Red Crowned Parrot

The Red-Crowned Parrot, also known as an Amazona viridigenalis is known around the globe as a conspicuous Mexican bird.  This particular parrot will congregate during its breeding season, and then in the non-breeding season, keep to large, highly vocal flocks.  Sadly, the Red-Crowned Parrot has experienced a decline in the past two decades, primarily due to the destruction of its natural habitat.  However, the exploitation of live birds being captured and traded or sold for personal pets has also had a direct effect. 

Although the Red-Crowned Parrot is hardy and rigorous, these two factors have played a significant role in its decline.  Once captured, this parrot species does well.  However, we have seen something unique.  Parrots purchased by people in the United States have released them or the birds have escaped, causing them to adapt to woody areas in major cities, which just shows how hardy they are. 

The Red-Crowned Parrot is easy to identify with its fast but shallow wing beat and quick flight.  This medium-sized parrot is usually spotted flying in pairs or pairs flying within larger groups.  Like most parrots, the Red-Crowned Parrot mates for life.  The plumage of this parrot is a beautiful green with a brilliant red crown that is outlined by a violet-blue color.  In addition, this species of parrot has a unique red patch on the secondary feathers although in the wild, you will find variations such as yellow coloring on the neck and head, or red on the wing’s bend.  Because of this, the Red-Lored Parrot is sometimes confused with the Red-Crowned Parrot. 

The population of the Red-Crowned Parrot is found primarily in the northeast region of Mexico, specifically in locations such as Veracruz, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro.  With such loss of natural habitat coupled with wild nest raiding for pet trade, the decline has been significant.  Now, again with the release and escape of the Red-Crowned Parrot in the United States and South America, we have seen a steadily growing number of the birds over the past 40 years, specifically in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.  Some conservationists are also working toward genetic inbreeding to help grow and maintain populations. 

In the wild, the Red-Crowned Parrot prefers the tropical palm forest, deciduous forest, and on occasion, the pine oak woodlands.  In addition, this species is occasionally found on ravines.  Regardless, this type of parrot needs to find large, old trees that have cavities for nesting and breeding, which occurs from March to May.  For eggs, the Red-Crowned Parrot will hatch between two and five eggs, which take up to 31 days to incubate.  Both the male and female parrot raises the chicks. 

For diet, the Red-Crowned Parrot lives on new leaf shoots, fresh fruits, vines, seeds, and epiphytes.  Although loss of habitat is a great concern, human intervention is actually the greater risk.  With more than 80% of the Mexican lowlands now being cleared, this parrot has had no choice but to move to other places.  Again, the pet trade and amount of money it brings in has made this a major issue.  With such financial motivation for trappers, literally thousands of new chicks are captured annually.  What makes this even worse is that in addition to the chicks being taken, the nesting trees are then cut down, which stops any future nesting.  The sad part of this is that a major number of these captured birds never even reach the market, as illegal smugglers take them.