Family African and New World Parrots
Habitat Humid to semi-humid forest and plantations. Absent in open or dry habitat.
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.

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.

Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
Learn more about these drawings.

Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds

Download Our Bird Guide App

See a fully interactive migration map for over 450 bird species on the Bird Migration Explorer.

Learn more

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.
Audio © Lang Elliott, Bob McGuire, Kevin Colver, Martyn Stewart and others.
Learn more about this sound collection.