Key Takeaways Amazon parrots are intelligent, sociable birds that can live between 25 to 60 years, requiring attentive care and interaction.They vary greatly in personality, size, costs, and color, making them a popular choice for experienced bird owners.Due to the illegal trapping of wild birds for the pet trade, it's essential to purchase from reputable breeders who support conservation efforts.
Key Takeaways
Amazon parrots are intelligent, sociable birds that can live between 25 to 60 years, requiring attentive care and interaction.They vary greatly in personality, size, costs, and color, making them a popular choice for experienced bird owners.Due to the illegal trapping of wild birds for the pet trade, it's essential to purchase from reputable breeders who support conservation efforts.
Amazon parrots are intelligent, friendly, affectionate, and sociable birds with many striking wild type color variations. For these reasons, they are popular pet birds. However, it takes an experienced bird owner to handle the parrot personality and to provide the care a parrot requires.
They are mandatorily social creatures, constantly in need of interaction and attention. They also have a life span of 25 to 60 years. So, before you choose an Amazon parrot to be your primary pet, be sure you know everything you'll need to know to properly care for one.
Here is a look at 10 of the most popular pet Amazon parrot species, including what sets them apart from their close cousins.
Tip Many species of Amazon parrot are dwindling in the wild due to over trapping of wild birds; trapping is now illegal in many species. Seek out only reputable captive-bred birds from breeders who actively support conservation efforts.
Tip
Many species of Amazon parrot are dwindling in the wild due to over trapping of wild birds; trapping is now illegal in many species. Seek out only reputable captive-bred birds from breeders who actively support conservation efforts.
Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots
![Blue-fronted Amazon on perch. Amazona aestiva]
Active and comical, blue-fronted Amazons are natural performers. They love to be around their owners and will "ham it up" for extra attention. Prolific talkers and singers, they vocalize often and can be very loud. Thus, they are not suited to living in close quarters like apartment buildings. Also, the males are often more aggressive than females. These birds can cost $500 to $3,000.
Species Overview Length: 15 inchesWeight: 10 to 18 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, blue face, yellow head
Species Overview
Length: 15 inchesWeight: 10 to 18 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, blue face, yellow head
Red-Lored Amazon Parrots
![Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalus) pair, close-up]
Red-lored Amazons are charismatic birds who bond quickly to human family members. Some have a tendency to pick their favorite people and be one-person birds. Red-lored Amazons are talented talkers and singers, but potential owners should be aware that all Amazons can, and do, scream and are often loud. These parrots are expensive, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.
Species Overview Length: 13 inchesWeight: 12 to 14 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body; yellow cheek, red feathers above beak
Species Overview
Length: 13 inchesWeight: 12 to 14 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body; yellow cheek, red feathers above beak
Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots
![The yellow-naped amazon]
Yellow-naped Amazon parrots are quick-witted creatures that make wonderful pets for active owners who really want to form a great bond with their bird. Their obvious intelligence and remarkable speech abilities put them among the most popular and recognizable species of Amazon parrot. And, like other Amazon parrots, with proper socialization and handling, these birds can enjoy being petted, especially on the head. Typically, males are more aggressive. They generally cost $2,000 to $3,000.
Species Overview Length: 14 inchesWeight: 17 to 19 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body; area of yellow feathers at nape and lower dorsal neck
Species Overview
Length: 14 inchesWeight: 17 to 19 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body; area of yellow feathers at nape and lower dorsal neck
Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrots
![Double Yellow-Headed Amazon]
Double yellow-headed Amazons make wonderful, affectionate pets when hand fed and raised in captivity from a young age. Highly gifted and possessing impressive speech abilities, this is a charming bird that loves being the center of attention. Just be sure you have four to six hours per day to devote to care, social play, and out-of-cage time before adopting one. Males tend to be more aggressive. Also, these birds cost, on average, $2,000 to $3,000.
Species Overview Length: 15 to 17 inches Weight: 17 ounces Physical Characteristics: Green body; yellow head and neck; orange/red bend of wing and lesser wing coverts mixed with yellow; blackish to bluish violet flight feathers with a red patch on the outer secondaries; base of the tail also has an often hidden red patch
Species Overview
Length: 15 to 17 inches Weight: 17 ounces Physical Characteristics: Green body; yellow head and neck; orange/red bend of wing and lesser wing coverts mixed with yellow; blackish to bluish violet flight feathers with a red patch on the outer secondaries; base of the tail also has an often hidden red patch
Panama Amazons
![Panama Amazons]
A good family bird, the Panama Amazon is a subspecies of the yellow-crowned Amazon. This is a friendly pet that loves interacting with people, so you could pet them with proper handling. Their social nature helps them be gentle and affectionate companions.
While they are loving, they are also a very active species, so they need an owner that can keep up with them. They must be provided with a safe space to climb and play outside of the cage each and every day. And, like other Amazon parrots, these can cost over $1,000.
