<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='363208'>Vinaceous-breasted Amazon

En bref

• Scientific Name: Amazona vinacea
• Spanish Name: Amazona vinácea
• Famille : Psittacidae
• Known Nicknames: Vinaceous-breasted Parrot, Vinaceous Amazon, Vinaceous Parrot
• Average Length: 30 cm / 12 in
• Average Weight: 300–450 g / 11–16 oz
• Wingspan: 60–65 cm / 24–26 in
• Key Feature: Distinctive vinous-maroon breast and a pale blue-green collar on the hindneck
• Primary Diet: Herbivore (Primarily Frugivore and Granivore, highly dependent on Araucaria seeds)
• Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
• Habitat: Atlantic forest, humid subtropical forests, and Araucaria pine forests
• Social Structure: Social (Pairs, small flocks, or larger communal roosts)
• Nesting/Breeding: Tree cavities and hollows
• Conservation Status: Endangered (EN)
• Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Vinaceous-breasted Amazon (*Amazona vinacea*) is a striking, medium-sized parrot native to the Atlantic forests of South America, renowned for its exquisite and highly distinctive coloration. True to its name, this captivating bird features a rich, wine-colored (vinaceous) chest that beautifully contrasts with its brilliant green body plumage. Adding to its vibrant palette, it boasts a bright red forehead, a pale beak with a reddish base, and a stunning, scaly-patterned nape adorned with light blue and turquoise feathers. A particularly unique feature of this endangered parrot is its ability to flare a "ruff" of elongated feathers around its neck when excited or alarmed, making this highly social and vocal bird one of the most charismatic and visually marvelous members of the genus *Amazona*.

Faits amusants

This parrot possesses a spectacular "neck ruff" of elongated, blue-tipped feathers that it flares up like a miniature cape when excited, angry, or courting. They are obsessive fans of the Paraná pine, acting as key forest gardeners by accidentally planting new trees whenever they drop the heavy seeds they are trying to eat. Adding to their quirky charm, these highly social birds perform synchronized aerial acrobatics on their way to communal roosts, communicating in a bizarre, bubbly metallic call that sounds remarkably like a sci-fi laser gun.

Habitats et répartition

The species is native to South America, with a geographical range restricted to southeastern Brazil (stretching from Bahia and Minas Gerais south to Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay, and the northeastern tip of Argentina, primarily within the Misiones province. It predominantly inhabits the humid subtropical and tropical canopy of the Atlantic Forest, showing a highly specialized ecological association with Araucaria moist forests, where it relies heavily on the seeds of the Paraná pine (*Araucaria angustifolia*). Additionally, it can be found in evergreen forests, forest edges, and occasionally agricultural areas or plantations that contain remnant patches of mature native woodland.

Comportements & Reproduction

This highly social parrot is typically observed in pairs or small family groups, though they gather in larger, noisy communal roosts outside the breeding season to forage and protect against predators. They are strictly monogamous, forming enduring, lifelong pair bonds. During the breeding season, which generally spans from September to January, pairs become highly territorial, actively defending their chosen nesting sites from rivals and potential threats with vocalizations and physical posturing. Nesting occurs in natural tree cavities, with a strong preference for old-growth trees like the Paraná pine. The female typically lays a clutch of two to four eggs, which she incubates for approximately 24 to 28 days while the male diligently provides her with food. After hatching, both parents share the responsibility of feeding the chicks. The young fledge after about two months but remain closely associated with their parents for several more weeks, learning crucial foraging and survival skills within the family unit before fully integrating into the larger flock.

Alimentation

The Vinaceous-breasted Amazon (Amazona vinacea) subsists on a diverse herbivorous diet composed of seeds, fruits, flowers, buds, and leaves harvested from the canopy of the Atlantic Forest. Most notably, this parrot exhibits a specialized and highly seasonal dependence on the seeds, or pinhão, of the endangered Paraná pine (Araucaria angustifolia), with the bird's breeding cycle and local migrations closely synchronized to match the ripening of these highly nutritious pine nuts. Beyond this primary food source, they consume the fruits of various native trees, including the jussara palm and wild figs. An intriguing aspect of their feeding behavior is their adaptability in the face of habitat loss; they have increasingly been observed foraging in agricultural areas, targeting cultivated crops like maize and citrus fruits, which sometimes brings them into conflict with local farmers.

Couleurs

The Vinaceous-breasted Amazon is primarily green, providing excellent camouflage within the forest canopy, but is distinguished by its signature wine-red (vinaceous) breast. Its head features a bright red forehead and lores, a reddish-pink bill, and a distinct scaly pattern on the nape created by pale blue-lilac feathers tipped with black. The wings display vibrant red shoulder patches and blue-tipped flight feathers, completing its colorful yet adaptive plumage.