Amazons

Amazons

The Amazon Parrots comes originally from the New World ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Most Amazons are predominantly green accented by vivid colors depending on the species. They feed chiefly on nuts and fruits as well as leafy matters when in the wild.


Amazons as Pets

Amazons are popular for their exceptional vocal abilities, playfulness and dexterity with their feet. Some types have gruff, low voices but many Amazons possess very human-like voices. They are able to use inflection and very seldom talk in monotone. The uncanny ability of some to use their language correctly without any formal speech training is a never-ending source of wonder.

Many pet owners buy parrots with the expectation that they will have a talking bird at their hands. However, it is best to consider very carefully the consequences of having one. Some birds are known to talk human for many hours a day and thus can be a serious cause of distraction for a household’s daily activities.

For those that are prepared to handle a talking bird, a speaking Amazon would be something worth considering. The three most popular are the Double-Yellow Heads, Yellow-Napes and the Blue-Fronts. It is quite difficult to qualify which is the best speaker among them especially since there are other species from other parrot groups that can talk equally as well. Amazons are especially fond of music and are able to sing complete songs with all the words in perfect pitch.

Amazons learn to talk at an early age. Their ability to pick-up new words and phrases during the age of three months to a little over two years is simply amazing. They exhibit some slowing down in learning sometime after this period. An Amazon owner who buys the young bird and then ignores it will seriously damage the bird’s ability to talk. An outstanding talking Amazon is a product of a generous amount of love and attention from birth to two years.

An Amazon Parrot needs a cage that is either square or rectangular. Round cages are not recommended as this can sometimes cause the bird to develop a nervous turning and twisting of the head. The bars should be thick enough to prevent the Amazon from biting through them. A good lock may be required as these birds quickly learn how to open their cages. Since Amazons enjoy climbing more than flying, horizontal bars or a playground where it can do it’s climbing exercises should be provided. The cage should be placed below the owner’s eye level as position plays a big part in domination. The minimum size of the cage should be 21” x 21’ x 27” or large enough for the bird to extend its wings without touching the sides of the cage.

Amazons show a tendency towards obesity as they age. Thus, it is essential that they learn to eat healthy and low-fat food early in life. Amazons are also known to have a tendency towards having Vitamin A deficiencies which can easily be remedied by including foods rich in Vitamin A in their diet. This would include leafy, dark-green vegetables and yellow vegetables such as carrots, corn and squash. The owner should also provide pellets and a small amount of seed except for safflower and sunflower seeds. An Amazon’s love for food can be used effectively for training as they will do almost anything for treats. However, there are some Amazons that will charge and even bite their owners for not feeding them on time.

The natural habitat of Amazons is the rain forest thus they totally enjoy a shower or a good misting. Without these showers or misting, an Amazon Parrot may use their water dish to completely drench themselves and their surroundings. Amazon Parrots have strong personalities and can be very mischievous but they can be an excellent pet when handled correctly.