Cuban Amazon

Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala )

The Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala ) is a species of parrot from the genus of Amazon parrots. It is one of the endemic Neuweltpapageien, their distribution is limited to the island of Cuba and several small side islands. Like many other Amazons is also the Cuban Amazon threatened in their existence.

Appearance

Like all Amazon Parrots also includes the Cuban Amazon from a mostly green body plumage. However, this is lined with striking black on the neck and underparts. Forehead and eyes are like feathered. Cheeks, chin and throat, however, are colored pink. The beak and legs are flesh-colored. The body length is between 30 and 32 centimeters.

Subspecies and distribution area

The number of sub-species varies depending on the author. The Amazon specialists John and Pat Stoodley call five subspecies, but do not rule out that there may be only three subspecies exist because they have different individual subspecies only by their body size. The nominate described by Carl Linnaeus A. L. leucocephala (literally: the " white-headed Amazon" ) occurs in the central and eastern Cuba. A. L. palmarum is in its dissemination, however, on the western Cuba and restricted the Isle of Pines. On Grand Cayman, the subspecies A. l caymanensis lives. The subspecies A. l hesterna occurs on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. A. l bahamensis lives on the Inaguainseln and Abação belonging to the Bahamas.

Voice

Cuban Amazons have a loud voice. The calls are described as metallic. The contact sounds quieter expressed resemble a soft " cre " and " ak".

Habitat and food spectrum

Cuban Amazons occur in all forest types except mangrove forests. You can also occur in agricultural habitats that contain a large number of fruit and seed -producing trees. In orange groves they can sometimes even cause serious damage. On Grand Cayman, they can also be found in arid lowland forests and wetlands. Your food range includes as with almost all Amazons seeds, nuts, berries, leaf buds and flowers.

Reproduction

Cuban Amazons use nests that are located either in trees or in limestone rocks. As nesting sites used tree cavities are usually six meters above the ground. Limestone caves, as they mainly uses the subspecies A. l bahamensis, are 90-300 centimeters below ground. The clutch size is about two to three eggs. They are incubated by the female only. The chicks hatch after about 28 days.