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Mealy Parrot
Amazona farinosa
At a Glance
Widespread in the American tropics, from Mexico to Brazil, this is one of the largest Amazona parrots. Like some other parrots it is often kept as a cagebird, and escapees are sometimes seen free-flying in southern cities of the U.S., generally mixed with flocks of other parrot species.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Perching Birds
Conservation
Near Threatened
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Behavior
Direct Flight
Range & Identification
Description
16" (41 cm). A very large, short-tailed parrot, green all over with few distinguishing marks. Whitish eye-ring is very conspicuous. Crown bluish to green. Like other Amazona parrots, has red patch in wing, noticeable in flight.
Size
About the size of a Crow
Wing Shape
Pointed, Tapered
Tail Shape
Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Less raucous and quieter than other Amazons, and deeper, perhaps because of its larger size. A variety of screeches and multi-syllabic notes in flight.
Habitat
Humid to semi-humid forest and plantations. Absent in open or dry habitat.
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Behavior
Nesting
Breeding occurs from November to March and the female lays three eggs on average, incubating them for about 4 weeks. Like many young parrots they stay with their parents for a considerable time, about 2 months, before establishing their independence.