Red-spectacled amazon

Description

The red-spectacled amazon is 32 cm (13 in) long. It is mostly green with some sparse red spots on head, variable extent of red on forehead, lores and around eyes, white eyerings, red on the bend of the wings with blue tips to secondaries and primaries and yellowish bill. Females have less red on the bend of the wing.

Conservation and Threats

The red-spectacled amazon is a declining species as it is highly threatened by the destruction of the Aruacaria moist forests and the illegal exotic pet trade. An analysis of the extinct Amazona pretrei population records reveals that the species disappeared due to severe habitat loss, and in the past, the parrot's geographical range was at least 10% larger than the current range.

The red-spectacled amazon is prized for its colorful feathers, mimicry ability, exotic appeal, and relative rarity, so eggs and live parrots are frequently smuggled from the wild and bred in captivity. It is estimated that nearly 500 chicks are stolen from their nests and sold in Brazilian cities every year.