This highly conspicuous Mexican parrot is decreasing in its original range but increasing elsewhere because of its popularity as a cage bird. Escaped and released individuals have adapted to woody areas of major cities in the USA and Mexico, creating populations far outside their natural range. Populations in southern Texas' Rio Grande Valley may include at least some naturally occurring vagrants from Mexico, but the topic is subject to debate.
Rapid, shallow wing-beats and quick flight are typical of this medium-sized Amazona parrot, which is nearly always seen flying in pairs – or in distinguishable pairs within larger flocks. Plumage is the typical green of Amazona parrots, but the bright red forehead and violet-blue streak behind the eye separate this parrot from similar species. In flight, a brilliant patch of red is visible on the upper side of its 25-inch wings. Variations are common in wild populations and can include yellow feathers, especially on the head and neck, and red on the bend of the wing. Inexperienced observers may confuse it with the Red-lored Parrot.
Remaining wild populations are restricted to intact habitat in northeastern Mexico within the states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, northern Veracruz, and northwestern San Luis Potosi, with small populations in upper northeastern Queretaro.
The global range of the Red-crowned Parrot has taken an unnatural turn as feral populations of birds have now established themselves in many major cities throughout the southern United States and Mexico. Hundreds of birds can be locally common in Rio Grande Valley cities such as Brownsville, San Benito, Harlingen, Weslaco, and McAllen. The Red-crowned Parrot has been added to the official Texas state bird list as a species of "uncertain origin." It is included on California's official list as an "introduced" species of non-native origin.
This parrot tends to select areas of tropical deciduous forest, palm forest, and occasionally open pine-oak woodland in the lowlands. It is also found in riparian areas, sometimes in ravines. It requires large, old trees with suitable cavities for nesting sites. Feral populations that reside in cities select areas with large trees like arboretums, which supply both nesting sites and food.
Red-crowned Parrots are often found foraging in large, noisy flocks, especially outside of the breeding season. Tropical fruits are the favored food. Ebony, strangler fig, coma, and anacua trees provide plenty of fruit across much of its native habitat. Other items are chosen as well, particularly seeds, nuts, buds, leaves, berries, and even insects. Feral populations are particularly capable of adapting to whatever food source is most abundant within a given area. Water needs are met exclusively via its fruit-based diet.
The Red-crowned Parrot is a very pair-oriented species. Pairs form shortly following the breeding season – even among immature birds – and many pairs come together to form large flocks in winter. Once mated, pairs seem to stay together for life. Flocks break up in early spring, and individual pairs begin to search for nest cavities. Most nesting sites are in large, old trees with suitable cavities, such as old woodpecker nest sites or naturally decayed tree cavities. The female lays 2-5 white eggs, which she incubates for up to 31 days. Chicks are helpless and blind at hatching, and require constant care. After about 7 weeks, the parents deliberately cease feeding their young so as to coax them from the nest, after which they are led to communal "nursery areas" where they come into contact with birds of similar age.
In the non-breeding season Red-crowned flocks are nomadic, often moving to higher elevations, or to areas with abundant fruit crops.
BirdLife International (2007) Species factsheet:
Amazona viridigenalis. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org. Accessed August 2007.
Enkerlin-Hoeflich, Ernesto and Kelly Hogan, M.A. 1997. Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis).
The Birds of North America, No. 292 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D. C.
Stattersfield, A.J., and D.R. Capper (Eds). 2000.
Threatened Birds of the World. Lynx Editions and BirdLife International, Barcelona and Cambridge.
