Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot

Amazona oratrix

Species Information
Exhibit Name and Location Upland Tropical Rain Forest – Main Aquarium, Level 5
Description of Animal The most obvious features of this predominantly green parrot are its yellow head and the red patch, or speculum, on each wing. Young birds lack these distinctive yellow and red markings, which become more prominent with age. The stout, hooked beak is used not only for cracking nuts and seeds, but also for grasping, exploring, and climbing. The feet, with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, are also highly adapted for grasping.
Aquarist's Note Amazon parrots require a lot of attention, making them difficult pets, especially for children. They also have long life spans—longer than many people are able to provide proper care. The two parrots at the Aquarium were unwanted pets before moving to our exhibit in the 1980's. Amazon parrots at the Aquarium receive daily enrichment sessions, training exercises designed to teach behaviors that enable staff to provide higher quality care and mimic natural activities. For instance, the parrots are taught to eat from hand, touch targets, and allow human touch for activities such as nail and wing clippings and medical examinations. At feeding time, food is placed in wooden or cardboard containers. They forage for the food, shredding the materials just as they would shred live tree bark when seeking food in the wild.
Diet In the wild, yellow-headed parrots consume fruits, nuts, berries, blossoms, and leaf buds. They are also known to raid agricultural crops such as maize. At the Aquarium, their diet includes fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and a commercially prepared pellet food.
Size These parrots grow to a length of about 15 inches (35 to 38 cm) from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Range The yellow-headed Amazon parrot ranges from the coastal regions of Mexico southward into Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Preferred habitats include tropical and subtropical forests, mangrove swamps, savannah, and cultivated land where trees are available for nesting.
Population Status This colorful parrot, now rare in much of its range, is listed as endangered by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and is included in Appendix I (threatened with extinction) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). International trade is strictly regulated. Despite protective efforts, populations continue to decline.
Predators Humans, with their desire for exotic pets, are the main predators of yellow-headed and other South American parrots. Widespread deforestation, resulting in the loss of nesting habitat, and continued poaching and illegal trade are the primary threats to this specie's survival.

Species Information

Exhibit Name and Location
Upland Tropical Rain Forest –
Main Aquarium, Level 5

Description of Animal

The most obvious features of this predominantly green parrot are its yellow head and the red patch, or speculum, on each wing.

Young birds lack these distinctive yellow and red markings, which become more prominent with age.

The stout, hooked beak is used not only for cracking nuts and seeds, but also for grasping, exploring, and climbing.

The feet, with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, are also highly adapted for grasping.

Aquarist's Note

Amazon parrots require a lot of attention, making them difficult pets, especially for children. They also have long life spans—longer than many people are able to provide proper care.

The two parrots at the Aquarium were unwanted pets before moving to our exhibit in the 1980's.

Amazon parrots at the Aquarium receive daily enrichment sessions, training exercises designed to teach behaviors that enable staff to provide higher quality care and mimic natural activities.

For instance, the parrots are taught to eat from hand, touch targets, and allow human touch for activities such as nail and wing clippings and medical examinations.

At feeding time, food is placed in wooden or cardboard containers. They forage for the food, shredding the materials just as they would shred live tree bark when seeking food in the wild.

Diet

In the wild, yellow-headed parrots consume fruits, nuts, berries, blossoms, and leaf buds. They are also known to raid agricultural crops such as maize.

At the Aquarium, their diet includes fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and a commercially prepared pellet food.

Size
These parrots grow to a length of about 15 inches (35 to 38 cm) from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail. Females are slightly smaller than males.

Range

The yellow-headed Amazon parrot ranges from the coastal regions of Mexico southward into Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.

Preferred habitats include tropical and subtropical forests, mangrove swamps, savannah, and cultivated land where trees are available for nesting.

Population Status

This colorful parrot, now rare in much of its range, is listed as endangered by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and is included in Appendix I (threatened with extinction) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

International trade is strictly regulated. Despite protective efforts, populations continue to decline.

Predators

Humans, with their desire for exotic pets, are the main predators of yellow-headed and other South American parrots.

Widespread deforestation, resulting in the loss of nesting habitat, and continued poaching and illegal trade are the primary threats to this specie's survival.