Amazon Parrot

An Amazon parrot is a large parrot of the genus Amazona native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Most Amazons are predominantly green, with accenting colors that depend on the species and can be quite vivid. Amazons, like all parrots, are zygodactyl, having four toes on each foot—two front and two back. They feed primarily on nuts and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter. Amazons are talkative, colorful, clever, bratty and sometimes considered a handful, but there are some subspecies that defy commonly held beliefs about the Amazons. There are 27 subspecies of Amazons found through-out the world. The most common species kept as companion pets are the Yellow-Naped Amazons, Double-Yellow-Headed Amazons, Blue-Front Amazon, and the Yellow-Crowned Amazons. All four of these subspecies are great talkers, but they can be loud and demanding as pet, and may have a tendency to become a one person bird. Some people like their "in your face" attitude and some don't. Either way, Amazons do command a presence no matter how you feel about them. This said, be very aware about what you are taking on when you decide on a Amazon as a companion pet.

Some of the smaller Amazon subspecies may be a little better to live with, such as the White-Fronted Amazon, Red-Lored Amazon, and the Lilac-Crowned Amazon. These smaller subspecies of Amazons are generally quieter, easier to handle and not quite as pushy as their larger cousins.

The life span of Amazon Parrots kept as companion pets has greatly improved over the years because we now have an understanding of how they live and survive in the wild and what it takes to keep these birds healthy. Unfortunately lousy care and poor diets still exist out-there and can shorten these birds lives by upwards of 10 to 20 years. Feed your amazon a well balanced diet of fresh veggies and fruit, a high quailty nut and seed mix, and a good pelleted blend. Minimum cage reguirements for an amazon is 24" x 22", but bigger is sometimes better. Please remember amazons can become perch potatoes, so have lots of wood for them to chew and toys to play with. Exotic birds should never be bought on impulse. Please research any bird you're interested in purchasing before you buy. Educating yourself can only be beneificial to you and your new companion parrot.