Animal-World > Pet Birds > Amazon Parrots > Mealy Amazon

Mealy Amazon

Family: Psittacidae

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"BabyDoll" Amazona farinosa Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Pamela Arnone

   The Mealy Amazon gets the name 'mealy' because of the peculiar gray-green coloring of its feathers making it appear to be dusted, like it has been powdered with a light sprinkling of flour!

   This amazon is easy to tame and considered one of the best talkers. Though it has not been as popular as some of the other amazons, the Mealy Amazon makes a most delightful pet. It is especially noted for having a very gentle disposition and is mostly quiet and harmonious.

   Like most amazons they are very social, enjoying the companionship of people as well as other amazons. They make a wonderful calm companion and will quickly form a strong bond with their owner.

   The Mealy Amazons are one of the largest amazon parrots, reaching up about 15 1/2 inches (40 cm) and are long lived. They are also quite hardy and robust. They can do well indoors or out, in a cage or an aviary.

For more information about the care of Amazon parrots see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Amazon Parrot.

Scientific Name:Amazona farinosa
Subspecies:

• Mealy Amazon
  Amazona farinosa farinosa
• Plain Colored Amazon
  Amazona farinosa inornata
• Amazona farinosa chapmani
  (similar to A. f. inornata but larger)
• Green-headed Amazon
  Amazona farinosa virenticeps
• Blue-crowned Amazon
  Amazona farinosa guatemalae

Distribution:
   These birds are found from southern Mexico south to northern Bolivia and east Brazil and inhabit sparse rain forests.

Description:
    The Mealy Amazon is green from head to tail. The green is darker on top and paler underneath with the feathers on the back of the neck and upper back being edged in a gray-blue, giving this bird a dusted appearance. Sometimes there are a few yellow feathers in the crown and some birds will have a distinctly violet crown. The wings are green moving to a violet-blue on the tips and there is a red speculum. The tail is green with a yellowish tip, it is edged with blue, and sometimes there are reds in the feathers. The eye is red and very large, surrounded by a large unfeathered white ring (this is more often seen on conures). The beak is a yellowish-horn color becoming gray at the tip and the legs are a pale gray.
   Juveniles are similar to the adults but their eyes are dark brown.

Size - Weight:
  Mature birds are about 15 - 15 1/2 inches (38 - 40 cm) long from the head to the tip of the tail.

Care and feeding:
    A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend a good deal of their time on a play pen or parrot perch.
    In the wild these birds eat fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, blossoms and leaf buds, as well as foraging in corn fields. The Amazon's main diet should primarily be seeds, nuts, fruits, and green vegetables. A commercially prepared parrot mix or pelleted diet can also be beneficial.

   See About Amazon Parrots: Housing and About Amazon Parrots: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:
   Amazons enjoy human interaction as well as interaction with other birds. In the wild they are very social birds living in groups. They are seen in pairs or in flocks from small groups to groups of several hundred birds, often with other amazons or even with some macaws thrown in the mix. They also form permanent pairs when they are sexually mature.

   See About Amazon Parrots: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded Amazon.

Activities:
    Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys. Also needs room to stretch its wings although climbing seems to be its favorite activity.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   These amazons are commonly bred in captivity. At the onset of warm weather (April to early May) courtship will begin. The hen will then lay three eggs which incubate for about 28 days. The young will leave the nest at about 8 weeks. As with many parrots, the male will eat for both himself and the female while she incubates the eggs and feeds the young. The male regurgitates the food for the female to eat. He gets a lot less picky about what he eats at these times!

   See About Amazon Parrots: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.

Potential Problems:
  These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Amazons can be noisy first thing in the morning, and just before the sun sets. This is easy to control, they can often be quieted by just covering their cage for a short period of time.

   See About Amazon Parrots: Potential Problems for information on health.

Availability: Readily available.

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Latest Comments
We have had our Mealy for over 20 years...he is in his mid twenties. Apollo is an amazing parrot, so sweet and gentle. He is mellow and relaxed most of the time but when he yells, watch out! The phrase gentle giant definitely fits his personality. We are so lucky to have him in our lives and look forward to many more years with him! Leslie 2009-05-15
I have had my Mealy for 3 years now. I just love my LeeRoy. He is so gentle and loving with my family even my 80 year old grand mother holds him. He has to love Nannie every night before he goes to bed. I bought him because I always go for the underdog and he definitely seemed like the underdog in the birdstore because only the people that worked there would handle him. Not being the brightest colored bird no one seemed to want him. Now I wouldn't trade him for anything. He used to "ride" on my Labrador's back (we lost her in March of 2008). LeeRoy really misses Whitney. He talks almost all the time and has a very large vocab. When Icome home from work everyday he says "Hi Mom" Then "Umm Bite Apple", meaning hi mom can you get me some apple... He is such a joy in our lives and I think he loves my Nannie more than me. Pam 2009-02-07
I have had my Amazon Mealy for 6 months now and he's great! But he´s alittle bit to proud. He OWNS his cage and won't let any stranger come near it. I love him very much! But I dont understand you say the Amazon Mealy likes a bath... my Mealy hates it! Guy from iceland 2008-01-17
Just got a mealy amazon and they are the most friendly parrots i have come across. they are very gentle to everyone and very playful. Anonymous 2007-02-17
We just got a 15 yr old BLIND Mealy. I purchased him on Christmas Eve 2006. He has Cataracts in both eyes, poor thing :( Paco is the nicest bird that you could ask for. I also own a Moluccan Cockatoo & a Senegal parrot. Paco is adapting very well to his new home and boy what an appetite he has. Happy Holidays from David & Ronna 2006 So. Cali. David March 2006-12-27

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Author: Clarice Brough, CAS.