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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Parrots (Order Psittaciformes)

-New World and African Parrots (Family Psittacidae)

-Amazon Parrots (Genus Amazona)

-White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons)


This species is named for the bright white patch of feathers on its forehead, although the amount of white varies from individual to individual. They have mostly green plumage with some blue colouring on their outspread wings. They have bright red colouring around their eyes and blue colouring behind the patch of white on their foreheads. Like other large parrots, the white-fronted parrot has a long potential life span, usually around 40 years. White-fronted parrots eat mostly fruits, berries, plants, seeds, nuts and corn. The White-fronted Parrot is one of the few Amazon parrots that exhibits clear sexual dimorphism with the male having a bright red patch on the bend of the wing (carpal edge).

White-fronted Amazon

Amazona albifrons

Diet

  • Primarily seeds, fruits, berries, figs, nuts, blossoms, leaf buds, and cultivated crops such as corn.

  • Also feeds on flowers and occasionally insects or larvae.

  • Often forages in small flocks in forest canopies, orchards, and agricultural fields.

Range

  • Found from western Mexico (Sonora and Chihuahua) south along both the Pacific and Gulf slopes through Central America to Costa Rica.

  • Widespread throughout much of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn forests, woodland edges, mangroves, savannas, agricultural areas, and suburban parks and gardens.

  • Generally a year-round resident, although local movements occur in response to food availability.

Male / Female

  • Male: Distinctive bright red patch on the bend of each wing (carpal edge/shoulder); white forehead and blue feathers around the forehead and eyes are often more extensive.

  • Female: Lacks the red shoulder patch or has only a tiny trace; otherwise resembles the male but usually has less blue on the face.

  • Juveniles: Similar to females, with little or no red on the shoulder; young males gradually develop the red patch as they mature.

  • The red shoulder patch is the easiest and most reliable field mark for distinguishing adult males from females.

Size

  • Length: 24–26 cm (9.5–10.2 in)

  • Wingspan: 40–45 cm (15.7–17.7 in)

  • Weight: 180–250 g

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