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Yellow crowned Amazon - African Lion Safari, Cambridge, Ontario

This parrot averages 13 - 15 inches (33 - 38 cm) in length, including its short squarish tail.

Like most Amazons, its plumage is mostly green; There are rainbow markings in many areas. Yellow markings can be seen at the crown, lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head), and thighs, and can occasionally be seen in the areas around the eyes. The amount of yellow to the head varies, with nominate, nattereri and panamensis having yellow restricted to the crown-region, although occasionally a few random feathers can be seen around the eyes. However, the subspecies xantholaema has most of the head yellow. The yellow on the forehead is far less yellow than that of the Double Yellow-head parrot (Amazona oratrix).

The wings are spectacular, as the primaries exhibit a lovely violet-blue, with secondaries (shorter, upper "arm" feathers) also possessing this striking violet-blue at the tips and outer webs; and there are red markings appear at the bend of the wing, while a yellowish green color marks the edges. The red and dark blue markings are often difficult to see when the bird is perched.

The tail has a yellowish green base with red tail feathers. They have a light bone beak and light gray feet. The cheeks and ear coverts (feathers covering the ears) are green. The eyes are marked by orange irises and white eye-rings.

They have a dark bill with a large horn or reddish spot on the upper mandible except panamensis, which has a horn colored beak.

www.avianweb.com/yellowcrownedamazon.html