Blue Fronted Amazon Parrot
Amazona aestiva

CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Psittacidae

SIZE:
12 - 14 inches

RANGE:
Central and South America

HABITAT:
Rainforests, jungles

DIET:
Wild - Leaves, flowers, insects, fruits, seeds
Zoo - Fruits, bird seed mix

DESCRIPTION:

• Blue-fronts -- one type of 26 species of blunt tailed parrots. Predominantly green plumage, but the head (usually forehead) is marked in other colors as well as the wing joints. The blue-fronted parrot has pale blue feathers on its forehead.
• Lively birds in their homeland.

ADAPTATIONS:

• Very good climber -- awkward flyer -- on the ground they waddle along clumsily.
• When kept as pets, blunt tailed parrots sometimes give up flying.
• Uses their beaks to climb, crack open nuts and seeds, pick foliage, flowers, and fruits to eat.
• Perching feet -- 2 toes in front, 2 in back. Sharp claws
• Good camouflage for rainforests.

YOUNG:
Male builds nest; female incubates eggs while male feeds her. Chicks hatch after about 30 days. After about two months they leave the nest.

PET:

• Blue-fronts often kept as pets by bird lovers.
• Can be good talkers.
• Many blue-fronted pets end up in a solitary situation and in an enclosure much too small.

STATUS:
CITES App. II; not threatened; abundant; has benefited from agriculture but is declining from collecting for the pet trade