by Rosemary Low

In Ecuador, the Spanish name for the Mealy Amazon is Loro real – royal parrot. This beautiful bird is not always appreciated by aviculturists (deterred mainly by its loud voice) but to me it is the most magnificent, indeed the king, of the mainland Amazons.

For long a favourite of mine, its usually gentle temperament and its large size set it apart. I have been fortunate to see it in the wild in a number of locations throughout its wide range, from Costa Rica (virenticeps) to the clay licks of Ecuador and Peru and, recently, in the Atlantic forest of Brazil.

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