Yellow-billed Amazon (Amazona collaria)

[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Amazona collaria | [authority] Linnaeus, 1758 | [UK] Yellow-billed Amazon | [FR] Amazone sasabe | [DE] Jamaicaamazone | [ES] Amazona Jamaicana Piquiclara | [NL] Geelsnavelamazone | [copyright picture] Birdlife

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Amazona collaria NA Jamaica

Genus

Amazon parrot is the common name for a parrot of the genus Amazona. These are medium-size parrots native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Most Amazon parrots are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on the species and can be quite vivid. They have comparatively short, somewhat square, tails. Just like the other parrots, amazons have four toes on each foot, two pointing forwards and two pointing backward. They feed primarily on seeds, nuts, and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter. Almost everywhere in the lowlands of tropical and subtropical America, the savannas, grassy openings in the forest, and roadsides are frequented by flocks of very small finches with short and thick bills, which feed on the seeds of grasses. In the genus Sporophila, the males are clad in black, black and white, or black and chestnut, while the dull females are olive or buff. Often the same species shows pronounced variation in plumage from region to region.

Physical charateristics

Both adults in general green, with yellowish underparts; black edging on feathers of crown to mantle and sides of head; white forehead and line around eyes; dull blue forecrown; pale blue lores and upper cheeks; blue/grey ear coverts tinted with green; rose/red throat, forecheeks and sides of neck; green tail with red at base. Bill yellow. Eye ring white, eye brown.

Listen to the sound of Yellow-billed Amazon

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Yellow-billed Amazon.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 28 cm size max.: 30 cm
incubation min.: 24 days incubation max.: 25 days
fledging min.: 65 days fledging max.: 76 days
broods: 1   eggs min.: 3  
      eggs max.: 4  

Range

North America : Jamaica. Mainly found in wet areas of Jamaica. The largest populations occur from Cockpit Country to Mount Diablo and in the John Crow Mountains, and it is local in the Blue Mountains. It remains fairly common in suitable habitat, but both range and population decreased in the latter part of the 20th century. Preliminary data suggest that the population in Cockpit Country is not fewer than 5,000 individuals.

Habitat

It inhabits mid-level, wet limestone forest at elevations up to 1,200 m, flying considerable distances to feeding areas that include sea-level plantations.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place from March to August, in tree-cavities and, occasionally, rock-crevices but more often also Woodpeckers holes. Nest is usually 18 meters up or higher. Clutch size is 3-4 eggs which are incubated for about 25 days, young fledge after another 10 weeks.

Feeding habits

Forages for Cecropia catkins, nuts, fruits, figs and seeds.

Conservation

This species is classified as Vulnerable because it has a small and fragmented range, with suitable habitat declining in extent, area and quality, primarily owing to logging and forest clearance for bauxite mining. Numbers are also declining because of trapping.
Recent declines are probably attributable to deforestation, forest degradation, leads to reduction in food resources, shifting cultivation, loss of shelter from inclement weather and reduction of nesting sites, bauxite mining, trapping for the cage-bird trade and local consumption. The cutting of trees to trap nestlings may significantly reduce available nest-sites.
Yellow-billed Amazon status Vulnerable

Migration

Sedentary but may wander during the day.

Distribution map

Yellow-billed Amazon distribution range map

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