pleasent nature. Some OWA's imported in the latter years (since 1980's) were often smaller variations coming from Tobago and Trinidad. Common in captive collections.

Mealy Amazon (a.farinosa)

Similarly this Amazon has an extensive range throughout the Northern part of South America. There are however up to five subspecies recognised from the different regions.

1. a.a.farinosa the nominate race from Venuzuela, South Columbia and Brazil to North Bolivia.

2. a.f.inornata from Panama and North Western Brazil, lacks any yellow in the head and appears more dull than the nominate race.

3. a.f.chamani from South East Columbia, Ecudor, North Peru and in North East Bolivia. Same as inornata but larger.

4. a.f.virenticeps from Panama, noth to Costa Rica and Nacaragua.Bighter green than the nominate race and has geen head tinged with blue.

5. a.f.guatamalae from Honduras to Guatamala to Mexico. Forehead, crown and sides of head sky blue.

Yellow Crowned Amazons (a.orchrocephala)

This is a large group of nine amazon parrot subspecies. Their range is from South Mexico and into South America north of the Amazon river. And eastern Peru and on the Island of Trinidad. Generally they have good mimicry ability making them entertaining pets and in particular Yellow Naped (a.o.auropalliata) has a reputation as one of the best talking parrots.

1. Yellow Crowned (a.orchrocephala) is found in North Brazil, Venuzuela to East Andes and on the island of Trinidad.

2.(a.o.xantholaema) is found just on the Island of Marajo. Larger than the nominate race and has a more yellow around the head and on throat.

3.(a.o.nattereri) is found in Southern Columbia, Eastern Ecuador, Eastern Peru to North-wetern Brazil.Undercolour and front head colours bluish-green.

4.Panama Amazon (a.o.panamansis) is in Northern Columbia, and Western Panama. Smaller than the nominate race, blue green patches on forehead and under beak. Horn coloured beak.

5.Yellow Naped (a.o.auropalliata) an Amazon of Southern Mexico south to Costa Rica. Yellow on the neck nape. No red on bend of wing edge.

6.Yellow Naped, Parvipes Amazon (a.o.parvipes), found on Bay Islands, Hondures and North Eastern Nicaragua. Similar to Yellow Naped but with bluish-green head payches, lores and forehead yellow, bill pale horn coloured.

7.Double Yellow Headed (a.o.belizensis), is found in British Honduras). Yellow is only on the upper cheeks,ear coverts and in the area of the eye and forehead, bend of wing red.

8.Double Yellow Headed (a.o.oratrix), found Central Mexico and south Yucatan. Head and throat yellow, bend of wing orange-red interspersed with yellow, bill whitish horn.

9. Double Yellow Headed (a.o.tresmariae) , found only on the Tres Marias Islands. The yellow colour extends to the upper breast. Rarely found in aviculture.

White-fronted (a.albifrons)

Sometimes also known as the Spectacled Amazon, this small 10" long Amazon was regularly imported in the past in small numbers. Exists in the wild in Mexico and South Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Quite a loud Amazon for it's size. There are 2 other subspecies recognised. Lesser White-fronted (a.nana) which is same colour but smaller 9.5" than the nominate race. Sonora White-fronted is more bluish green in colour.

The sexes are said to be visually dimorphic by the cock having more extensive coloured areas on the head and on the wing edge.

Yellow-lored Amazon (a.xantholora)

This 26" long Amazon is said to be sexually dimorphic with the cocks having more extensive red and white coloured area on the head and around the eyes. It's wild distribution is in South Eastern Mexico on Yucatan peninsular and nearby Islands. Althogh commonly seen in the wild it is not often found in captive bred parrot collections. Call is similar to the White-fronted Amazons.

Red-spectacled Amazon (a.pretrei)

Another rarely seen Amazon in captivity and now endangered in the wild. It's distribution is Southeast Brazil and some parts of Argentina. It is 12.5" long and prefers higher altitude pine forests.

Red-lored Amazon (a.autumnalis)

This 13.5" long Amazon was fairly commonly kept in captivity in the past, perhaps not so much these days.

There are four subspecies recognised, apart from the nominate race there is Salvins Amazon (a.a.salvini) Lilacine Amazon which is similar but with the yellow face ear covert feathers and cheeks green.The (a.a.lilacina) is duller red and yellow head feathering with greenish blue forehead. The beak is Grey compared to the grey-horn colour of the nominate race. The Diademed Amazon (a.diadema) similar to salvini forehead cere becoming dark red, cheeks becoming bluish green. Crown lilac.

