Amazona tresmariae - Tres Marias Amazon

Photo: Chiara Coetzee – Public Domain

Tres Marias Amazon – Amazona tresmariae (Nelson, 1900) – is a large green parrot with a characsteristic yellow head.

With proper care they can reach 50-60 years.

It was previously considered a subspecies of the Yellow-headed Amazon and categorized as Amazona oratrix tresmariae. However, recent studies let to a split in 2004 and it is now categorized as Amazona tresmariae.

They are endangered due to habitat loss and trapping for wild bird trade.

Description

Large green parrot with yellow head reachjing foreneck and upper breast. The tail is green with yellow-green tip. Orange eyes with white eye ring. Horn colored bill.

It looks very similar to the Yellow-Headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) but the yellow color covers a larger area which includes upper breast and foreneck; also the color is a paler yellow. The upper parts is a paler green and the underparts have a blue wash.

Juveniles only have yellow on crown to lores. The bill is grey at base. Brown eyes.

Habitat

Tres Marias Amazon is endemic to Islas Marias off the coast of western Mexico.

They are often found in pairs or small flocks, with larger gatherings at communal roosts or rich feeding areas.

Diet

Wild birds feed on buds, new leaves, fruits, seeds and flowers.

Aviculture

Tres Maria Amazon is common in captivity, especially in USA. The aviary should be at least 3m long. The birds should be kept indoor when the outside temperature is below 10°C / 50F. A vertical box about 30 x 30 x 60 cm (12″ x 12 x 24″) can be used as nest box. The clutch usually contains 2-4 eggs, that are incubated for ~26 days. The chicks reach fledging age after 9 weeks.

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Taxonomy

Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Amazona

Synonyms

Danish: Tres Maria Gulhovedet Amazone
English: Tres Marias Amazon, Panama yellow-crowned amazon, Tres Maria Yellow-headed Parrot, Tres Marias Parrot, Yellow-headed Parrot (Tres Marias Is.)
French: Amazone des Marias, Amazone des Três Marias, Amazone à tête jaune (des Tres Marias)
German: Tres-Marias-Amazone, Gelbkopfamazone (tresmariae)
Portuguese:
Spanish: Loro Cabeza Amarilla

IUCN Red List

BirdLife International 2020. Amazona oratrix. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22686337A179331301.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22686337A179331301.en
Downloaded on 9 July 2021

Note: IUCN do not list Tres Marias Amazon as a species but as a subspecies of Amazona oratrix.

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