Birds Active during the day

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A vibrant jewel of the tropical canopy, the Red-lored Amazon is as famous for its brilliant red 'mask' as it is for its boilerous personality. Whether in the jungles of Mexico or the suburbs of California, these intelligent parrots bring a splash of color and a loud tropical soundtrack to every landscape they inhabit.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 32–35 cm (12.5–14 in); Wingspan: approx 64 cm (25 in); Weight: 310–480 g (11–17 oz)

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Colors

Primary green plumage with a bright red forehead and lores. The crown and nape have a lilac-blue wash, and many individuals show yellow on the upper cheeks. Wings feature a red speculum (patch). Males and females are visually identical.

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Key Features

Bright red patch on forehead and lores
Lilac-blue wash across the crown and nape
Large, heavy yellowish-grey bill
Green tail with yellowish-green tips and red at the base of outer feathers

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-9 AM, 4-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily granivorous and frugivorous; they feed on seeds, nuts, fruits (especially figs and palm fruits), and blossoms. They use their powerful beaks to crack hard shells and their nimble feet to hold food items while eating.

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Habitat Humid lowland forests, forest edges, mangrove swamps, and increasingly suburban parks or residential areas with mature fruit-bearing trees.

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Where Does the Red-lored Amazon Live?

The Red-lored Amazon is primarily native to the lush tropical regions of the Americas, stretching from the eastern coast of Mexico through Central America into the humid lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador. While it thrives in the warm evergreen forests of its native Neotropics, this resilient bird has also established thriving feral populations far from its original home. You can now spot these charismatic parrots in several urban centers across Southern California and parts of Texas and Florida, where they have adapted perfectly to city life.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

10 Countries

2.4M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

MX Mexico

Marginal

GT Guatemala

Marginal

BZ Belize

Marginal

HN Honduras

Marginal

NI Nicaragua

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Red-lored Amazons are highly social and intelligent parrots that spend much of their day foraging in the upper canopy. They are famous for their loud, raucous calls, which they use to communicate with the flock while flying to and from communal roosting sites at dawn and dusk. In the wild, they are usually seen in pairs or small groups, but they can congregate in the hundreds at fruit-heavy trees or safe sleeping locations.

In urban and suburban environments where they have been introduced, these parrots have proven remarkably adaptable. They often lose some of their natural shyness toward humans, nesting in ornamental palms and feeding on exotic garden fruits. While they are playful and curious, they remain wary of ground-level predators and prefer to stay high in the trees, making their presence known through a variety of metallic shrieks and bubbling whistles.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the Red-lored Amazon on camera, height is your greatest ally. Since these parrots are strictly arboreal and rarely descend to the ground, mount your AI-powered camera at least 10 to 15 feet high, ideally facing a known feeding branch or a favorite fruiting tree like a fig, loquat, or pecan. If you are in a suburban area where they are feral, aim your camera toward the upper trunks of palm trees where they often nest or roost.

Attracting them to a specific spot for a clear shot is best achieved with a high-platform bird bath. Parrots are fastidious bathers and are more likely to visit a raised water source than a ground-level one. Ensure the camera has a wide-angle view of the water, as these birds often arrive in pairs or small, boisterous groups. Because they are most active during the first two hours of daylight and the final hour before sunset, ensure your camera’s 'active' window is set to capture these golden-hour movements when their colors are most vibrant.

For the sharpest images, use a fast shutter speed setting if your camera allows it, as their wing beats and head movements are rapid. If you are using a trail camera with a 'burst' mode, set it to take 3-5 photos per trigger to catch their social interactions and preening behaviors. In urban settings, avoid placing the camera in direct afternoon sun, which can wash out the brilliant red and lilac colors on their heads; instead, choose a spot with dappled sunlight to bring out the rich texture of their green feathers.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red-lored Amazon.

Lilac-crowned Amazon

Smaller with a darker maroon forehead and more extensive lilac on the crown; lacks yellow cheeks.

Yellow-naped Amazon

Lacks the red forehead; primary identifier is a yellow patch on the back of the neck.

Mealy Amazon

Larger bird with a 'dusted' grey-green appearance and typically lacks the bright red forehead mask.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Red-lored Amazons are most active during the early morning (around 6-9 AM) and late afternoon (4-6 PM). This is when they transition between communal roosting sites and foraging grounds, often creating quite a stir with their loud vocalizations.

The best way to attract them is by planting native fruit-bearing trees or installing a high-platform bird bath. In suburban areas, they are particularly drawn to loquats, figs, and various palm fruits. They prefer tall, mature trees where they feel safe from ground predators.

Their diet consists of a variety of seeds, nuts, and fruits. They are particularly fond of the seeds from pine cones and various tropical fruits. In suburban settings, they have adapted to eat many types of exotic garden fruits and ornamental seeds.

Yes, they have become quite common in certain suburban areas outside their native range, notably in Southern California cities like Pasadena and San Diego, as well as parts of Florida and Texas, thanks to established feral populations.

The Red-lored Amazon has a much brighter, more expansive red patch on its forehead (the 'lores') and usually has yellow on its cheeks. The Lilac-crowned Amazon has a darker, maroon-colored forehead and a more extensive lilac wash that covers the entire crown.

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