Kawall's Amazon
Amazona kawalli
Large, bright green parrot. Note the white at the base of the bill, red patches on the tail sides, and narrow pale terminal tail-band. Found in humid forest, usually near watercourses. Most often detected by its nasal rolling monosyllabic “crraow” flight call. The similar Mealy Parrot has a bisyllabic flight call, lacks white around the bill, and has red shoulders.
Identification
The species is medium-sized for a parrot, reaching a length of 35–36 cm (13.8–14.2 in). The plumage is mostly green, with a narrow white strip at the base of the bill, narrow white eye-ring, and some blue and red present on the outermost flight feathers. Although it resembles the mealy amazon, the Kawall's amazon can easily be recognised by its white patch of skin at the base of the bill, relatively small gray ocular ring (may fade to white in captivity), red near the base of the tail, overall brighter green hue and voice.
Taxonomy
Considerable taxonomic confusion has surrounded this species. "Aberrant mealy amazons", which actually were the Kawall's amazon, were first noted in 1904. It was only in 1989 that the Kawall's amazon was recognised as a species after Brazilian bird keeper Nelson Kawall (after whom the species is named) received a few unusual amazons.
- Scientific name
- Amazona kawalli
- Authority
- Grantsau & Camargo, 1989
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Amazona
Range and habitat
Kawall's amazon has been reported from the Amazon basin of Brazil in Amazonas and Pará. A possible wider distribution, or the existence of isolated populations, is suggested by the existence of a previously misidentified specimen labelled 'Colombia', and a captive bird found on the edge of Amazonas National Park.<p>The species inhabits lowland rainforest and shows a preference for permanently flooded woodlands and riverine forest edges.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Kawall's amazon has been observed feeding on tree seeds, palm fruits, flowers, and young leaves. It nests in tree cavities, and while it may search out suitable nesting cavities in the dry season, appears to restrict the actual nesting to periods when the forest is flooded.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-naped Jay
Cyanocorax cyanopogon
Large jay with piercing yellow eyes and stiff forehead feathers. Note the blue patches above and below the eyes, contrasting with the black face. Favors scrubby areas and savanna, but also found in riparian forest and second growth, where usually seen in small noisy groups. Vast vocal repertoire includes a frequently-given melodic and metallic call “chyup-chyup." The similar Plush-crested Jay has a blue nape and a larger crest.
Striated Pardalote
Pardalotus striatus
Tiny colorful bird with white stripes on the wing. Note that the white eyebrow transitions to yellow closer to the bill. There are many different subspecies, and plumage varies across its range. Bill short and black, back gray, black cap with varied levels of white streaking. Found in a wide range of habitats. Call, which varies across its range, is in some places a clear, repetitive “chew chew”.
Great Crested Tern
Thalasseus bergii
A large elegant tern with a very long lemon-yellow bill. Black cap does not extend down to the bill. Juvenile is scaly-looking with much more black on the back and wings. Similar Lesser Crested Tern is smaller with black cap extending down to the bill in breeding plumage. Occurs along coasts and estuaries; very rarely further inland or on freshwater ponds/lagoons.
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