Blue-cheeked Amazon (Amazona dufresniana)

 

[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Amazona dufresniana | [authority] Shaw, 1812 | [UK] Blue-cheeked Amazon | [FR] Amazone de Dufresne | [DE] Goldmasken-Amazone | [ES] Amazona Cariazul | [NL] Blauwwangamazone
Subspecies
Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Amazona dufresniana SA ne
Genus
Amazon parrot is the common name for a parrot of the genus Amazona. These are medium-size parrots native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Most Amazon parrots are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on the species and can be quite vivid. They have comparatively short, somewhat square, tails. Just like the other parrots, amazons have four toes on each foot, two pointing forwards and two pointing backward. They feed primarily on seeds, nuts, and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter. Almost everywhere in the lowlands of tropical and subtropical America, the savannas, grassy openings in the forest, and roadsides are frequented by flocks of very small finches with short and thick bills, which feed on the seeds of grasses. In the genus Sporophila, the males are clad in black, black and white, or black and chestnut, while the dull females are olive or buff. Often the same species shows pronounced variation in plumage from region to region.
Physical charateristics
General plumage green; nape and back edged blackish; forehead and lores orange-yellow; crown and nape yellow broadly edged blue; cheeks, ear-coverts and sides of nape violet-blue; edge of wing yellowish-green; first five secondaries with yellowish-orange wing-speculum; tail green with greenish-yellow tips; inner webs of outer tail-feathers orange; periophthalmic ring grey; bill grey-horn colour; iris orange-red; feet grey.

wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 33 cm size max.: 35 cm
incubation min.: 24 days incubation max.: 26 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 26 days
broods: 0 eggs min.: 3  
  eggs max.: 5  
Range
South America : Northeast
Habitat
It inhabits humid and cloud forest in the lower subtropical zone but is known from savanna woodlands in Venezuela. It occurs up to 1,700 m in Venezuela and 560 m in Guyana.
Reproduction
Breeding period for dufresniana from February to June. Clutch size 3 eggs, incubated for about 25 days (captivity). No further information available.
Feeding habits
Diet consists of fruits, seeds, berries and buds
Video Blue-cheeked Amazon

Conservation
This species is classified as Near Threatened because it has a moderately small population which is suspected to be declining significantly owing to habitat loss and possibly trade.
Amazona dufresniana occurs in south-east Venezuela (Bolivar with an isolated record in Amazonas), north Guyana (north of 5 degrees N), north-east Suriname and north-east French Guiana. There are reports from Para and Amapa, Brazil, where its occurrence seems probable, but no conclusive records.
Blue-cheeked Amazon status Near Threatened
Migration
There are some seasonal movements, apparently in response to food availability, from interior to coastal Suriname in July-August
Distribution map

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2tf8qK1cfTs