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Yellow-shouldered Amazon

 (Amazona barbadensis)

Also known as: Yellow-winged Amazon (Parrot), Yellow-shouldered Parrot

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-shouldered Amazon
© Sam Williams

Did You Know?

As juveniles the Yellow-shouldered Amazon may be kept in colonies, but must be separated into pairs once older due to their aggressiveness.

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona barbadensis

Species Profile

Genus: Amazona | Species: barbadensis

Size:

33cm (12.8 in)

Weight:

270g (9.4 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Both adults: green body colour with fine black scalloping on feathers; white forehead, forecrown and lores; yellow hindcrown to area around eyes and upper cheeks; yellow thighs; bend of wing yellow; red wing speculum across feather bases of secondaries 1-4; green tail with orange/red hidden in feather bases. Bill horn coloured. Eye ring pale grey. Eye orange/red.

Colour Juvenile:

As in adult but usually duller in colour with less yellow on head; forehead white occasionally tinted with blue. Bill grey/white washed with dark grey. Eye brownish.

Call:

Calls loud and raucous; less musical than other Amazons.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1 | Video 2

More Information:

STINAPA Bonaire
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Echo Bonaire

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 109267, Yellow-shouldered Amazon Amazona barbadensis, Eberhard, Jessica, Bonaire, Feb. 14 2001, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Genus Amazona, Stoodley and Stoodley, 1990
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-shouldered Amazon
© Sam Williams

Did You Know?

As juveniles the Yellow-shouldered Amazon may be kept in colonies, but must be separated into pairs once older due to their aggressiveness.

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona barbadensis

Species Care

Captive Status:

Rare.

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

Walk-in enclosure, minimum length 4.5m (14.7 ft) or aviary or suspended cage, minimum length 3m (9.8 ft).

Diet:

Fruit such as: apple, pear, orange, banana, cactus fruits, pomegranate, forming about 30% of the diet; fresh vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green peas, beans, fresh corn, green leaves; spray millet and limited mixed seed, cooked beans and pulses, complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Not recorded.

Nest Box Size:

12" x 12" x 24" (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 61cm) vertical box

Clutch Size:

2-3

Incubation Time:

About 26 days.

Fledging Age:

9 weeks

Hatch Weight:

10g (0.35 oz)

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-shouldered Amazon
© Sam Williams

Did You Know?

As juveniles the Yellow-shouldered Amazon may be kept in colonies, but must be separated into pairs once older due to their aggressiveness.

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona barbadensis

Species Wild Status

World Population:

2,590-8,470

IUCN Red List Status:

Near Threatened

CITES Listing:

Appendix I

Threat Summary:

A BirdLife 'restricted-range' species. Affected by loss of habitat on islands due to tourism and is widely exploited for local bird trade. In some areas is persecuted for visiting crops.

Range:

Restricted to small coastal area in Venezuela and the islands of Blanquilla, Margarita and Bonaire. Introduced to Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.

Habitat:

Occurs in areas with cacti and thorny bush and trees; also reported around cultivated areas and around mangroves. Found up to 450m (1476 ft) on Margarita, maybe higher on the mainland.

Wild Diet:

Fruits, seeds and flowers including Platymiscum, Pithecellobium, Piptadenia, Piscidia, Bulnesia, Tabebuia, Capparis, Malpighia, Bourreria, Casearia, Guaiacum, Terminalia, Spondias, Moringa, Ziziphus, Caesalpinia, Crotalaria, Acacia, Prosopis, Leucaena, Bursera, Crescentia and various cacti.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Found in pairs, families; also larger flocks of up to 100. Roost communally in tall trees or rock outcroppings.

Clutch and Egg Size:

2-3 ovate eggs, 36.5 x 26.0mm (1.4 x 1 in).

Breeding Season:

March-September, sometimes October on Bonaire. Nest is in tree, cliff or cactus cavity.

Related Links:

Research: Reproductive parameters and productivity of the Yellow-shouldered Parrot on Margarita Island, Venezuela: A long-term study

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-shouldered Amazon
© Sam Williams

Did You Know?

As juveniles the Yellow-shouldered Amazon may be kept in colonies, but must be separated into pairs once older due to their aggressiveness.

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Amazona barbadensis

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