Yellow-naped Amazon

The Yellow-naped Amazon, Amazona auropalliata, is a parrot of vibrant green plumage, with a notable yellow patch gracing the nape of its neck. Its eyes gleam with an orange hue, while its beak and feet are a dark gray, the beak lightening near the base of the upper mandible.

Identification Tips

To identify this species, look for the distinctive yellow band across the lower nape and hindneck, contrasting with the green of the forehead and crown. The orange eyes and gray beak are also key features.

Habitat

This bird favors the dry forests and mangroves of the tropics, where it finds naturally occurring cavities to nest in.

Distribution

The Yellow-naped Amazon is native to the Pacific coast of southern Mexico down through Central America to northwestern Costa Rica.

Behaviour

In the wild, these amazons are known for their complex vocalizations, including duets between monogamous pairs during breeding season. They defend their territories with these vocal displays, which can escalate to physical altercations, though such incidents are rare.

Song & Calls

The species exhibits a fascinating array of vocal dialects, with calls varying across geographic regions, akin to human languages. These dialects are meaningful to the birds and are stable over time.

Breeding

Breeding success is relatively low, with many nests failing due to poaching. The birds are monogamous and defend their breeding territories with duets.

Similar Species

The Yellow-naped Amazon is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Yellow-crowned Amazon, Amazona ochrocephala, but can be distinguished by its unique yellow nape marking.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists of nuts, berries, seeds, and fruit, typical of many parrot species.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has recently classified the Yellow-naped Amazon as Critically Endangered, with a population decline of over 92% in the last three generations, primarily due to deforestation and illegal trade.

In captivity, these birds are cherished for their ability to mimic sounds, including human speech, and their playful nature. However, they may exhibit protective behaviors, especially during the breeding season. They require stimulation and socialization to be comfortable around humans and other animals. Providing them with bird-safe toys to chew on is essential due to their natural nesting behavior in cavities. A rare blue mutation is known, characterized by a turquoise body color.