Red-crowned Amazon (also known as Green-cheeked Amazon or Mexican Red-headed Parrot)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittacidae, Genus: Amazona, Species: A. viridigenalis
Family: Psittacidae (Parrots and Macaws)
- Shape
- Symmetrical, rounded, spatulate outline with a soft, broad tip and a high ratio of plumulaceous base to pennaceous vane.
- Size
- Small, approximately 2-3 cm in length. Typical for facial or crown contour feathers of medium-sized parrots.
- Rarity
- Endangered in its native range (Rare); Common in introduced urban populations.
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Description
A medium-sized, stocky green parrot with a brilliant red crown, violet-blue band behind the eye, and light green cheeks. The plumage is mostly green with dark edging giving a scalloped appearance. They are known for their loud, screeching calls and acrobatic flight.
Colour & Pattern
Base of the feather is a soft gray-white down. The distal portion shows a vibrant gradient starting with yellow-orange transitioning into bright red, tipped with a distinct emerald green margin. This tri-color banding is characteristic of the frontal crown region.
Barb Structure
Mixed: The distal half is pennaceous (interlocked barbs), while the proximal half is highly plumulaceous (fluffy, loose downy structure) for insulation. Aftershaft is likely absent or minimal.
Texture & Surface
Silky and soft. The pigmented tip has a slight glossy sheen typical of parrot feathers, while the base is exceptionally matte and airy.
Key Features
Tri-colored gradient (Gray-Yellow-Red-Green), small rounded contour shape, and the dense white plumaceous base characteristic of psittacines.
Habitat
Tropical lowland forests, gallery forests, and deciduous woodlands. Also highly adapted to urban suburban areas with fruiting and flowering trees (e.g., Los Angeles, Brownsville).
Geographic Range
Endemic to northeast Mexico (Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí). Introduced and naturalized populations exist in California, Texas, Florida, and Hawaii.
Ecological Role
Seed predator and disperser; they play a vital role in tropical forest regeneration by feeding on a variety of fruits and nuts.
Similar Species
Lilac-crowned Amazon (Amazona finschi) - feathers have more maroon/lilac tones; Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis) - differs in yellow cheek patches.
Interesting Facts
The Red-crowned Amazon is one of the few parrot species where the introduced populations in the United States may soon rival the numbers of its declining wild population in Mexico due to habitat loss and poaching.
Condition Notes
Good to Excellent. The feather appears freshly molted; barbs are mostly intact with minimal wear or fraying. No signs of stress bars or parasitic damage.