Red-browed Amazon
Amazona rhodocorytha
Large and mostly green parrot, notable for its orange-red forehead, grading to purplish-brown on the hind-crown, a reddish base of the bill, and wing patches framed by dark purplish flight feathers. A rare and threatened inhabitant of the canopy of humid, usually lowland forests.
Identification
The red-browed amazon has a bright red crown fading to purplish-brown at the back. The cheeks and throat are blue and the wing and body plumage is green with dark markings on the back of the neck. Black and red patches can be seen on the wings when they are spread and the tail feathers have red markings and are tipped with yellow. The beak and legs are grey and the iris of the eye is orange-brown.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Amazona rhodocorytha
- Authority
- (Salvadori, 1890)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Amazona
Range and habitat
The red-browed amazon is endemic to tropical forests in eastern Brazil. It used to be widespread across the region but is now restricted to some of the larger remaining forest blocks. The largest of these is in the state of Espírito Santo and the bird is also present in three forest areas in south east Bahia and five in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Another location is in the north of the state of São Paulo and a further one in São Miguel dos Campos in the east of the state of Alagoas. The rest of this state seems to be suitable habitat but it has not been observed to be present there recently.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The red-browed amazon feeds in small groups on fruit, berries, seeds and buds which it finds in the rainforest canopy. Breeding takes place between September and November. A pair of red-browed amazons maintain a territory and the nest is usually made in a cavity in a tree, the same site being used year after year. In captivity, a clutch of four eggs are usually laid, incubation takes 24 days and the young are fledged 34 days after hatching.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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Sumatran Wren-Babbler
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Short-billed Pigeon
Patagioenas nigrirostris
Overall dark pigeon of humid evergreen forest in tropical lowlands. Lives mainly in the canopy, where it is hard to spot, although its far-carrying hoo’koo-koo-koo song is often heard and may help in locating it. Sometimes feeds on fallen fruit on the ground, where it can be seen beside quiet trails. Plumage is dark brownish above, with a pinkish head, chest, and underparts. Note the short black bill.
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