Amazon Parrot

The Amazon Parrot is a very intelligent and sociable bird, and they make excellent companions for responsible and experienced pet owners. These parrots originate in the New World, their range extending from South America to Latin America and Mexico. Despite their loving nature, they are very demanding in terms of attention, interaction and care, and hence they are not suitable for novice owners or those not ready to spend a due amount of time with them.

Amazon parrots vary in size and coloring. Most species have green plumage with yellow markings. There are several Amazon Parrot species commonly known as pets: Blue-fronted Amazon, Lilac-Crowned Amazon, Double Yellow-headed Amazon, Spectacled Amazon, Mealy Amazon, Red-lored Amazon, Yellow-faced Amazon, Festive Amazon, Yellow-shouldered Amazon, Yellow-naped Amazon and Orange-winged Amazon. Spectacled Amazons are the smallest and Double Yellow-headed Amazons are the largest parrot species.

All Amazon Parrots are great learners, and a properly organized training session is always an enjoyment for them. They appreciate communication and interaction with their loved ones, and should not be locked in a cage eternally. It is a good idea to acquire a spacious cage with a lot of perches and toys for your parrot to entertain himself, since Amazons love to play independently. An Amazon Parrot cannot bear loneliness and may become extremely noisy if abused or neglected.

They are naturally vocal and sometimes produce loud screeches, but they can be trained not to do so. Many parrots are great talkers, especially Blue-fronted, Double Yellow-headed and Yellow-naped Amazons. Amazons are fond of riding on the owner’s hands or shoulder, and must enjoy such an opportunity at least once every day. However, this is not the case with males passing through a hormonal stage, because they tend to be vicious during this period. Actually, aggression is the basic challenge in the Amazon Parrot. Many males display aggression toward females, which may hinder the breeding process.

Amazon Parrots are generally healthy, but many species show proneness to nutrition-related diseases. Improper feeding and lack of exercise are fraught with excessive weight, which can reduce their life span dramatically. When defining your parrot’s ratio, beware of fatty foods. Even if you do have some experience in dealing with these birds, consult a qualified avian vet. An Amazon Parrot that enjoys appropriate feeding and care may live over 50 years.