Species Overview Length: 14 inchesWeight: 17 to 19 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body; triangular yellow on the crown; variation in coloring among individuals
Species Overview
Length: 14 inchesWeight: 17 to 19 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body; triangular yellow on the crown; variation in coloring among individuals
Lilac-Crowned Amazon Parrots
![Lilac-crowned Amazon, Amazona finschi, Leticia, Department of Amazonas, Columbia]
Lilac-crowned Amazons are curious and active birds by nature. Like all parrots, they need plenty of mental stimulation to keep them healthy and happy. These birds form strong bonds with their owners and must be provided with an adequate amount of daily social interaction to thrive. They typically cost around $1,800.
Species Overview Length: 13 inchesWeight: 11 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, with black-edged feathers; dark red forehead; blue/lilac top of head, nape, and neck; some red hidden tail feathers; bill is horn in color; pale gray eye-ring; orange eye
Species Overview
Length: 13 inchesWeight: 11 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, with black-edged feathers; dark red forehead; blue/lilac top of head, nape, and neck; some red hidden tail feathers; bill is horn in color; pale gray eye-ring; orange eye
Southern Mealy Amazon Parrots
![Portrait of a Mealy Amazon Parrot]
Southern mealy Amazons are known to be the most gentle and docile of the Amazon parrots. They are affectionate when kept as pets, and they form strong bonds with their owners. Due to their gentle nature, they are a good choice for bird owners who want a large parrot but would prefer a bird with a more laid-back attitude. Prices for these birds are similar to other Amazons, with some breeders selling them for over $1,000.
Species Overview Length: 15 inchesWeight: 25 to 27 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body with blue/black wash on the back of neck; yellow patch on the crown; eye-ring white, eye red
Species Overview
Length: 15 inchesWeight: 25 to 27 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body with blue/black wash on the back of neck; yellow patch on the crown; eye-ring white, eye red
Green-Cheeked Amazon Parrots
![red-crowned amazon]
Playful and sweet, hand-fed green-cheeked Amazon parrots are good family pets that enjoy interacting with their human "flock." While they are known as good-natured birds, they have a streak of curiosity that some owners say makes them more prone to mischief-making than some others of the Amazon species. These birds can also cost hundreds or thousands from reputable breeders.
Species Overview Length: 12 to 13 inchesWeight: 10 to 12 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, dark red forehead and crown; purple/blue band from above the eye down the sides of the neck; pale gray eye-ring, yellow eye
Species Overview
Length: 12 to 13 inchesWeight: 10 to 12 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, dark red forehead and crown; purple/blue band from above the eye down the sides of the neck; pale gray eye-ring, yellow eye
White-Fronted (Spectacled) Amazon Parrots
![White Fronted Amazon Parrot (Amazona albifrons), Roatan Butterfly Garden, Roatan, Honduras]
Beautiful and intelligent, white-fronted Amazon parrots can be delightful pets, with a tendency to bond strongly to one person. Although these are the smallest of all of the Amazon parrots, their screams, barks, and trilling can sound quite harsh. Their price might be around $800 to $1,000.
Species Overview Length: 10 inchesWeight: 6.5 to 8.5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body with patches of white and blue on the forehead; bright red rings of feathers around their bright white eyes, appearing spectacled
Species Overview
Length: 10 inchesWeight: 6.5 to 8.5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body with patches of white and blue on the forehead; bright red rings of feathers around their bright white eyes, appearing spectacled
Orange-Winged Amazon Parrots
![Orange-winged Amazon parrot]
Orange-winged Amazons make sweet and affectionate pets and bond closely with their owners, so they’re another bird that can enjoy being petted. They have excellent speech abilities and charming personalities.
But like many Amazon parrots, orange-winged Amazons go through a hormonal "bluffing" stage as they reach sexual maturity. The nipping, hissing, and lunging of the "fake attacks" in this irritable phase mean you must carefully consider whether this bird (or any Amazon parrot) is suitable for you or your family. Also, they can cost upwards of $3,000.
Species Overview Length: 12 inchesWeight: 11 to 12 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, orange to yellow alula feathers mid-wing; pale orange cheek, possible blue feathers around or above eye or forehead
Species Overview
Length: 12 inchesWeight: 11 to 12 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body, orange to yellow alula feathers mid-wing; pale orange cheek, possible blue feathers around or above eye or forehead
Black-Billed Amazon Parrots
![black-billed Amazon parrot standing on tree branch]
Black-billed Amazon parrots get along great with their owners, and they’re described as intelligent, calm, and humorous. They’re also smaller than other Amazon species, so they’re a good choice if you want a more petite parrot. Just bear in mind that, like other parrots, they are loud. And you can expect to pay hundreds or more for this bird.
Species Overview Length: 10 inchesWeight: 6.3 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body with yellow-green underparts; green tail with red base; gray beak; dark gray eye ring, dark brown eye
Species Overview
Length: 10 inchesWeight: 6.3 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body with yellow-green underparts; green tail with red base; gray beak; dark gray eye ring, dark brown eye
Birds to Avoid
Any Amazon parrot needs to be handled with care and patience. They can be temperamental, and they may bond with one particular person in the family. They also might not be good for households with children. Plus, these birds can also be very loud. If you’re an inexperienced bird owner, these large parrots may not be right for you.
Be sure to research a bird’s personality and needs carefully before deciding on any Amazon parrot. And only purchase from reputable breeders to avoid getting a bird that was taken from the wild, especially since some species are endangered.