About
Amazon Parrots
Of
all the Parrot species, Amazons are among the tamest and easiest to train. There are many
Amazon species - all originating from South and Central America, as well as Mexico.
Amazons are stocky, short-tailed, mainly green birds which vary in head coloration and
size. Parrots can live a long time; anywhere from 30 to 70 years! These intelligent birds
require a great deal of time and attention from their owners, and are not content to just
be left in their cages. They love to talk, learn tricks, play and be cuddled, and tend to
break into happy (and noisy) songs at least twice a day. Regular wing and nail clipping
are required to maintain these birds, and daily cage cleaning is a must!
Blue Fronts (Amazona aestiva)
Blue fronts
are the Amazon most commonly found in United States
aviculture. This bird is distinguished by the patch of blue
feathers on the forehead, often with white or yellow feathers,
as well. The rest of the head has varying degrees of bight
yellow. There are patches of red or yellow feathers on the
bend of the wing. The coloring of this species can range quite
a bit between individuals. Of the two subspecies available, A. a. aestiva is seen less often than
A. a.
xanthropteryx.
Orange Wings (Amazona
amazonica)
Orange-winged Amazons have are similar
to blue fronts, but distinctly different. The yellow on the
head is more orange in color than the blue front. Also, the
bend of the wing doesn't have the accent color seen on the
blue front. The orange wing is further distinguished by the
orange wing speculum.
Yellow Heads, (or Yellow Crowns)
Yellow
napes (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) are
considered by many to be the best-talking Amazons. These birds
are known to be one of the more animated Amazons, which can be
good or bad to a prospective owner. It is more playful, but
also needs to have an owner that doesn't mind the extra
excitability. The yellow on the nape of the neck is its most
obvious feature.
The double-yellowheaded Amazon (various races include
A.
o. oratix, A.o. belizenis and A. o.
tresmariae) is the most widely recognized Amazon. The
yellow covers the entire head and extends to the breast. It
also has yellow legs and red shoulders.
The single-yellowhead (A. o. ochrocephala) is not as
popular than some of the other Amazons. However, its
personality being more gentle than the double yellowhead and
yellow nape still makes it an attractive pet. All of the
ochrocephala subspecies are considered above-average
mimickers.
Red Lore (Amazona autumnalis)
The
red-lored Amazon is distinguished by the red lores and
forehead, as well as the lilac-tinted crown and nape of the
neck. The red lore has average talking ability, but is
considered quite gentle.
Mexican Red Head (Amazona
viridigenalis)
Christmas may come to mind with this
bright green bird with a red head. Some red heads may talk,
while others are more adept at mimicking sounds.
If you are
considering becoming the proud owner of one of these fascinating creatures, it is
important to be certain that you have the time, devotion and facilities - both financial
and environmental to properly care for it for many, many years. Parrots aren't for
everyone, but if you are lucky enough to own one, it can be the experience of a lifetime!