Red-tailed Amazon (a.brasiliensis)

Now regarded as one of the most endangered parrots in the wild, now confined to a narrow band of coastal areas of South Eastern Brazil. At 14.5" in length this Amazon is seldom kept in captivity.

Festive Amazon (a.festiva)

This 13.5" long Amazon is recognised as two subspecies, the second being Bodinis Amazon (a.f.bodini) which is very similar to the nominate race but with greater red band across forehead, crown and nape tinged with lilac and bill black instead of the Grey. It lives in the wild from East Ecudor, Northeast Peru and Southeast Columbia. It is also found in some European collections.

St.Vincent Amazon (a.guildingii)

Only exists on the Island of St.Vincent in the wild , found in the humid forests. In the wild it is critically endangered with probably less than 800 birds. Breeding has been successful in a number of captive collections, but relatively scarce.

Photos above (left to right): Blue-fronted, Double-yellow headed, Festive, Green-cheeked, Mealy, Orange-winged and Red-lored Amazons

Photos above (left to right) : Spectacled, Red-tailed, St Vincent and White-fronted Amazons

Pionus or Red vented parrots

Similar to the African Greys these parrots have a bright red undertail vent feathers. They come from Central and South America, many of this family of parrots prefer the mountains and high altitude forests of Venuzuela, Ecuador and Peru whilst some species prefer the lower altitude forests of Brazil and North Argentina.

Blue-headed (p.menstruus)

There is 3 sub-species recognised m.menstruus is the mostly commonly seen in captivity, in the wild occuring east of the Andes, m.rubrigularis with throat having more prominant red coloration, existing in the wild west of the Andes and m.reichenowi which has a horn coloured bill without the red side and exists in eastern Brazil. The reichenowi subspecie is now critically endangered in the wild.

It likes to be near to water and is a dense forest parrot. The parrot has a particular fondness of the flower and seeds of the teak tree. First captive breeding by John Stoodley. Now quite common in parrot collections.

Maximilian's or Scaly-breasted (p.maximiliani)

Most often called the Maximilian parrot, again has a large territory southern Brazil and into North Argentina. Prefers light or open forest areas. Pine nuts, fruit and berries are favoured food. First bred in the UK by Birdworld in 1974.Now quite often kept in parrot collections. There are a number of recognised sub-species: p.m.melanoblepharus with a darker blue neck area, p.m.siy with a redddish-purple and more fuller covering in p.m.lacerus.

Dusky (p.fuscus)

A parrot of the Amazon rainforest they prefer to nest in deep hollows in trees.First bred by R.Noegel in USA in 1983. They have never been introduced in large numbers into captivity but breed fairly easily and exist in a number of collections.

White-capped (p.senilis)

This is a parrot of Central Americas from Mexico to Costa Rica, found in light rain forest. The first captive breeding in 1935 by John Yealing who was the Duke of Bedfords curator. Not seen in any numbers until the 80’s, however they have bred successfully in captivity and especially popular pet parrots in America.

White-headed (p.seniloides)

Sometimes referred to as Massenas parrot, a mountain parrot not often seen in the wild and very rare in captivity. Walsrode Bird Park in Germany was said to have these in their collection.

Bronze-winged (p.chalcopterus)

This is a specie of the tropical and subtropical mountains of Venuzuela and Ecuador. First bred by John Stoodley in 1973.Often seen in the past in captive collections but seem to becoming less available.

Coral-billed (p.sordidus)

Sub-tropical mountain parrot of Venuzuela, Ecuador, Peru and Northern Bolivia.It is scarce in the wild and rare in captivity. First captive breeding by John Stoodley.

Plum-crowned (p.tumultuosus)

A high altitude parrot occupying light forest from Southern Peru to Northern Bolivia. Difficult parrot to keep in European collections because of it’s high altitude disposition. The late John Stoodley first bred this specie in the UK in 1977. They have more recently been bred in collections in Holland and South Africa but pairs are very scarce. The are said to exist in a few collections in the USA.

Photos above (left to right) : Bronze-winged, Coral-billed, Dusky, Blue-headed, (mentruus), Blue-headed ( rubrigularis), Maximillans, and Plum-crowned pionus.

Amazon & Pionus websites

http://www.pionus.fr/index.htm

http://www.pionusparrot.com/index.htm