Habitat
Arid lowlands and foothills, especially gallery forest, deciduous woodland and dry, open pine-oak woodland on ridges. Occasionally agricultural landscapes with a few large trees. From sea-level - 1,000 m.
North-eastern Mexico; records from southern Texas, USA, possibly refer to wandering wild birds displaced by food shortages in Tamaulipas rather than to escaped cage-birds. Introduced or feral populations in various cities in USA, with small ones in Puerto Rico and Oahu (Hawaiian Is).
Population
Estimated population is 3,000 - 6,500 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Habitat destruction and degradation through conversion to agriculture, trapping for trade, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Nomadic in winter.
Food
Mainly fruit.
Voice
Shrill screaming followed by three lower and ascending notes 'clee-u crack crack crack'. Also other screaming and chattering calls.
Red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) [XC320575]
by Matthew Hall from Eagle Rock neighborhood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (flight call)
Red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) [XC277927]
by Paul Marvin from Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas, United States (call)
Similar Species
Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) which has yellow on face, slower flight and trilling 'wee-ee-eee-eet' voice. Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix) which has yellow head. Immature separated from adult Lilac-crowned Parrot (Amazona finschi) by mainly green crown and fewer black-tipped feathers on underparts.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet