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BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON
Amazona Aestiva Aestiva
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All Amazons are medium-large sized birds. There is 27 species, with several subspecies and just a few mutations. Blue-fronted Amazon has yellow (lutino) mutation and Yellow-fronted have blue mutation. General characteristics of all Amazons are powerful but stocky body and short squared tail. Basic color is green, long wings and body are proportional, and they have powerful but pretty short beak. Difference between sexes is hardly notable, both in young and adult birds. Various species of Amazons can easily be paired and often can rear brood. They are all good fliers, tree climbers and ground walkers. They also have extraordinary ability for imitating. It is interesting that for the best speakers it is said to be African Grays, however African Grays never won first prize on any international speech competition because of its characteristically ego and stubbornness. The first prize always goes to some of the Amazons. In the wild, Amazons origin mostly the land of South America's states, as well as lands of Mexico and Cuba .
Blue-fronted Amazon was first described by Carl Von Linn é in 1758. They are the most frequently imported species of the genus Amazona. However, they are also successfully brooding in captivity in other parts of the world. Its acclimatization is easy and quick, and young birds easy get tame and fond of their owner. They like to perform amusing tricks, but if they are kept as pets, they should be allowed to fly few rounds around the room, every day. These Amazons can live up to 100 years, and when having that on your mind it is not strange at all, that they can learn so many words. |
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As for its look, Blue-fronted Amazon can reach up to 37 cm in size. Basic color is blue, while nape, ears, throat and feathers around the eyes are yellow. Relation between blue and yellow can vary from one specimen to another. Each wing is about 22 cm long, and has red shoulder coverings. Primaries are green with violet blue endings. Inner parts of the wings are blue-green with green coverts. Tail is 12 cm long, square shaped and colored in green. Upper and inner coverts are yellowish green. Eye rings are featherless and grey-blue. Black beak is 3 cm long. Legs are grey and the claws are black. There are few fully red feathers in the wings, visible only when the bird is flying or stretching the wings. Sex difference is very slightly in size, and in color. Females are a bit smaller, with smaller head and beak. The iris is orange in the female, while yellow in male. This color difference of iris is visible only at adult birds. Blue-fronted Amazon has only one subspecies and one mutation, yellow (lutino). Difference between species and subspecies in this case is made by the wing colorings.
In the wild, they inhabit lands of Bolivia , north-eastern Brazil , Paraguay and North Argentina . Before nesting, in the wild, they gather in certain locations in the rainforests, where they perform love dancing and mating rituals. However these big flocks of up to 1000 birds are destroying all greenery, and then scatter to the surrounding countryside to rear their broods. |
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Amazonac kao kuæni ljubimac |
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Potential breeders of Blue-fronted Amazon should know that the pair of these birds, in mating period, have to be settled in medium sized cage made of strong materials and thick-gauge wire. If the birds are kept outside (for example in the garden) the aviary must contain shelter. Despite their hardiness, they should be kept in the temperature no less then 12 0 C. The best nest box is a natural hollow tree trunk, although Blue-fronted Amazons also breed in wooden nest box measuring 100 x 40 x 50 cm, placed lengthwise. The cavity should be filled with wood pulp. The love dance is performed by courting male. He is bending forward while knocking the branches with its beak, and trying approach the female. He is trying to hand her a twig or leaf and feed her. This is usually repeated several times before mating. The clutch is composed of two to four eggs, which are incubated by the female for 29 to 30 days. The youngsters leave the nest, roughly 70 days after hatching. During the feeding of the young, the diet must be supplemented with hard-boiled eggs, soft food, fresh sponge and tomatoes. Vitamins and minerals are also very important in their diet.
When kept as pets these Amazons need roomy cage made of strong wire, with 4 food cups. In the first one put water, and occasionally add vitamins. In the second cup put minerals. In the third place only sunflower seed, and in the fourth put seed mix made of millet, oat, bright seed, hemp and pearl millet. Additives for better feather quality, stronger bones, with iodine and honey are more than just recommended. Cookies with dried fruits and cereals can also be given, as well as hazelnut, walnut, unpeeled non-fried peanut and bar proso. They can get all kind of fruits, with exception of peer, apricot, melon and watermelon. Vegetables from cabbage family (kale, cauliflower etc) should be avoided as they can cause diarrhea and dysentery. Greens the should eat are leaves of dandelion, chickweed, spinach and parsley twigs. Vegetables: carrots, unpeeled cucumber, zucchini, sweet paprika with seeds and twig because of its richness in vitamin C. All this should be chopped in sticks, like french-fries, because these Amazons eat their food using the legs. Water should be changed daily. The best water for them is non-gassed light mineral water. They should not drink water from sink, as that water is full of chloral.
The cage should be placed 80 cm above the ground, out of draft and direct sun, also at least 1 m aside of all heat sources (like heaters), because high temperature cause molting.
If you choose to get Blue-fronted Amazon you will choose to get a true friend, a new member of the family and defiantly not just a bird.
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