# Red-crowned Parrot

Scientific name: Amazona viridigenalis

Bird group: [parrot](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/parrot)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/210/Red-crowned-Parrot

## Identification

The red-crowned amazon (Amazona viridigenalis), also known as the red-crowned parrot, green-cheeked amazon or Mexican red-headed parrot, is an endangered amazon parrot native to northeastern Mexico and possibly southern Texas in the United States. A 1994 study estimated wild populations of between 2,000 and 4,300 mature individuals; the IUCN Red List considers it a globally endangered species with a decreasing population. The main threats to the native bird's survival are the illegal export of trapped birds from Mexico to the United States for the pet trade and the destruction of their natural habitat, the lowland forests of northeastern Mexico.


## Distribution and habitat

The Red-crowned Parrot is native to Mexico and northern 
South America and has been 
introduced to Puerto Rico (in 
association with the pet trade), 
where it occurs in small numbers 
around the coast (Raffaele 
and others 1998). A fl ock of 
as many as 40 individuals was 
reported near the municipality 
of Salinas (Raffaele and others 
1998). Habitat includes mostly 
scrub and lowland moist forests 
(Raffaele and others 1998). 
The atlas fieldwork yielded a 
total of three records within 
two hexagons of the 479 total hexagons (see map). Of the 
two hexagons where this parrot 
was found, breeding met the 
atlas definition of confirmed in 
50 percent (one) of the hexagons 
and possible in 50 percent 
(one) of the hexagons as well 
(see map). Red-crowned Parrot distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding. 

## Breeding

Previously published reports indicate that the Red-crowned 
Parrot breeds from March to June 
(Raffaele and others 1998). The 
nests are located in tree cavities 
(Raffaele and others 1998), 
especially in large mahogany 
(Swietenia mahogany) and black       201Red-crowned Parrot/Cotorra Coronirrojaolive (Bucida buceras) trees (J.A. Salguero-Faría, personal 
observation 2009). Atlas results 
suggest that this species breeds 
during March, September, and 
October, and that the breeding 
activity mostly takes place within 
the subtropical dry forest life 
zone (see chart). Atlas results 
indicate that this species breeds 
within the subtropical dry forest 
life zone (50 percent of the 
hexagons) (see table and map). It may also breed within the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(50 percent of the hexagons) 
(see table and map).

## Conservation

The current population trend of the Red-crowned Parrot is 
described as decreasing in 
its native distributional range 
(Castro 1976, Enkerlin-Hoefl ich 
1995). This species is currently listed as Endangered by the 
IUCN (BirdLife International 
2018). Locally, this species is not 
listed in any of the threatened 
categories of PRDNER and 
USFWS. In Puerto Rico, the Red-
crowned Parrot has a protected 
habitat in land of 50 percent or 
24 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons where evidence 
of breeding was found for this 
species (48 km2).

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_210_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_210_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.