Guadeloupe Amazon vs Orange-winged Amazon

In short

The most reliable field mark to separate these two is the distinctive head and underparts coloration: Guadeloupe Amazon was described as having a slaty or ashy-blue (sometimes violet) head, neck, and underparts, while Orange-winged Amazon always shows a mainly green body with variable blue and yellow only on the head. In flight, Orange-winged Amazon reveals clear orange patches in the wings and tail, which are not described for Guadeloupe Amazon. Guadeloupe Amazon is extinct and known only from historical accounts, so all comparisons are based on written descriptions and not direct observation. If you see a parrot with a mostly green body, blue/yellow head, and orange in the wings, it is Orange-winged Amazon; a parrot with a slaty-blue or violet head and underparts, green back, and no orange in the wings would fit Guadeloupe Amazon, though such a bird is not extant.

Identification tips

1. Head and underparts color: Guadeloupe Amazon had a slaty, ashy-blue, or violet head, neck, and underparts; Orange-winged Amazon always has a green body with blue and yellow only on the head, never slaty or violet. This is the key separator in all ages.
2. Back and upperparts: Guadeloupe Amazon's back was wholly green; Orange-winged Amazon is also mainly green above, so this is not a useful separator.
3. Wing coloration (perched): Guadeloupe Amazon's wings were described as green, yellow, and red, possibly with scattered red 'rosettes' in the coverts. Orange-winged Amazon has green wings with orange patches, but the orange is most obvious in flight.
4. Wing coloration (in flight): Orange-winged Amazon shows clear orange in the wings and tail in flight; Guadeloupe Amazon's wings had green, yellow, and red, but not orange in the tail. If you see orange in the tail, it's Orange-winged Amazon.
5. Head pattern: Orange-winged Amazon shows blue and yellow on the head, with the extent varying; Guadeloupe Amazon never described as having yellow or blue patches, but rather a uniform slaty or violet tone.
6. Bill color: Orange-winged Amazon has a partly horn-colored, partly dark gray upper mandible. No bill color is described for Guadeloupe Amazon.
7. Sexual dimorphism: Both species are described as monomorphic; males and females look alike.
8. Juvenile/immature marks: Guadeloupe Amazon may have shown more green in the head and underparts as immatures, but this is speculative. Orange-winged Amazon juveniles resemble adults.
9. Size: Both are large Amazona parrots, but size is not a reliable separator due to lack of data for Guadeloupe Amazon.
10. Tail color: Orange-winged Amazon has orange in the tail, especially visible in flight; Guadeloupe Amazon is not described as having orange in the tail.
11. Behavior: Orange-winged Amazon is noisy and social; Guadeloupe Amazon's behavior is unknown.
12. Habitat and range: If seen outside Guadeloupe, it is Orange-winged Amazon. Guadeloupe Amazon is extinct and was restricted to Guadeloupe.
13. Voice: Only Orange-winged Amazon's voice is known (loud, high-pitched screams); nothing is known for Guadeloupe Amazon.
14. Plumage pitfalls: Some historical confusion exists with other Antillean amazons, but the slaty/violet head and underparts is unique among amazons described for Guadeloupe Amazon.
15. Historical uncertainty: All field marks for Guadeloupe Amazon are based on old written descriptions, so some uncertainty remains. If a bird fits the Orange-winged Amazon pattern, especially with orange in the wings/tail and blue/yellow on the head, it is not Guadeloupe Amazon.

Size

Guadeloupe Amazon was described as a little smaller than the Macaws, but no precise measurements exist. Orange-winged Amazon is about 33 cm long and weighs around 340 g [wikipedia]. Both are large Amazona parrots, but Orange-winged Amazon is well within the typical size range for the genus. Size alone is not a reliable separator given the lack of concrete data for Guadeloupe Amazon.

Plumage

• Juvenile/immature plumage: For Guadeloupe Amazon, historical accounts suggest that green in the head and underparts may indicate immaturity, similar to young Saint Vincent Amazons, but details are sparse and speculative. No specific juvenile wing pattern is described for either species.
• Adult plumage: Guadeloupe Amazon: slaty or ashy-blue (sometimes violet) head, neck, and underparts; wholly green back; wings with green, yellow, and red (possibly as scattered 'rosettes' in the coverts); some black feather borders possible. Orange-winged Amazon: mainly green body; blue and yellow on the head (amount varies between individuals); orange feathers in the wings and tail, especially visible in flight; no slaty or violet tones on the head or underparts. Both sexes look alike in Orange-winged Amazon.
• In flight: Orange-winged Amazon shows obvious orange in the wings and tail; Guadeloupe Amazon's flight pattern is not described, but no orange is mentioned in the tail, and the wing coloration is mainly green, yellow, and red.

Behaviour

Orange-winged Amazon is noisy, often seen in large communal roosts, and is a regular sight in both wild and feral populations. Guadeloupe Amazon's behavior is unknown beyond historical notes, but as an island endemic, it may have been less gregarious. Behavioral differences are not reliable for field separation.

Habitat

Guadeloupe Amazon was endemic to the forests of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles and is now extinct. Orange-winged Amazon inhabits a wide range of forest and semi-open country in tropical South America, and has established feral populations in several places. If seen outside Guadeloupe, any wild parrot is almost certainly Orange-winged Amazon.

Voice

Orange-winged Amazon is known for loud, high-pitched screams. No vocal description exists for Guadeloupe Amazon, so voice is not a reliable separator.