Parrots of South Florida

Susan Allene Epps

Parrots of South Florida

What is that noisy green bird? This full-

color guide will help you identify it.

Included are Amazons, conures, parakeets,

macaws, and other parrots, some of which

are rarely seen. You will find detailed

information on each bird—its common

name, scientific name, and any other names

it may be known by; its size; a description of its colors and

markings; its habits; and where it can be found. Each bird is

illustrated in a painting by renowned bird artist

Karl Karalus.

Also included is a section on parrots’

preferred foods. The index can be used as

a checklist so you can keep track of

which parrots you have seen.

$12.95

Susan Allene Epps was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University. Afterward she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she lived for seventeen years, and where she enjoyed scuba diving, competitive swimming, and, of course, bird watching—especially the parrots and parakeets found in south Florida. In 2005 she moved to the coast of Mississippi.

Pineapple Press, Inc.Sarasota, Florida

Illustrated by Karl Karalus

Epps

Parrots of South Florida

Susan Allene EppsIllustrated by Karl Karalus

Pineapple Press, Inc.Sarasota, Florida

Dedicated to Claire Meyer

Text copyright © 2007 by Susan Allene EppsIllustrations copyright © 2007 by Karl KaralusPlant photographs by Estelle Odle unless otherwise noted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Pineapple Press, Inc.P.O. Box 3889Sarasota, Florida 34230

www.pineapplepress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Epps, Susan Allene. Parrots of South Florida / Susan Allene Epps ; illustrated by Karl Karalus. -- 1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-56164-401-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)1. Parrots--Florida--Identification. 2. Parrots--Florida--Pictorial works. I. Title. QL696.P7E67 2007 598.7’1--dc22 2007015836First Edition10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Gloria Cashin who keeps me up to date on the parrots in her neighborhood.

Thanks to David McLean, who taught me about plants. Thanks to Paul Baicich who edited this book and encouraged me to

write it.A big thank you to Bruce Anderson, John Boyd, and Larry Manfredi for

information and advice.Special appreciation to all the Miami birders who contributed information

about Miami-Dade County: David Wright, Mary Ellen Ahearn, Steve Siegel, and Paul Bithorn.

Thanks to Vince Lucas for information about the Rose-ringed Parakeets on the west coast. And thanks to John O’Neill, Van Remsen, and Steve Cardiff at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. They were a big help.

Thanks to Chuck Fralick for his brilliance with computers and to Luca Bronzi for legal help.

And finally, I could not have done this book without the encouragement and friendship of Bob and Estelle Odle and Mike Hull.

ContentsAnatomy of a Parrot 5Introduction 7Identification 8How to Use This Book 9

Amazon Parrots 10

Conures/Parakeets 30Conures 32

Blue-crowned Parakeet 32 Crimson-fronted Parakeet 44 Red-masked Parakeet 34 Scarlet-fronted Parakeet 46 Mitred Parakeet 36 Dusky-headed Parakeet 48 White-eyed Parakeet 38 Peach-fronted Parakeet 50 Green Parakeet 40 Maroon-bellied Parakeet 52 Black-hooded Parakeet 42

Parakeets 54 Monk Parakeet 54 White-winged Parakeet 58 Yellow-chevroned Parakeet 56 Rose-ringed Parakeet 60 Macaws 62 Blue and Yellow Macaw 64 Chestnut-fronted Macaw 66

Uncommon Parrots 68 Gray Parrot 70 Red-breasted Parakeet 76 Peach-faced Lovebird 72 Cockatiel 78 Goffin’s Cockatoo 74 Budgerigar 80 Food Sources 82References 87Index and Checklist 89

Red-crowned Amazon 12Lilac-crowned Amazon 14Mealy Amazon 16Blue-fronted Amazon 18White-fronted Amazon 20

Yellow-crowned Amazon 22Yellow-naped Amazon 24Yellow-headed Amazon 26Orange-winged Amazon 28

Lilac-crowned AmazonAmazona finschi

Other namesLilac-crowned Parrot

OriginWestern Mexico

Size33 cm or 13 in

DescriptionA mostly green bird that closely resembles the Red-crowned Amazon. The forehead and front of crown are maroon rather than bright red. The bluish-mauve on top of the head runs back down the neck. Also differentiated from the Red-crowned by the scalloped effect of the black-tipped feathers on the breast. A red patch on the wing can be seen in flight. The tip of the tail is greenish-yellow. The beak is horn-colored, the legs gray.

HabitsLilac-crowned Amazons roost and feed with Red-crowned Amazons. Acorns are a favorite food in the fall. Only two have been seen in Broward County, but there are more in Miami-Dade. A nesting pair was found in south Miami in 2007.

Where to findBroward County: Fort Lauderdale: The Victoria Park neighborhood. Also seen in the town of Oakland Park. Miami-Dade County: South Miami.

14 Amazon Parrots

15