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Amazon Parrots
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Here is a list of the 31 Amazon Species.
Listed below are two Amazon species, the Orange Wing and Blue
Front.
Habitat: forests, mangroves, swamps, more open areas and secondary vegetation in the humid tropical zone to 650 m (1,950 ft); occasionally seen in drier areas, parks and village squares with tall trees. Status: common throughout range. Habits: in pairs or small groups; large flocks up to several hundred, occasionally one thousand birds, on feeding and roosting trees; mostly seen flying or perching on bare branches in tops of tall trees; morning and evening flights to and from roosting sites conspicuous; often seen on feeding trees with Yellow-crowned Amazon (Amazona ochrocephala), Blue-cheeked Amazon (Amazona d.rhodocorytha), Mealy Amazon (Amazona farinosa) or Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva); enjoys climbing; noisy during flight and on roosting trees; quiet when feeding; call loud, metallic and disyllabic. Natural Diet: fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, flowers and buds; occasionally forages in plantations. Breeding Behavior: breeding season in Venezuela April to June, on Trinidad May to July, in Surinam from February to March and in Colombia from December to February; nests in dead palms or holes in trees; often very high; nest hole in one case 1,6 m (5 ft) deep; clutch 2 to 5 eggs; incubation about 3 weeks; only female broods; fed by male, who stays in vicinity of nest hole during day; female only leaves nest for short period; at night male leaves breeding site and roosts with flock; egg measures 37,4 x 29,1 mm (1.47 x 1.15 ins). Aviculture: medium-noisy to noisy; hardy; initially wary, but soon becomes confiding; hard chewer and enjoys bathing; has been kept at liberty. Accommodation: outdoor aviary 4 x 1,5 x 2 m (12 x 4.5 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter 1,5 x 1 x 2 m (4.5 x 3 x 6 ft); metal construction recommended; minimum temperature in winter 5°C (41°F). Diet: seed mix of safflower, wheat, oats, pigeon food, hemp, dried rowan berries, buckwheat and mung beans; sprouted sunflower; some pine-nuts; various fruit and vegetables; half-ripe maize; rose hips; green food; regular mineral supplements. Breeding in Aviculture: regularly achieved; breeding best from May; clutch 2 to 5 eggs; incubation 26 days; fledging period 8 weeks; dislikes disturbance while breeding; nest box 26 x 26 x 80 cm (10 x 10 x 32 ins). |
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Blue-Fronted Amazon
Description: as aestiva, but bend of wing yellow, variably interspersed with red and occasionally quite extensive. Length: 37 cm (14.5 ins) Distribution: southwest Mato Grosso, Brazil, north and eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina. Note: the classification of the species into two sub-species is not undisputed, as yellow on bend of wing taken as typical for xanthopteryx can occur in nominate form, even if not as consistently; aviculturists with Blue-fronted Amazons tend to differentiate incorrectly between sub-species by reference to extent of yellow-red color on bend of wing. Habitat: forest, palm groves, open savanna with woodland, cleared and cultivated areas to 1,600 m (4,800 ft). Status: common; but endangered in some localities by extensive trapping. Habits: in pairs or small groups; seen during day either feeding or resting in tops of trees; then very quiet and only detected by falling food remains; not shy and can be approached; if alarmed, flies away screeching loudly; conspicuous and noisy during flight; pairs can be determined flying closely together; occasionally very large flocks gather towards evening in roosting trees; seasonal migrations; occasionally forages in plantations causing considerable damage; call raucous and loud. Natural Diet: fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, flowers and buds. Breeding Behavior: breeding season October to March; nests in established trees; generally one nest per hectar (2.5 acres); same nest hole used every year; egg measures 38,1 x 29,6 mm (1.50 x 1.16 ins). Aviculture: medium-noisy to noisy parrot, particularly early morning and evening; not shy; soon becomes confiding; hard chewer; enjoys bathing; during acclimatization susceptible to fungal infection; later hardy. Accommodation: outdoor aviary 4 x 1,5 x 2 m (12 x 4.5 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter 1,5 x 1 x 2 m (4.5 x 3 x 6 ft); metal construction recommended; in winter not less than 5°C (41°F). Diet: seed mix of safflower, wheat, oats, pigeon food, hemp, dried rowan berries, buckwheat and mung beans; sprouted sunflower; some pine-nuts; various fruit and vegetables; half-ripe maize; rose hips; green food; regular mineral supplements. Breeding in Aviculture: regularly achieved; pair should be isolated; breeding best starts in April; also possible inside during winter; then minimum temperature 20<198>C (68<198>F) to stimulate breeding; 3 to 4, occasionally 5 eggs; incubation 26 days; fledging period 60 days; nest box 30 x 30 x 80 cm (12 x 12 x 32 ins).
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