Yellow-headed Amazon 4983881 225095541 2008-07-11T21:21:00Z Casliber 1381068 more in lead {{Taxobox | name = Yellow-headed Amazon | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | trend = down | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=1061|title=Amazona oratrix|downloaded=09 May 2006}} Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered </ref> | image = Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) -on wooden shelf.jpg | image_width = 220px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[bird|Aves]] | ordo = [[Psittaciformes]] | familia = [[Psittacidae]] | genus = ''[[Amazon parrot|Amazona]]'' | species = '''''A. oratrix''''' | binomial = ''Amazona oratrix'' | binomial_authority = ([[Robert Ridgway|Ridgway]], [[1887]]) }} The '''Yellow-headed Amazon''' (''Amazona oratrix''), also known as the '''Yellow-headed Parrot, Double Yellow-headed Amazon''', etc., is an [[endangered species|endangered]] [[amazon parrot]] of [[Mexico]] and northern [[Central America]]. Measuring 38–43 [[centimetre|cm]] (15–17 [[inch|in]]) in length, it is a stocky short-tailed green parrot with a yellow head. It prefers to live in mangrove forests or forests near rivers or other bodies of water. It is often considered a [[subspecies]] of the [[Yellow-crowned Amazon]]. It is a popular [[pet]] and an excellent talker. ==Taxonomy== This species is part of the ''[[Amazona ochrocephala]]'' complex, which also includes the [[Yellow-naped Amazon]] (''A. auropalliata''). This complex, "a taxonomic headache",<ref name=H&W>{{cite book | author=Steve N. G. Howell and Sophie Webb | title=A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1995 | id=ISBN 0-19-854012-4}}</ref> is considered a single species by some authorities and split into three species by others. The split is mainly based on the amount of yellow in the [[plumage]], the color of the legs and bill, the close proximity of ''A. oratrix'' and ''A. auropalliata'' in Oaxaca, Mexico, without apparent [[Hybrid (biology)|interbreeding]],<ref>Binford, L. 1989. ''A distributional survey of the birds of the Mexican state of Oaxaca.'' Orn. Monographs. 43: 1-418.</ref> and the presence of both ''A. ochrocephala'' and ''A. auropalliata'' in northern [[Honduras]].<ref>Monroe, B., JR., & T. Howell. 1966. ''Geographic variation in Middle American parrots of the Amazona ochrocephala complex.'' Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, no. 34. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.</ref> This evaluation has, however, been confused by misunderstandings regarding the plumage variations in the populations in northern Honduras, where birds vary greatly in amount of yellow on the head, crown and nape, but have pale bills and a [[Juvenile (organism)|juvenile]] plumage matching ''A. oratrix'', but neither ''A. ochrocephala'' nor ''A. auropalliata''.<ref name=H&W/><ref name=LousadaHowell>Lousada, S., & S. Howell. 1996. ''Distribution, variation, and conservation of Yellow-headed Parrots in northern Central America.'' Cotinga 5: 46-53.</ref> In 1997, the population from the [[Sula Valley]] in northern Honduras was described as a new subspecies, ''hondurensis'', of ''A. oratrix''.<ref>Lousada, S., & S. Howell. 1997. ''Amazona oratrix hondurensis: A new subspecies of parrot from the Sula Valley of northern Honduras.'' Bull. BOC 117: 203-223.</ref> ''A. auropalliata caribaea'' on the [[Islas de la Bahía]], which is in relatively close proximity to the recently described ''A. oratrix hondurensis'', may have a relatively pale lower mandible, indicating that [[gene flow]] may occur between the two.<ref>Lousada, S. 1989. ''Amazona auropalliata caribaea: A new subspecies of parrot from the Bay Islands, northern Honduras.'' Bull. BOC 109: 232-235.</ref> If confirmed, this would suggest that the two are better considered [[conspecific]]. Alternatively, it has been suggested that ''caribaea'' and ''parvipes'', both typically considered subspecies of ''A. auropalliata'', may be closer to ''A. oratrix'' than they are to the [[Subspecies#Nomenclature|nominate]] ''A. auropalliata''. Both are relatively small and have red on the shoulder like ''A. oratrix'', but unlike nominate ''A. auropalliata.''<ref name=H&W/><ref name=LousadaHowell/> The members of this complex are known to hybridize in captivity,<ref name=H&W/> and recent [[phylogenetic]] analysis of [[DNA]] do not support the split.<ref name=phylogeny>Eberhard, J., & E. Bermingham. 