Ian Lambert
Mealy Amazon Parrot
One of the two Mealy Amazon Parrots perched in the walk-through-aviary at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Dalton In Furness, Cumbria.
The Mealy Amazon (Amazona farinosa) is among the largest of the Amazon parrots. It is mainly green with a total length of 38–41 cm (15–16 in). It is endemic to tropical Central and South America. It frequents humid to semi-humid forest and plantations.
The Mealy Amazon is social and can be found in pairs or in large flocks. They are even known to interact with other parrots, such as macaws.
Their diet is mostly fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, blossoms, and leaf buds. It is fairly common in most of its range, but has declined locally due to habitat loss and trapping for wild parrot trade. Trafficking of the birds (as for exotic pets) is illegal in many nations, but the species are still smuggled into the United States from Mexico. In some areas Mealy Amazons are hunted as food. They sometimes feed on human crops (especially corn) and may be considered a crop pest.
Mealy Amazon Parrot
One of the two Mealy Amazon Parrots perched in the walk-through-aviary at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Dalton In Furness, Cumbria.
The Mealy Amazon (Amazona farinosa) is among the largest of the Amazon parrots. It is mainly green with a total length of 38–41 cm (15–16 in). It is endemic to tropical Central and South America. It frequents humid to semi-humid forest and plantations.
The Mealy Amazon is social and can be found in pairs or in large flocks. They are even known to interact with other parrots, such as macaws.
Their diet is mostly fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, blossoms, and leaf buds. It is fairly common in most of its range, but has declined locally due to habitat loss and trapping for wild parrot trade. Trafficking of the birds (as for exotic pets) is illegal in many nations, but the species are still smuggled into the United States from Mexico. In some areas Mealy Amazons are hunted as food. They sometimes feed on human crops (especially corn) and may be considered a crop pest.