Yellow-naped Amazon

Taxobox
name = Yellow-naped Amazon
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_caption = 20-year-old
image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Psittacidae
genus = "Amazona"
species = "A. auropalliata"
binomial = "Amazona auropalliata"
binomial_authority = (Lesson, 1842)

The Yellow-naped Parrot or Yellow-naped Amazon ("Amazona auropalliata") is an Amazon parrot now often considered to be a subspecies of Yellow-crowned Amazon, "Amazona ochrocephala" (Gmelin, 1788).

It is found along the Pacific coast from southern Mexico south to northern Costa Rica. It is distinguished by its green forehead and crown and a yellow band across the lower nape and hindneck. The bill is dark grey and is paler towards the base of the upper mandible. The feet are also dark grey.

In common with many parrot species, it feeds on nuts, berries, seeds, and fruit.

Deforestation is reducing the number of these parrots in the wild together with illegal removal of young for the pet trade. This parrot readily mimics sounds, and in captivity this includes humans, which is probably the reason it is popular in the pet trade. Like all parrots, however, mimic abilities vary greatly between individuals and species.A rare blue mutation of the Yellow-naped Amazon is known to exist, in which the entire body is turquoise in color. [http://www.hillcountryaviaries.com/color_mutations.htm]

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern