- Amazona farinosa
Identification
It has a total length of 38-40 cm (14.96-15.75 in) and weighs 540-700 g (19.01-24.64 oz). Captives commonly are heavier. It is among the largest parrots in the Americas, mainly being surpassed by a the large macaws. As the other members of its genus, the Mealy Parrot has a relatively short, squarish tail.
The Mealy Parrot is mainly green. The back and nape often have a whitish tinge; almost as if it had been covered in a thin layer of flour ("meal"; hence its name). The distal half of the tail is paler and more yellow than the basal half, thus resulting in a distinctly bi-coloured look. In flight it shows a bluish-black trailing edge to the wing and a conspicious red speculum. Occasionally a few yellow feathers are apparent on the top of the head and two subspecies, virenticeps and guatemalae, have a bluish-tinged crown. The brownish-maroon to amber eyes (typically appear dark from a distance) are surrounded by a relatively broad white eye-ring of bare skin. To distinguish races virenticeps from guatemalae away from their natural habitat look for the extension of the blue on the head. Race virenticeps has the front and sometimes the area above the eyes bluish. Sometimes mixed with some very small yellow or even red feathers. From the back of the head down the nape there is a dark-grey patch of feathers (nominate farinosa has a dark black scalloping). Depending on the lightfall it might sometimes show a purple haze. Extension varies between individuals. Race guatemalae has the blue all over the crown to the back of the head and no dark grey towards the nape. The blue may vary from a soft-powder blue to rather dark blue. Bill colour is variabel in both subspecies: Completely grey, greyish or horn-coloured with a blackish tip or even complete shiny black.
Distribution
The Mealy Parrot occurs in tropical Central America and South America.
Taxonomy
Habitat
It frequents humid to semi-humid forest (only rarely in deciduous forest) and plantations. In regions dominated by open/dry habitats it is restricted to gallery forest or completely absent.
Behaviour
The Mealy Parrot is social and can be found in pairs or in large flocks. They are even known to interact with other parrots, such as macaws. They are usually quiet but can be loud at dusk and dawn. They are know as one of the gentlest and calmest of all amazons.
When Mealy Parrots reach sexual maturity they usually form monogamous relationships with a single partner. Courtship usually begins in early spring. The hen will usually lay three eggs, which she incubates for 28 days. The male will eat for both himself and the female during the incubation period. He will regurgitate the food for the female and chicks to eat.
The diet of the Mealy Parrot consists mostly of fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, blossoms, and leaf buds.
It is fairly common in most of its range, but has declined locally due to habitat loss and trapping for wild parrot trade. Trafficking of the birds (as for exotic pets) is illegal in many nations, but the species are still smuggled into the United States from Mexico. In some areas Mealy Parrots are hunted as food. The Mealy Parrot sometimes feeds on human crops (especially corn) and may be considered a crop pest.
