Scientific Name: Amazona viridigenalis

Species Authority: (Cassin, 1853)

Common Names :
Green-cheeked Amazon
Red-crowned Amazon
Red-crowned Parrot
Mexican Red-head

Native to:   Mexico

Introduced: Puerto Rico and The United States - A population has established itself in urban areas of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas and is considered to consist of wild birds. Introduced or feral populations are also established in Florida, California,  O'ahu, Puerto Rico, and parts of Mexico.

Status: Endangered Species -- IUCN Red List
Designated a threatened species in 1988, the Red-crowned Parrot was added to the Endangered Species List in 1994. Still declining in it's native range, an estimated population of 3,000 to 6,500 is all that remains. Read more about the plight of the Red-crowned Parrot as evaluated by BirdLife International.

In California:  The closely related Red-crowned and Lilac-crowned Parrots (both CITES, Appendix I) are Southern California's most abundant parrots. These beautiful birds flock together and are often seen in mated or mixed-mated pairs. Adventurous, playful and fun-loving, their boisterous calls can be heard throughout the southern skies.

NOTE: On July 31, 2001, the California Bird Records Committee added the Red-crowned Parrot to the official list of California birds as an introduced species.

NOTE: Among the amazona flocks, hybrids of all species can be found. Some of our photographs may contain hybrids -- these birds are included in the species gallery they most closely resemble. Those who evenly resemble two or more species or cannot be specifically identified will be found in the "Others" Gallery.