(Amazona Viridigenalis); also known as Green Cheeked Amazon, Mexican Red-Headed Parrot

By Robert Gehr

October 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Native to Northeastern Mexico, and well established in San Diego’s East County, the Red Crowned Parrot is a gorgeous, yet extremely “vocal” bird. Sadly it is also on the endangered species list. Only an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 are left, and the population appears to be declining even further. Causes which contribute to this are mainly illegal trapping and export, combined with loss of native habitat, caused by forest destruction.