Identify this Amazon?

[Terry57]

I saw this Amazon at a bird show yesterday, and no one really can identify what he is. His owners got him from the Humane Society. Not sure if he is a hybrid or mutation.
He is gorgeous, though!


Photo courtesy of Meika's Bird House:

 

[Violet_Diva]

Wow! What an amazing looking bird!

As a guess, I'll go for mutation red spectacled!

 

[Violet_Diva]

I've seen pictures of a similar red colour mutation of a blue front
Red Color Mutation of the Blue-fronted Amazon | Voren's Aviaries Inc

 

[Terry57]

I've seen pictures of a similar red colour mutation of a blue front
Red Color Mutation of the Blue-fronted Amazon | Voren's Aviaries Inc

i saw this one too, and that is the closest I could find to him as well! You found that fast, I was directed to it..lol.
He had no blue at all, face was entirely the same colour as his head.

 

[EllenD]

The two photos are close...the first thing that I thought when I saw him was that he looked almost not like an Amazon at all, but rather a Cape Parrot of some sort...

 

[chris-md]

Violet diva came dang close with the white fronted amazon. Blue fronts have black beaks so that can’t be it.

I’d bet on red mutation white spectacle as well

 

[SailBoat]

So, what is this: Baiting the Amazon Snobs!?!?

First thing that came to mind is a Yellow-Faced Amazon (Amazona xanthops). Common in Eastern and Central Brazil region. If true this Amazon is very Rare, CITES, Class I for certain.

There is very little information available regarding them and what is does not speak well of their being very bright. Likely due to the only references was of a very young Amazon. If I was to guess, they are likely much like Lilac-Crowned Amazons, who also are not very bright as young Amazons, but become real lovers as they age.

The greatest problem with Amazons is that if you are not looking at a 'Nominate' of the species (Julio is a 9 out of 10 in that regard), they can really screw with your mind. Most Amazons under ten years of age have not fully settled on their coloration. Especially, this group of Amazons that provide a very wide presentation of colors. And yes, add the natural and forced hybrids and the World just turns upside down.

Those with all or part bone (clear) colour beaks are another area of conflict as it is not uncommon for the young to have variations with spots of black. The only exception to that is the DYH's, which are 100% bone (clear) coloured from day one! The dark coloured beaks do not change.

The joys of Species Classing Amazons!


*** That all said, and as Ellen has presented, a Cape Parrot, has possibilities as well.


FYI: Need more photos around the Amazon to better define!

 

[Kentuckienne]

I was going to guess blue front, because it seems that if you add green back in you would get a normal looking bird. Where is my Photoshop...

 

[EllenD]

I'm serious when I say Cape Parrot, or a hybrid of a Cape Parrot, do a Google Image search and compare their heads/faces...it's almost exactly the same, but with some unique feather coloring...

 

[EllenD]

No matter what he is, he's gorgeous and I WANT HIM!!!

 

[SailBoat]

I'm serious when I say Cape Parrot, or a hybrid of a Cape Parrot, do a Google Image search and compare their heads/faces...it's almost exactly the same, but with some unique feather coloring...

Ellen, I do not disagree with your recommendation. Your select is as good if not better than mine, since my World revolves around Amazons.

 

[EllenD]

I'm serious when I say Cape Parrot, or a hybrid of a Cape Parrot, do a Google Image search and compare their heads/faces...it's almost exactly the same, but with some unique feather coloring...

Ellen, I do not disagree with your recommendation. Your select is as good if not better than mine, since my World revolves around Amazons.

LOL, yes, I live in an Amazon-free zone, though just as biased in the Poicephalus-zone here

 

[Violet_Diva]

How about a mutation that's also a hybrid...
Yellow shouldered x red spectacled?
The beak and eyes are now making me think there has to be some yellow...?!?

???

 

[Terry57]

I initially thought Cape as well, but close up he much more looks like an Amazon. One of the club members has a Cape and she is half his size. This guy in person was as really large, wish I had more pictures.

 

[EllenD]

I initially thought Cape as well, but close up he much more looks like an Amazon. One of the club members has a Cape and she is half his size. This guy in person was as really large, wish I had more pictures.

I was wondering about his overall size, that's something you can't tell from the photo...That kills my Cape Parrot theory, lol...

 

[Terry57]

I initially thought Cape as well, but close up he much more looks like an Amazon. One of the club members has a Cape and she is half his size. This guy in person was as really large, wish I had more pictures.

I was wondering about his overall size, that's something you can't tell from the photo...That kills my Cape Parrot theory, lol...

That is so my fault, I should have given all the info...my apologies, apparently I was too excited to get it posted..lol.

 

[Cardinal]

The two photos are close...the first thing that I thought when I saw him was that he looked almost not like an Amazon at all, but rather a Cape Parrot of some sort...

Even I thought of Poicephalus, considering the overall grey tone. But the red on the shoulder ? Do any Poicephalus have red on the shoulder? The skull structure resembles an Amazon but the face does not.

Anyways, I prefer Wild type colorations to man made color mutations in most species of parrots. Only exceptions being Budgies (again not all mutations), Cockatiels, Indian Ringnecks and Peach faced lovebirds.

 

[SailBoat]

If I am even kind of correct regarding the region, the number of natural Hybrids in that general area is huge as that region has five nominates and an additional ten sub-species.

 

[wrench13]

a co woke fom Guatemala said his family had an Amazon with very lage wite patch aound the eyes. This picture shows a bird with a lage white eye ring so I am thinking something that is native to that aea. He said emphatically not a macaw but a sizeable bird nonethe less.

 

[Kiwibird]

Red mutation DYH or YCA (depending on size)? Or possibly even somewhat of a mutation cuban or vinaceous amazon or simply an individual with exceptional colors.