Scientific Classification
- Common Name
- blue-fronted Amazon
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae (true parrots)
- Genus Species
- Amazona aestiva
Fast Facts
- Description
- The Blue-Fronted Amazon is a medium-sized parrot with a green body and a yellow face. They have blue feathers around the beak and yellow and red patches on the shoulders. Their feet and beak are dark gray.
- Size
- Adults can reach a length of 37.5 cm (15 in.).
- Weight
- 400 to 550 g (14 to 19.25 oz.)
- Diet
- They feed on seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, and leaves.
- Incubation
- Approximately 28 days
- Clutch Size
- 2 to 3 eggs
- Fledging Duration
- 60 to 75 days
- Sexual Maturity
- Approximately 3 to 5 years
- Life Span
- Up to 60 to 80 years
- Range
- These birds can be found in Southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina up to an elevation of 1,600 m (5,250 ft.).
- Habitat
- These parrots are normally found in subtropical and tropical dry forest, moist lowlands, arid savannas and dry shrublands.
- Population
- The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'fairly common”. There is some evidence of a population decline.
- Status
- IUCN: Least Concern
CITES: Appendix II
USFWS: Not listed
Fun Facts
These parrots are capable of mimicking human speech and are noisy birds. When they were first discovered, they were called “Kriken”, which is French for "screechers."
Like most parrots, these birds are monogamous and bond with one partner for life.
Ecology and Conservation
These birds are messy eaters and play an important role in forest regeneration.
Their extremely strong beaks are perfectly adapted for extracting hard nuts and seeds.
In some areas, these birds are considered pests because their eating habits are destructive to crops.
The species was heavily traded until 1981 when it was listed as CITES Appendix II. They are also suffering from habitat destruction.
The U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES which includes most parrots, which are endangered or threatened.
Bibliography
Bosch, K. and U. Wedde. Encyclopedia of Amazon Parrots. New Jersey. T.F.H. Publications: 1981.
Forshaw, J.M. Parrots of the World. New Jersey. T.F.H. Publications Inc. 1978.
Marrison, C. and A. Greensmith. Birds of the World. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. 1993.
Perrins, C. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications. 1985.
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/search/simple
BirdLife International 2016. Amazona aestiva. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22686332A93107322. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686332A93107322.en. Downloaded on 25 November 2019.
