Amazon Parrot Species

Of the 332 species of parrots worldwide, 27 belong to the Amazon parrot species. The parrots belonging to this species are native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Considered to be best mimics of human voices, parrots from this species are medium-sized birds that are quite colorful and are distinguished by the bright splashes of color on their heads, napes, necks, wings and tail feathers.

Along with their typical green color, each species has its own striking coloration, ranging from reds, yellows, blues and even lilacs. Amazon parrot life span is generally 40 - 80 years, though this may vary according to the species the bird belongs to and its health conditions. Some of the common Amazon parrots which are generally kept as pets include the following.

Species Name	Common Name
Amazona aestiva	Blue-fronted amazon
A. finschi	Lilac-crowned amazon
A. autumnalis	Red-lored amazon
A. festiva	Festive amazon
A. xanthops	Yellow-faced amazon
A. barbadensis	Yellow-shouldered amazon
A.ochrophala aurophalliata	Yellow-naped amazon
A. amazonica	Orange-winged amazon
A. farinosa	Mealy amazon
A. ochrocephala oratrix	Double Yellow-headed amazon
A. Albifrons	Spectacled amazon

Amazon Parrots as Pets

The loving, social and loyal nature of this bird makes it an amazing pet for any novice or experienced parrot owner. Amazon parrot is an easy to train, intelligent bird that requires a devoted owner who is willing to provide enough attention and care to the bird. The bird has an excellent talking ability, hence, if it gets an owner who can devote much time talking and interacting with the bird, it can become a good mimic. However, like any other pet, amazon parrot also has some behavioral problems which if not addressed properly can make the bird very aggressive.

Amazon Parrot Behavior: The Amazon parrot is an active, playful, social and loyal bird but require more care and attention than other domesticated animals like cats and dogs. Amazon parrots are known for their exceptional vocal abilities, playfulness and dexterity with their feet. It is an independent, destructive bird that likes doing many stimulating activities. Hence, it is better to provide it with some destructible toys for its exercise and amusement. Excessive screaming and chewing are the two common features seen, especially at certain stages in its life. Like other parrots, the bird also considers its beak as a way to 'discipline us' and so can sometimes be very naughty. Hence, it is important to train or guide the bird before it develops an undesirable behavior.

Amazon parrot also goes through a hormonal aggression phase that appears between the ages of 5 to 12 years. During this time, the bird can be very aggressive and needs to be handled with lots of care, love and patience. However, once it passes this phase, it settles down with little or no aggression at all. The bird reaches its sexual maturity at the age of 4 or 5 and if left alone for very long time might start showing signs of psychological distress. The best way to deal with it is to find the bird a mate, especially, if you are unable to spend much time with it.

Amazon Parrot Care: The Amazon parrot easily adapts to its cage and the surrounding environment. It is an active bird and tends to put on weight if it does not get to exercise. Hence, the cage should have sufficient space for play and exercise. The bird usually develops a musky odor which can be bothersome to some people, hence, the Amazon parrot should be showered regularly for personal hygiene and to keep the smell from getting very strong. The bird needs to sleep for at least 10 hours daily, else it can turn very grouchy and aggressive.

Amazon Parrot Diet: The available bird food for Amazon parrot usually includes formulated diets or seed only diets. Both the diets have its own pros and cons, like formulated diets, which are a good source of variety of nutrients, are deficient in phytonutrients found in vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds. Likewise, seed only diets provide additional vitamin and calcium supplements but do not offer overall psychological enrichment. However, some veterinarians recommend combination of both these diets along with some additional nutritional supplements like sprouted seeds, fruits (such as apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, oranges, bananas, mangoes, papayas, and even berries such as strawberries and blueberries) and vegetables (such as carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, many garden vegetables, and even dandelions and chickweed). Avoid giving avocado as it can be toxic to the bird and daily give the bird clean water to drink.

Amazon parrots can be challenging pets that usually like to be in the company of their owners and if left unattended, they can become aggressive. However, due to their playful nature and amazing vocal abilities, these birds are fun to be with, but at times due to their behavioral problems, they need to be handled with love and lots of patience. Hence, if you are planning to buy one, do enough research about the bird's behavior and care in order to build a strong and friendly bond with the Amazon parrot.