Birds
Mealy Parrot
Amazona farinosa
Gathered at a riverbank clay lick alongside other parrots, a mealy parrot shows the dusty, powdery bloom across its green plumage that gives one of the largest Amazona parrots its common name.
Overview
The mealy parrot, Amazona farinosa, is a Least Concern bird found across lowland rainforest from Mexico through Central America into much of South America. Its large size among Amazona parrots, distinctive mealy-looking plumage, and habit of visiting mineral-rich clay licks make it a familiar presence across its extensive Neotropical range.
A taste for clay
Like several macaw species sharing its range, the mealy parrot regularly visits exposed clay deposits along riverbanks, a behaviour thought to help neutralize toxins found in the fruit and seeds that make up much of its diet.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable lowland rainforest habitat throughout its extensive range.
Mealy Parrot: common questions
Why is it called the mealy parrot?
It shows a whitish, powdery bloom dusted across its otherwise green plumage, giving it a mealy appearance that inspired the species' common name.
How big is the mealy parrot?
It is one of the largest parrots in the Amazona genus, found across a broad range of lowland rainforest in the Americas.
Why does the mealy parrot visit clay licks?
It gathers with other parrots at exposed riverbank clay licks to eat mineral-rich soil, a behaviour that may help neutralize toxins in its fruit and seed diet, shared with several macaw species.
Where is the mealy parrot found?
It ranges across an extensive stretch of lowland rainforest from Mexico through Central America into much of South America.