104 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



AMAZONA FARINOSA (Boddaert) : Mealy Parrot; Loro Verde. 



Psittacus farinosus Boddaert, Table Planch. Enlum., 1783, p. 52. (Cayenne.) 



A large parrot, entirely green. 



Description. — Length 350-400 mm. Adult and immature (sexes 

 alike), above green, somewhat paler on the rump; feathers of pos- 

 terior half of crown and upper hindneck tipped more or less broadly 

 with somewhat dull violet to violet-blue; inner primaries and outer 

 secondaries with center of outer web red, forming an elongated 

 patch ; tips dark blue ; outer primaries broadly black toward tips ; 

 carpal edge of wing yellowish green to red (according to the sub- 

 species) ; under surface of wing green, with black tip; tail tipped 

 broadly with greenish yellow ; under tail coverts greenish yellow. 



This is the largest of the three species of Amazon parrots found 

 in Panama. They are also the most common, being found where 

 there is forest cover throughout the Tropical Zone, ranging in moun- 

 tain areas to the lower edge of the Subtropical Zone. Like the other 

 species they are observed mainly in flight, most often in their move- 

 ments across the sky to or from their roosts. They fly in pairs in 

 normal parrot custom, and call, but less stridently than the red- 

 fronted species. During the day they may be encountered feeding 

 in small bands, when it is common for them to range in the high 

 tree crown, where they are detected with difficulty among the green 

 leaves. 



This parrot is common in captivity, in cages in towns, or more or 

 less at freedom in country places, and about the ranchos of the 

 Indians. 



As a species the mealy parrot ranges from southern Mexico through 

 Central America to northern Brazil. Two geographic races are found 

 in Panama. 



AMAZONA FARINOSA VIRENTICEPS ( Salvadori) 



Chrysotis znrcnticcps Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 20, December 1891, 

 pp. 269 (in key), 280. (d\ Bugaba, Chiriqui; ?, Angostura, Costa Rica.) 



Characters. — Somewhat more yellowish green, especially on the 

 lower surface; pileum light bluish green (occasionally light blue); 

 hindneck lighter blue; carpal edge of wing yellow (rarely with a 

 slight touch of red) ; slightly smaller in average size. 



A female, collected near the head of the Rio Corotu, west of 

 Puerto Armuelles, Chiriqui, February 10, 1966, had the iris orange- 

 yellow ; margin of eyelids dull black; bare skin on side of head dull 



