Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Red-crowned Amazon

Amazona viridigenalis

(Cassin, 1853)

Red-crowned Amazon

G2Imperiled Found in 12 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102063
Element CodeABNQA15080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNEndangered
CITESAppendix I
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPsittaciformes
FamilyPsittacidae
GenusAmazona
Other Common Names
Amazone à joues vertes (FR) Loro Tamaulipeco (ES) Red-crowned Parrot (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Members of the genus Amazona were formerly (AOU 1983, 1998) referred to under the group name Parrot, but this was changed to Amazon to aid in understanding evolutionary relationships within the Psittacidae, to conform to popular usage, and to prevent confusion with parrots with English names similar to those of several species of Amazona (AOS 2025). Appears to constitute a superspecies with A. finschi, A. cucumana, and A. pretrei (AOU 1998).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-11-14
Change Date1995-08-01
Edition Date2025-11-14
Edition AuthorsRoca, R.L., and D.W. Mehlman (1995); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
This species has a limited range in northeastern México and extreme southern Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Population size has declined by approximately 90% compared to historical estimates. The population is limited to several thousand individuals and is mostly restricted to urban areas in the range with appropriate trees. Threats include habitat loss, both natural and urban, and collection for the pet trade.
Range Extent Comments
This species is native to the lowlands of northeastern México and the Lower Rio Grande River Valley of southern Texas, United States (USFWS 2015, Voltura et al. 2023). In México, it is found in Tamaulipas, eastern San Luis Potosí, and northern Veracruz (USFWS 2015, Voltura et al. 2023). In Texas, it is found in the cities of Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen, and Weslaco (Kiacz et al. 2021). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records within the native range from 1990-2025, range extent is estimated to be 132,343 km² (RARECAT 2025).

The range for this species also historically included Nuevo León and central Veracruz (USFWS 2015). It is also introduced and established in the Los Angeles area, California; Dade County, Florida; Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras, Vega Baja, Rincon, and Salinas); and Oahu, Hawaii (Mori et al. 2017). The non-native range is not used in this assessment.
Occurrences Comments
Applying a 10 km separation distance to GBIF (2025) records, 25 occurrences are estimated (RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Forest loss in México is ongoing due to conversion to agriculture, livestock pasture, and excessive logging, and will likely continue to isolate this species into urban settings (USFWS 2015). This species has become largely dependent on urbanized landscapes with appropriate fruiting tree species that are used as food sources, and roosting and nesting sites (Kiacz et al. 2023, Voltura et al. 2023). The loss of these trees in occupied urbanized areas would result in serious declines. However, increased urbanization that continued to provide the appropriate vegetation could allow the population to grow or expand (Kiacz et al. 2023). This species could potentially expand the range northward with warming climatic conditions (Kiacz et al. 2023, Voltura et al. 2023). This species is popular in the pet trade and is collected in both the native and non-native range, primarily for sale in the European Union which has not yet banned the trade (Juniper and Parr 1998, Mori et al. 2017). Shooting to prevent crop damage may be a risk in some areas (Juniper and Parr 1998, USFWS 2015).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Native range: forested regions, especially lowland deciduous forest and pine-oak woodland, foraging also in cultivated lands. Also suburban areas where introduced. BREEDING: Nests in tree cavities.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
FloridaSNANo
TexasS2Yes
CaliforniaSNAYes
HawaiiSNANo
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource usePervasive (71-100%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsPervasive (71-100%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.1.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)Pervasive (71-100%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.1.3 - Persecution/controlUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.3.4 - Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Restricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

—

Roadless Areas (12)
California (12)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
References (18)
  1. American Ornithological Society (AOS). Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Sixty-sixth Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Ornithology 142:1-19.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  4. Beissinger, S. R., and N. F. R. Snyder, editors. 1991. New World parrots in crisis: solutions from conservation biology. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 304 pp.
  5. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  6. Forshaw, J. M., and W. T. Cooper. 1989. Parrots of the world. Third (revised) edition. Landsdowne Editions, Sydney. 672 pp.
  7. Juniper, T., and M. Parr. 1998. Parrots: a guide to the parrots of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. 584 pp.
  8. Kiacz, S., C. E. Shackleford, A. K. Henehan, and D. J. Brightsmith. 2021. History, status, and productivity of the Red crowned Amazon <i>Amazona viridigenalis</i> in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Bird Conservation International 31: 519–533. doi: 10.1017/S0959270920000404
  9. Kiacz, S., H. Wang, and D. J. Brightsmith. 2023. Presence of endangered red-crowned parrots (<i>Amazona viridigenalis</i>) depends on urban landscapes. Diversity 15(7): 878. doi: 10.3390/d15070878
  10. Mori, E., G. Grandi, M. Menchetti, J. L. Tella, H. A. Jackson, L. Reino, A. van Kleunen, R. Figueira, and L. Ancillotto. 2017. Worldwide distribution of non–native Amazon parrots and temporal trends of their global trade. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 40.1: 49–62.
  11. National Geographic Society (NGS). 1983. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.
  12. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  13. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  14. Raffaele, H. A. 1983a. A guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Fondo Educativo Interamericano, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 255 pp.
  15. Raffaele, H. A. 1989a. A guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Revised edition. Princeton Univ. Press. 220 pp.
  16. Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 511 pp.
  17. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2015. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Assessment and Listing Priority Assignment Form, <i>Amazona viridigenalis</i>. 45 pp.
  18. Voltura, E. V, J. L. Tracy, J. J. Heatley, S. Kiacz, D. J. Brightsmith, A. M. Filippi, J. G. Franco, and R. Coulson. 2023. Modelling red–crowned parrot (Psittaciformes: <i>Amazona viridigenalis</i> [Cassin, 1853]) distributions in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas using elevation and vegetation indices and their derivatives. PLoS ONE 18(12): e0294118. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0294118