ForumThe Mealy Amazon (Amazona farinosa)
Differentiation Guide and Introduction by David Woodbury, UK (1999)
For a period of several years, I have attempted to run a UK Stud Book for A. farinosa. Thanks to a core of die-hard Mealy enthusiasts, this has been partially successful. Recently I have re-launched this idea as The Farinosa Group.
If you are interested in Mealy Amazons and would like to participate please contact me on 01970 832704 or via e-mail.
I am about to produce a guide to the different subspecies; this project has taken some time due to the lack of good photographs of A.f.virenticeps and A.f.guatemalae.
This photograph of guatemalae comes courtesy of (the late) John and Pat Stoodley
Origin: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras
At present, wild-caught Mealys, from Nicaragua, are being sold in the UK as "Blue-crowned Mealys". This presents something of a problem as Nicaragua is the area where the distribution of A.f.guatemalae ("Blue-crowned") and A.f.virenticeps (Costa Rican) meet. Naturally, parrots do not recognise national boundaries, and can we be sure that birds leaving Nicaragua have actually been caught in that country? Neighbouring countries, such as Honduras do not, legally, export parrots.
We have, in our collection, guatemalae, which have been bred in the UK from Mexican wild-caught parents, birds from Nicaragua (which can appear to be intermediates) and wild-caught birds which are "classic" virenticeps (and were originally wild-caught). No-one who has seen a "classic" guatemalae could ever confuse it with virenticeps. Having seen a relatively large number of these Nicaraguan birds, I am coming to the conclusion that there may be a "cline" in operation here. In other words it may be possible that there is a gradual change from the "classic" guatemalae of Mexico as we move south through central South America to the "classic" virenticeps in Costa Rica.
As with other members of Genus Amazona, individuals within a species can vary greatly; we have had three superb male guatemalae, all of which had brilliant blue crowns (a colour similar to that in aestiva); one had a black upper mandible and ivory lower, the other two have black beaks. One had virtually no nape patch and none of the typical "mealy" effect on the back, yet another looked like he had been sprinkled with flour. True guatemalae are very rare in the UK - I know of only two consistent breeders. To the best of my knowledge virenticeps has yet to breed in the UK.
In attempting to show the differences, I have included photographs of as many birds as possible. Leaving aside beak colour, toe nail colour and size, the main difference between this subspecies and virenticeps, if they are indeeed true subspecies, is the crown. Although individuals may vary, a DEFINITE blue area on the crown should be seen. Breeders assure me that this blue does not increase significantly with age. The condition of the feathers, and the light in which the bird is viewed will make a difference. We have found that the body colour of guatemalae tends to be a more vivid green than virenticeps, which can be a yellow-green. Vocally both guatemalae and virenticeps are distinct from other Mealys although any Amazon in a mixed collection may mimic other sounds.
Amazona farinosa virenticeps (Costa Rican Mealy). Origin; Panama, north through Costa Rica to Nicaragua.
Forshaw in "Parrots of the World" reports a bird approaching virenticeps taken in Honduras. Also the southern end of the range for virenticeps meets the northern extreme for A.f.inornata (plain green Mealy). It would be interesting to see birds from this region bearing in mind my theory of a "cline". (Scientific work is being carried out by Mark Pilgrim, at Chester Zoo, on the autumnalis group to see if lilacina is distinct from salvini).
At present, some autumnalis from Nicaragua are being sold, and bought, as salvini. It may be possible that we are too keen to create divisions and subspecies in some cases. The bird below, an adult female, although not quite as blue as this picture suggests, is probably at the extreme end of what we can currently regard as virenticeps. Best advice, when pairing birds, is to try to get individuals from the same area; this means that all current imports should be able to be paired. It should be obvious, but any bird offered as guatemalae ("Blue crown") should have a pronounced blue-crown. Having seen a certain number of Nicaraguan Mealys, I would treat nearly all of them as virenticeps, the few exceptions being intermediates.
D Woodbury (1999) - 01970 832704 or via E mail: farinosa@madasafish.com