Will An Amazon Parrot Make A Great Pet Bird?

The Amazon parrot may be your next new favorite pet—it ties with the African Grey parrot in terms of fame—and 7% of bird parents own at least one Amazon or African Grey parrot. Amazon parrots are full of personality, good talkers, and colorful, making them one of the most sought-after pet birds. There are over 30 species of Amazon parrots, but only 10 species are common as pets. Amazon parrots are great adapters to captivity, showing quick adjustment techniques inside a cage or aviary. If you want to know more about this famous parrot species, make sure to read further!

History

Amazon parrots are commonly found in South America, particularly in Mexico and in Caribbean. In the wild, these birds inhabit habitats such as palm groves, scrub forests, savannahs, and rainforests. Due to their rising popularity in the pet trade, many were poached in the wild. This was the reason because some species are now extinct. In fact, most threatened species are mainly caused by heavy poaching. To mitigate further extinction, the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has made the capture of wild Amazon parrots illegal. Therefore, if you are thinking of getting an Amazon parrot, make sure to get yours from a professional breeder or adoption/rescue agency.

Characteristics of an Amazon parrot

Average size: Medium to large-sized; around 10 to 20 inches in length from beak to tail

Average life span: More than 50 years with proper care

An adult Amazon parrot usually have a green body, and its colorings depend on the species. The colors of an Amazon parrot range from yellow, blue, red, lilac, purple, and more. Amazon parrots display their different colors on their tail feathers, shoulders, and beaks. In general, male and female Amazon parrots share almost similar characteristics that you can’t distinguish them apart. However, there are some species that are dimorphic. For instance, the blue-fronted Amazons and white-fronted Amazons have slight differences in the plumage coloration.

Amazon parrots are playful, brilliant birds that enjoy a lot of attention around. They are curious, athletic, and love entertaining their parents with silly antics. Hand-fed parrots usually make affectionate pets.

However, when an Amazon parrot reaches sexual maturity, it can become somewhat moody if not handled or trained correctly. Male Amazon parrots display “macho” disposition by flashing their feathers and strutting around, which is considered normal in all Amazon parrots. Amazon parrots have great body language, making it easier for parents to indicate their moods.

Caring for an Amazon parrot

Like any parrot, An Amazon parrot requires a spacious cage with toys, swings, perches, climbing ropes, and ladders to encourage your pet bird to move around and exercise. An ideal minimum cage should measure 24 in by 36 in and 48 in tall with bar spacing of 3/4 to 1 in.

Since Amazon parrots are quite playful, yours would require a lot of sturdy toys. Make sure to think about bird toy safety when shopping for toys. Your bird would like those that it can chew and hold with its feet. Your pet loves to bathe, so expect to see your bird jumping and splashing inside a water dish. You can also get your pet bird a spray bath. Regular bathing helps maintain its feathers in tip-top shape.

Beware of the following symptoms, which may lead to serious illnesses: feather-plucking behavior, parrot fever, poor eating habits, and obesity. If any of these symptoms occur, send your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

Although an Amazon parrot can easily adapt to its new home, you should provide it a few days to get used to you, the environment, and its cage before handling it. A hand-fed baby Amazon parrot can be handled easily, so there’s no need to worry. When handling your pet for the first time, go slowly and consistent. Your pet is more receptive to training in the evening, and each session should be limited to under 20 minutes with an hour of rest in between.

When it comes to diet, your Amazon parrot will require a balanced, formulated pellet and fresh fruits and vegetables. 1/3 to a half cup of pelleted food and 1/3 to a half cup of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. You can adjust these recommendations according to your bird’s activity level, size, and weight gain.