White-fronted Amazon
Amazona albifrons
Fairly small parrot of tropical lowlands. Found in semi-open areas with scattered trees, woodland, and forest patches, in both drier and more humid areas. Note the white forehead, red face, and yellowish bill. In flight, males shows a red patch on the leading edge of the wing (on bigger parrots, both sexes have a red patch on the trailing edge of the wing). Lacks the dark cheek patch of Yellow-lored Parrot.
Identification
The white-fronted amazon, at about 25 cm (9.8 in) long, is the smallest of the amazon parrots. This species is named for the bright white patch of feathers on its forehead, although the amount of white varies from individual to individual. They have mostly green plumage with some blue colouring on their outspread wings. They have bright red colouring around their eyes (in some individuals almost like spectacles) and blue colouring behind the patch of white on their foreheads. Together with the red-spectacled amazon and the yellow-lored amazon, it is the only amazon species in which adult males and females easily can be distinguished by external appearance (sexual dimorphism): Males have bright red feathers on their "shoulders" (alula), while females have green "shoulders". Juveniles have pale grey irises and less red on their face and the white area is replaced with a smaller yellowish area.
Taxonomy
The species is divided into three subspecies with slight differences in colour and size:
- Scientific name
- Amazona albifrons
- Authority
- (Sparrman, 1788)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Amazona
Range and habitat
The white-fronted amazon is native to Central America and Mexico; and is most often seen in small flocks of up to 20 birds. They are seen in a variety of different habitats from wet regions such as rainforests, to drier areas such as cactus savannahs. In the wild, they are not shy and people are often able to approach them. Flocks may congregate and people have seen groups that number into the hundreds. These groups may also contain flocks from other species such as the red-lored amazon. A population has been seen in southern Texas, probably escapees, and a small feral population has been observed living in southern California. Introduced breeding populations have also been reported in Puerto Rico.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Small, slim, long-tailed songbird of montane forests, usually vocal, active, and encountered in large flocks. Males have a bright orange belly, a comma-shaped slash on the wing, and a gray head and back. Females are similarly patterned, but have paler upperparts and white throat, with the male's orange replaced by yellow. Female resembles female Long-tailed Minivet, which has yellow forehead patch, lacking in Gray-chinned. Birds in Borneo, Sumatra, and the southern Malay Peninsula average darker-headed than populations elsewhere. Most calls are soft, high, and sibilant, given in flight.
Marbled Wood-Quail
Odontophorus gujanensis
Plump chickenlike bird, stout bill, brown overall with diagnostic red skin around the eye. Grayer on nape with some fine buffy markings on the rest of the body. Found in small flocks, always on the ground, foraging through leaf litter in the forest. More often heard than seen: listen for the low rich rolling calls, often given by multiple birds at once.
Crested Duck
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A distinctive, rather large duck that is common in wetlands, lakes, bogs, slow-moving rivers, and along seacoasts. Sexes look alike: grayish brown overall with bold pale dappling on sides of body, a darker face, and a short bushy crest (often hard to see); bill and legs dark gray. In flight, note the big white panel on the trailing edge of the wing (similar to Flying Steamer-Duck, which is heavier bodied and is rarely seen in flight). Eyes typically reddish in Patagonia and orangish in northern Andes.
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