2004. ''Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Amazona ochrocephala (Aves: Psittacidae) Complex.'' Auk 121(2): 318-332</ref> When split, ''A. oratrix'' traditionally includes the taxa ''tresmariae'' (from Tres Marías Islands), ''belizensis'' (from Belize) and ''hondurensis'' (from Sula Valley, Honduras) as [[subspecies]]<ref name=JuniperParr/> An additional subspecies, ''magma'', has sometimes been recognized for the population on the [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf slope]] of Mexico, but today most authorities considered it invalid, instead including this population in ''oratrix'', which also occurs on the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific slope]] of Mexico.<ref name=H&W/><ref name=JuniperParr/><ref>Clements, J. 2007. ''The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World.'' Christopher Helm. ISBN 9780713686951</ref> In contrast, the population in north-western Honduras and adjacent eastern Guatemala (near [[Puerto Barrios]]), which resembles ''A. oratrix belizensis'' and commonly is included in that subspecies, may represent an undescribed subspecies. It has sometimes been referred to as ''guatemalensis'',<ref name=JuniperParr>Juniper, T., & M. Parr. 1998. ''A Guide to the Parrots of the World.'' Pica Press, East Sussex. ISBN 1-873403-40-2</ref> but until this population is [[Binomial nomenclature|officially described]], the name remains provisional. [[Image:BabyDYHAmazon2.jpg|thumb|right|The "doubling" of the head due to the ruffling of feathers]] The origin of the common epithet "''Double'' Yellow-headed" is obscure but, when excited, this species raises its neck and crown feathers, making the head seem to double in size;<ref name=Hogle/> this reflex is common to many species of parrots, however. This name could also refer to the two colors of yellow feathers present on the head; one is slightly paler than the other. The head's yellow-feathered area extends with age to cover the entire head down to the neck. New feathers present in a deeper yellow. This range of color could be represented by RGB: 255, 255, 102 to RGB: 255, 255, 10.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} ==Description== The Yellow-headed Amazon averages 38–43 [[centimetre|cm]] (15–17 [[inch|in]]) long. The shape is typical of amazons, with a robust build, rounded wings, and a square tail. The body is bright green, with yellow on the head, dark scallops on the neck, red at the bend of the wing, and yellow thighs. The flight [[feather]]s are blackish to bluish violet with a red patch on the outer secondaries. The base of the tail also has a red patch, which is usually hidden. The outer tail feathers have yellowish tips.<ref name=H&W/> [[Image:Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) eating.gif|thumb|left|Eating [[cantaloupe]]]] [[Image:BabyDYHAmazon1.jpg|thumb|right|8 weeks old.]] The bill is horn-colored, darker in immatures of the Belizean and Honduran subspecies. The eye ring is whitish in Mexican birds and grayish in others. The most conspicuous geographical difference is the amount of yellow. In adults, the head and upper chest are yellow in the subspecies of the [[Islas Tres Marías|Tres Marías Islands]] in the Mexican state of [[Nayarit]] (''tresmariae''); just the head in the widespread subspecies of Mexico (''oratrix''); just the crown in Belize, Guatemala, and far northwestern Honduras (''belizensis''); and the crown and nape in the Sula Valley of Honduras (''hondurensis'', which thus resembles the Yellow-naped Parrot). Immatures have less yellow than adults; they attain adult plumage in 2 to 4 years.<ref name=H&W/> The [[breed|variety]] "Magna" (or "Magnum") is bred for more yellow and commands a premium price as a pet.<ref name=Aves>{{cite web | title = Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrot | publisher = Aves International | url = http://www.avesinternational.com/dyha.html | accessdate = 2006-08-23}} A commercial site. Shows many photographs including captive-bred young.</ref> Some "extreme" Magnas have as much yellow as Tres Marías birds, but are distinguished from them by heavier barring on the chest and a less bluish tint to the green plumage.