Green-cheeked Amazon

This parrot loves company. Hundreds of them gather to roost communally in a few trees, socialising in animated chatters before spending the night together.

Come morning, they disperse over a broad area to find food, flying in pairs or huge flocks comprising many family units.

This amazon parrot knows how to have fun. Agile on the wing, it engages in friendly chases and playful nips. These antics are thought to build survival skills and strengthen pair bonds.

Fledglings frequently chase adults for handouts. The bird can achieve flight speeds of up to 43 km/h.

Originally found in Mexico and southern Texas, this parrot has now established itself in other parts of the United States and Puerto Rico due to released or escaped individuals.

However, in its native range, the bird is endangered, threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for the pet trade as it can mimic human speech.