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Scaly-naped Amazon

 (Amazona mercenarius)

Also known as: Scaly-naped Parrot, Mercenary Amazon, Tschudi's Amazon, Mountain Parrot, Gray-naped or Colombian Amazon (A.m. canipalliata)

Click photo to visit gallery

Lone Scaly-naped Amazon
© Ron Hoff

Did You Know?

Very little is known about the habits of the Scaly-naped or Mercenary Amazon. It is a very shy bird.

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona mercenarius

Species Profile

Genus: Amazona | Species: mercenarius

Size:

34cm (13.2 in)

Weight:

300g (10.5 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

two: A.m. mercenarius, A.m. canipalliata

Colour Adult:

A.m. mercenarius: Both adults dark green feathers on crown to nape, tinged dull grey/blue and tipped with dull black; red bases to secondary feathers 1 to 3, the remainder green; yellow carpal edge, mixed with orange/red; tail green with wide yellow/green band, side tail feathers banded with red and blue/purple near end, the most outside feathers margined with blue/purple.  Bill grey and horn coloured. Eye ring pale grey, eye red.
A.m. canipalliata: Both adults as in mercinaria but red wing speculum replaced by hidden maroon marks at bases of secondaries 1 to 3.

Colour Juvenile:

As in adults but with pale horn coloured bill tinged with grey.  Eye brown.

Call:

Wide variety of sounds. Trills, whistles, goose-like calls, screeches and grating sounds.  Harsh staccato in flight and while perched. Some calls melodious.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 78060, Scaly-naped Parrot Amazon mercenaria, Parker, Theodore A., III, Monora-Santiago, Ecuador, July 1993, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.

Click photo to visit gallery

Lone Scaly-naped Amazon
© Ron Hoff

Did You Know?

Very little is known about the habits of the Scaly-naped or Mercenary Amazon. It is a very shy bird.

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona mercenarius

Species Care

Captive Status:

Very rare

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

Aviary or suspended cage, minimum length 3m (9.8 ft).

Diet:

Fruit such as: apple, pear, orange, cactus fruits, pomegranate, etc, forming about 30 percent of diet; vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green peas and beans, corn; also green leaves such as: Swiss chard, sowthistle, lettuce, dandelion; spray millet; small seed mixture with limited oily and sunflower seeds; cooked beans and pulses, and complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Not recorded.

Nest Box Size:

Not recorded.

Clutch Size:

Not recorded.

Incubation Time:

Not recorded.

Fledging Age:

Not recorded.

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Lone Scaly-naped Amazon
© Ron Hoff

Did You Know?

Very little is known about the habits of the Scaly-naped or Mercenary Amazon. It is a very shy bird.

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona mercenarius

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, decreasing.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Low in population density, and there is evidence of a population decline although overall numbers are not known. Threatened by deforestation.

Range:

A.m. mercenarius: Mountains of N Bolivia, in La Paz, Cochabamba and W Santa Cruz, north to N Peru and W Ecuador.
A.m. canipalliata: Both slopes of Andes in W Ecuador to W Colombia, north to Cundinamarca and SW Antioquia; also probably Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Sierra de Perifa and mountains of NW Venezuela.

Habitat:

Found in hill and mountain forest in upper tropical, subtropical and temperate areas. Includes open woodland with large trees, open forest on ridges and to treeline in wooded valleys and ravines in paramo zone. 800-1600m (2624-5248 ft).

Wild Diet:

Little information on diet but has been observed taking figs and unidentified fruits in Colombia. May also take maize.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Found usually in pairs or small flocks with larger groups moving to and from communal roosts to feed. Feedings morning and afternoon.

Clutch and Egg Size:

Clutch size unknown, ovate eggs, 35.5 x 28.0mm (1.4 x 1.1 in).

Breeding Season:

March-May

Related Links:

Wikipedia

Click photo to visit gallery

Lone Scaly-naped Amazon
© Ron Hoff

Did You Know?

Very little is known about the habits of the Scaly-naped or Mercenary Amazon. It is a very shy bird.

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona mercenarius

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