<ref>{{cite web | title = Where are they now? | publisher = The Feather Tree |date=2003 | url = http://www.feathert.com/now.html | accessdate = 2006-08-23}} A commercial site. Shows many photographs comparing "extreme Magna" to ''tresmariae''</ref> Wild birds give low-pitched, sometimes human-sounding screams, but often fly silently (unlike many other parrots). Howell and Webb render some calls as "a rolled ''kyaa-aa-aaah'' and ''krra-aah-aa-ow'', a deep, rolled ''ahrrrr'' or ''ahrhrrrr''," etc. Young birds make a "clucking" sound to indicate that they are hungry. ==Distribution and habitat== This species lives in [[riparian forest]] and areas with scattered trees, as well as evergreen forest in [[Belize]] and [[mangrove]]s in [[Guatemala]]. It occurs in singly or in pairs, in small groups, and occasionally in big flocks. The range formerly included both coastal slopes of Mexico from the [[Tres Marías Islands]] and [[Jalisco]] to [[Oaxaca]] and from [[Nuevo León]] to northern [[Chiapas]] and southwestern [[Tabasco]], as well as a disjunct area including most of Belize, and another comprising a small part of northeastern Guatemala and northwestern [[Honduras]].<ref name=H&W/> However, their numbers have been reduced drastically—by 90 percent, to 7,000, from the mid 1970s to 1994,<ref name=DoW>{{cite web | title = Yellow-headed Parrot (''Amazona oratrix'') | publisher = Defenders of Wildlife | url = http://www.defenders.org/cites/yellowhead.pdf | format = pdf | accessdate = 2006-08-23}}</ref> and by 68 percent from 1994 to 2004<ref name=IUCN/>—because of capture for the pet trade and habitat destruction. ==Conservation status== The Yellow-headed Amazon is on the [[CITES]] list Appendix I, which by international treaty, has made export, import and trade of wild-caught Yellow-headed Amazons illegal and the trade in birds bred in aviculture subject to controls in most of the world. Captive-bred Yellow-headed Amazons can be sold and owned legally subject to checks and regulations. Generally, throughout the world, sale of Appendix I species bred in aviculture must be accompanied with official certification which is provided by the breeder, and they must have a closed ring on one leg. The popularity of Yellow-headed Amazons as a pet continues to fuel [[poaching]] efforts, which have nearly driven it to extinction in the wild. Their wild population has declined from 70,000 to 7,000 in the past two decades alone. An estimated 90% of poached Yellow-headed Amazons die before they are sold. Yellow-headed Parrots nest in holes in tree trunks or fallen branches. Poachers usually hack at the nest site with a [[machete]] to steal parrots, which is especially destructive because habitat is lost at the same time that the wild parrot population is reduced.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ==Qualities as pets== [[Image:Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) pet on perch.jpg|left|thumb|Pet parrot]] Albeit it is only lawful to keep captive-bred Yellow-headed Amazons, these are widely available (if somewhat expensive) and their personalities make them highly desirable pets; they have been kept as such for centuries<ref name=Hogle>{{cite web | title = Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot | publisher = Hogle Zoo |date=2002–2006 | url = http://www.hoglezoo.org/animals/view.php?id=94 | accessdate = 2006-08-23}}</ref> because they are among the parrots that "talk" best.<ref>{{cite book | author = Larry Lachman, Diane Grindol, and Frank Kocher | title = Birds Off the Perch: Therapy and Training for Your Pet Bird | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2003 | pages = p. 7 | url = http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=25&pid=415557&agid=2 | id = ISBN 0-7432-2704-2}}</ref> Their vocal abilities are generally considered to be bested only by the [[African Grey Parrot]] and matched by similar species such as the [[Yellow-naped Parrot]]. They are also considered loud, active, intelligent, funny, and willful. They like to test their owners and to attract the attention of visitors. As in most amazons, nervous plucking of plumage is rare among this species. A generally recognized disadvantage of the Yellow-headed Amazon and its close relatives (such as the Yellow-naped Amazon) is hormonal aggressiveness, most notable among males in the breeding season. It is a member of the "Hot Three", along with the Yellow-Naped and Blue Front.[http://www.featheredfamily.com/yelloheadedamazon.htm][http://www.nhahonline.com/b_general.htm] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.cityparrots.org/2008/05/16/stuttgart-amazon-parrots/ Yellow-headed Amazon Parrots in Stuttgart] [[Category:Amazon parrots]] [[Category:Birds of Mexico]] [[Category:Fauna of Islas Marías]] [[Category:Birds of Belize]] [[Category:Birds of Guatemala]] [[Category:Birds of Honduras]] [[Category:Aviculture]] [[es:Papagayo de cabeza amarilla]] [[fr:Amazona oratrix]] [[hu:Sárgafejű amazonpapagáj]] [[ru:Желтоголовый амазон]] [[uk:Жовтоголовий амазон]]