Lora Festiva
Southern Festive Amazon
Amazona festiva
Song
Southern Festive Amazon
Appearance: Medium-sized parrot, measuring around 12-14 inches in length. Predominantly green with a bright red frontal band and light blue markings on the forehead. The wings have blue and yellow accents, while the tail features red tips. Bright yellow eyes and a strong, hooked beak that is typically horn-colored or gray.
Habitat: The Southern Festive Amazon prefers humid tropical forests and can also be found in secondary forests and savanna woodlands. They are primarily distributed in the Amazon Basin, particularly in Caquetá and Putumayo departments, as well as other lowland areas.
Behavior: Social Structure**: Highly social and often seen in small to medium-sized flocks. They can bond closely in pairs during the breeding season. Known for their loud and varied vocalizations, which include squawks and whistles that facilitate communication within the flock. Mainly herbivorous, feeding on fruits, seeds, nuts, and flowers. They are adept foragers and often search for food among the canopy.
Breeding: Typically nested in tree cavities or hollows, often utilizing old woodpecker holes. Breeding season usually coincides with the rainy season. Females lay 2-4 eggs, both parents incubate them for about 26-28 days, and the chicks fledge approximately 9-10 weeks after hatching.
Conservation Status: The Southern Festive Amazon is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Distribution
Amazon Basin: The primary habitat for the Southern Festive Amazon is in the Amazon Basin, particularly in areas such as Caquetá and Putumayo departments, where tropical forests provide essential resources.
Vaupés Department: They inhabit parts of Vaupés, a region known for its rich biodiversity and dense forests that support their feeding and nesting needs.
Guaviare Department: Southern Festive Amazons can also be found in Guaviare, where they thrive in forested areas that include both well-preserved and secondary growth.
Casanare Department: There are reports of populations in parts of Casanare, where they might inhabit savanna woodlands interspersed with trees.
Serranía de Chiribiquete: This region, a UNESCO World Heritage site, provides suitable habitat conditions that support the presence of these parrots. Primarily residing in humid tropical environments, the Southern Festive Amazon prefers areas with abundant food sources and readily available nesting sites. Their distribution can vary based on habitat availability and ecological conditions.
Taxonomy
The Lora Festiva (Amazona festiva)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Family: Psittacidae
- Genus: Amazona
- Species: Amazona Festiva
Vocalization
Loud Calls: They are known for their loud, raucous calls that can carry over long distances. These vocalizations help communicate with other flock members, especially in dense forest environments.
Chirps and Squawks: Southern Festive Amazons produce a range of chirps and squawks that signal different emotions, such as excitement, alarm, or aggression. These sounds are often used when the birds feel threatened or are interacting with their flock.
Social Communication: Vocalizations play a critical role in social interactions within flocks, allowing members to communicate their whereabouts, coordinate movements, and reinforce social bonds.
Contact Calls: Softer calls may be used for contact between flock members, particularly during foraging or when flying together, helping to maintain group cohesion.
Mimicry: They are not as renowned for mimicry as some parrot species, the Southern Festive Amazon can imitate certain environmental sounds and, to some extent, human speech, especially if they have been socialized.
