Lilac-crowned Amazon Identification Guide

Key Field Marks

• Size and shape: A medium-sized amazon parrot around 12–13 inches long, with the stocky body, short square tail, and rounded wings typical of the genus.
• Plumage: Predominantly bright green body with darker feather edging giving a slightly scalloped look; the defining feature is a maroon-red forehead grading into a soft lilac-blue crown and nape.
• Bill: Pale horn-colored to yellowish bill, a useful mark since several similar amazons have dark or gray bills.
• Flight: Shows a red wing speculum patch in flight, typical of many amazon parrots, along with blue in the outer primaries; flight is direct with shallow, stiff wingbeats.

Separating from Similar Species

• Red-crowned Amazon (Green-cheeked Amazon): Has a red (not maroon-lilac) crown restricted mostly to the forehead, with more blue on the cheeks and a dark bill rather than pale horn-colored; ranges overlap only marginally in Mexico.
• White-fronted Amazon: Smaller with a white forehead and red patch around the eye, quite different head pattern.
• Yellow-headed and Yellow-crowned Amazons: Show yellow rather than lilac-blue on the crown/head, an easy distinction.
• The combination of maroon forehead fading into lilac-blue on the crown and nape, plus the pale bill, is diagnostic for Lilac-crowned Amazon within its native range.

Habitat and Range

Endemic to Mexico's Pacific slope, found in tropical deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, thorn forest, and forest edge from Sinaloa south to Oaxaca. Feral and naturalized populations also occur in parts of southern California (notably the Los Angeles basin) as a result of escaped or released cage birds.

Season

Generally non-migratory and resident throughout its range, though it may make local movements in response to fruiting seasons. Naturalized populations in California are also resident year-round.

Behavior

Forages in the canopy on fruits, seeds, nuts, blossoms, and occasionally cultivated crops, often in noisy pairs or small flocks that grow larger outside the breeding season. Nests in tree cavities. Highly social and vocal, especially at dawn and dusk when flocks fly between roosting and feeding areas.

Voice

Loud, harsh, and far-carrying squawks and screeches typical of amazon parrots, along with more varied chattering notes when perched. Flight calls are sharp, repeated squawks used to keep flock members in contact.