Red-tailed Amazon

(Amazona brasiliensis)


Red-tailed Amazon IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)


Facts about this animal

The red-tailed amazon is a medium-sized parrot; the tail is slightly rounded and less than one third of the total length (total length= 37 cm). The plumage is mainly green with paler underparts, the top of the head is pinkish-red, the cheeks, chin, ear coverts, throat and upper breast are greyish blue. The undertail coverts are yellowish-green. The central tail feathers are green and the lateral tail feathers are greenish-yellow at the tip followed by a red band and purple blue at the base.

Did you know?
that the small population of the red-tailed amazon is under enormous pressure from poaching for national and (illegal) international trade, continuing habitat loss for boat building, banana plantations, cattle- and buffalo-grazing and beach houses, and that the proposed construction of a bridge to Ilha Comprida will even increase pressure from tourism and habitat conversion?


Class AVES
Name (Scientific) Amazona brasiliensis
Name (English) Red-tailed Amazon
Name (French) Amazone à joues bleues
Name (German) Rotschwanzamazone
Name (Spanish) Papagayo de cara roja
Local names Brazil: Marreco ananai
CITES Status Appendix I
CMS Status Not listed



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Range Brazil
Habitat Lowland coastal forest and forested wetlands
Wild population Approx. 3'000-4'000
Zoo population 45 reported to ISIS (2008)

In the Zoo

Red-tailed Amazon


How this animal should be transported


Some veterinary or customs authorities require that all psittacine birds are ringed upon importation. Recommended ring diameter for amazons 10-12 mm depending of species.


Find this animal on ZooLex


Photo Copyright by
Elcio Ferreira

Why do zoos keep this animal

The red-tailed amazon is rated vulnerable by IUCN and is listed in Appendix I of CITES. European zoos therefore aim at maintaining a viable ex situ population under an EEP.

Like other amazons, red-tailed amazons are conspicuous and attractive birds, which are good ambassador species for the conservation of neotropical forests. They have an interesting anatomy and behaviour, are intelligent birds able to mimic human speech and even to associate words with their meanings, and are thus also of educational interest. Zoos may keep amazon parrots also for animal welfare reasons as they may have to take care of confiscated birds, or former pet birds.