Red-tailed Amazon

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The red-tailed amazon is a medium-sized parrot; the tail is slightly rounded and less than one third of the total length (total length= 37 cm). The plumage is mainly green with paler underparts, the top of the head is pinkish-red, the cheeks, chin, ear coverts, throat and upper breast are greyish blue. The undertail coverts are yellowish-green. The central tail feathers are green and the lateral tail feathers are greenish-yellow at the tip followed by a red band and purple blue at the base.

Did you know?
that the small population of the red-tailed amazon is under enormous pressure from poaching for national and (illegal) international trade, continuing habitat loss for boat building, banana plantations, cattle- and buffalo-grazing and beach houses, and that the proposed construction of a bridge to Ilha Comprida will even increase pressure from tourism and habitat conversion?

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	PSITTACIFORMES
Suborder	PSITTACI
Family	PSITTACIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Amazona brasiliensis
Name (English)	Red-tailed Amazon
Name (French)	Amazone à joues vertes
Name (German)	Rotschwanzamazone
Name (Spanish)	Papagayo de cara roja
Local names	Brazil: Marreco ananai
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Writhedhornbill

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Brazil
Habitat	Lowland coastal forest and forested wetlands
Wild population	Approx. 3'000-4'000
Zoo population	45 reported to ISIS (2008)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 11D of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Some veterinary or customs authorities require that all psittacine birds are ringed upon importation. Recommended ring diameter for amazons 10-12 mm depending of species.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Elcio Ferreira

Why do zoos keep this animal

The red-tailed amazon is rated vulnerable by IUCN and is listed in Appendix I of CITES. European zoos therefore aim at maintaining a viable ex situ population under an EEP.

Like other amazons, red-tailed amazons are conspicuous and attractive birds, which are good ambassador species for the conservation of neotropical forests. They have an interesting anatomy and behaviour, are intelligent birds able to mimic human speech and even to associate words with their meanings, and are thus also of educational interest. Zoos may keep amazon parrots also for animal welfare reasons as they may have to take care of confiscated birds, or former pet birds.

How this animal should be kept

Parrots must not be kept chained and must not be pinioned. If feather clipped, they should have available an area corresponding at least to that of an aviary for this species, and there must be ample climbing opportunities.

An aviary for a pair must have a surface of no less than 3 x 2 m and a height of at least 2 m. In cold and temperate climates a frost free shelter or indoor aviary of at least 2 m² x 2 m high is necessary.

A variety of branches for perching, climbing and chewing is necessary to keep these intelligent birds busy.

Parrots may select food items on the basis of colour and texture rather than on taste or nutrient content. Therefore it is important to provide a variety of nutritionally valuable and, at the same time, interesting food. Pellets provide an ideal diet only in combination with other favourable and nutritionally suitable feeds, e.g. a mixture of apple, carrots soaked corn and vitamin/mineral supplement, soaked sunflower seeds, fruit (e.g. grapes, banana, pear, plum, orange, mango), vegetables (e.g. sweet pepper, chicory, courgette), nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts), and dog pellets.