Mealy Parrot

 

(Amazona Farinosa)

 

The southern 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. They are usually quiet but can be loud at dusk and dawn. Five subspecies: The Mealy Parrot has five different subtypes. Some have a bluish tinge, whereas others sport a little yellow. Tambopata’s Mealy Parrots are the Chapmani subspecies, so they have blue-green feathers on their heads.

Mealy parrot sounds are usually loud screeches, crackling noise, and are some of the most raucous sounds you hear in the forest. Average mealy Amazon parrots can fly at 20 to 30 miles per hour. They are social birds and are usually seen in large flocks or pairs in the wild. These large flocks can reach over 100 parrots.

Fun Facts

Mealy Parrots are the second largest parrot species in Belize.

Conservation Efforts

• It is fairly common in most of its range, but has declined locally due to habitat loss and trapping for the 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 southern mealy amazons are hunted as food. The southern mealy amazon sometimes feeds on human crops (especially corn) and may be considered a crop pest.
• These species and any other parrot species is protected by the law so it is illegal to keep them as pets.