Some authors (e.g. Juniper and Parr) call this bird the Yellow-cheeked Amazon while others (HBW) call it Red-lored Amazon. This relatively large parrot is divided into three subspecies groups. This is the nominate race found from Mexico to Nicaragua and constitutes the "yellow-cheeked" group. Two other races are found to the south constituting the "Salvin's" group. Salvin's types have a darker bill and usually lack the yellow cheek patch of our bird. A third race, isolated from the others is confined to Brazil and constitutes the "Diademed" group. It has much darker red lores and usually has bluish cheeks. It is sometimes treated as a separate species.