Red-crowned Parrot
Red-crowned Parrot
Amazona viridigenalis
At a Glance
When these stocky parrots fly overhead, they may be recognized by their loud cries of heeeyo, cra-cra-cra. Birds escaped from captivity are free-flying (and sometimes nesting) locally in Florida and California; those seen in southern Texas include escapees and possibly also wild strays from Mexico. Ironically, on its limited native range in northeastern Mexico, the species has declined seriously and might even be considered threatened.
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
IUCN Status
Endangered
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
California, Florida, Texas
Behavior
Direct Flight
Range & Identification
Description
12" (30cm). A chunky, short-tailed parrot, mostly bright green. Male has forehead and most of crown red, some dull blue on nape; female and young show less red. Yellow-green band at tip of tail. Like other Amazona parrots, has red patch in wing, most obvious in flight.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Crow
Color
Blue, Green, Orange, Red
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Various talkative, grating calls when perched; in flight a piercing, high-pitched call followed by 3 or 4 much lower, abrupt klaak! calls.
Call Pattern
Flat
Call Type
Odd, Rattle, Scream
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Conservation
Conservation Status
Climate Threats Facing the Red-crowned Parrot
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.