Different Types Of Amazon Parrots

Amazon Parrots are probably one of the best-known parrot groups of New World parrots, having been kept as pets in Europe for over 500 years. In this article, I am going to discuss different types of Amazon Parrots and just how amazing these birds are. I had an Amazon for about ten years and he was like my best friend. I inherited him as quite an old bird, and he was quite aggressive. I was the only one who could work with him. I was devastated when he died.

When reliable sexing methods became available, a greater interest was triggered in breeding these birds and pairs can nest reliably for many years.

They rank among the longest-living of all the parrot types with an average life expectancy equivalent to our own.

However, keeping these birds is not a decision to be made likely as they can be very demanding birds.

They are very noisy and often like to screech at sunrise and sunset. This is their normal behavior, but it is not great if you have neighbors in close proximity.

Young Amazon Parrots can become excellent mimics of both speech and sounds but are not quite as talented as the African Grey.

They are more confident in nature however which is why they do well in talking bird competitions where they love to show off.

Diet is critical to Amazon’s well-being. This species is prone to weight gain unless its diet is carefully controlled.  They need a regular daily supply of roughage, veggies, and fruit, as well as bird seed. They are prone to vitamin A deficiencies, which you need to be careful of.

They become more vocal and destructive as the time for breeding approaches and the cock Amazon may become aggressive and will not hesitate to attack you if you venture too close to the nesting site.

This can be problematic, especially with hand-reared birds because they have little if any instinctive fear of people.

There is no way of sexing Amazon Parrots and it can only be done by DNA testing.

Most pairs breed in the spring. Hens will lay 3 to 4 eggs in May in northern temperate areas. Incubation lasts 26 – 29 days. the young leave the nest seven to nine weeks later.

Soaked seed is valuable as a rearing food and it will be several years before the young birds nest for the first time.

Different Types Of Amazon Parrots

Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots

The blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva), from south-eastern South America, is often kept as a pet. Young parrots have duller coloration and dark irises. The species is one of the longest-living, and records show that individual birds have lived for almost 100 years.

Pairs should be allowed to settle in their quarters before being expected to breed. This can take a year or two, but after this they are likely to breed annually.

The Blue-Fronted Amazon is 38 cm long. It incubates its eggs for 27 days and the fledging period is 60 days. It lays 3 to 5 eggs at a time.

Yellow-Fronted Amazon Parrots

The Yellow-Fronted Amazon(A.ochrocephala) occurs in nine different forms throughout its wide range. These include the double yellow-head (A. o. oratrix), which is the variety most in demand.

The different forms of the Yellow-Fronted Amazon differ in size and in the distribution of the yellow plumage on the head.

The Yellow-Fronted Amazon is the largest Amazon at 38cm long.

The head of the adult bird is entirely yellow and the youngsters have yellow plumage on the forehead and crown only. Red plumage is visible on the shoulders.

The Yellow-Naped Amazon (A. o.l auropalliata) is found in Central America and here the yellow plumage is restricted to the nape of the neck. Young Yellow-Napes have virtually no trace of yellow on their heads.

A more limited distribution of yellow plumage is a feature of the yellow-fronted Amazon which is found in Northern South America. Its bill is horn colored at the sides. the entire bill of the Panamanian Yellow-

Front (A. o. panamensis) is a pale horn shade.

This Amazon is approximately 30 cm long and is the smallest in the Amazon group.

Orange-Winged Amazon Parrots

The orange-winged Amazon (A. amazonica), from north-eastern South America, is slightly smaller than the blue-fronted, averaging about 33 cm overall.

It may have some blue plumage on the head mixed with yellow but can be distinguished by the color of its upper bill, which is mainly horn colored rather than black.

The orange, rather than red, coloration on the wings and tail are further points of distinction, which separate it from the blue-fronted Amazon.

Mealy Amazon Parrots

The Mealy Amazon (A. farinosa) hails from both Central and South America with the more colorful variety being found to the north.

The top of the head of the Blue-Crowned Mealy is blue, becoming greyer over the nape extending down to the mantle.

The Mealy is the largest of the mainland species and is slightly larger than the double yellow-headed Amazon.

It can sometimes be confusing as some mealy Amazons from South America have a yellow area on their heads, but this does not usually extend up from the cere, as it does in the yellow-fronted Amazon.

The Mealy Amazon is not a popular choice of pet, as it is very loud. As with other Amazons, the Mealy is at risk of a Vitamin A deficiency if fed mainly on seed. Fruit and greenstuff should therefore be included in the diet, along with a vitamin and mineral supplement if the parrot is not being fed on a complete food.

They are 38 cm long and the incubation period is 26 days. The clutch size is normally 3 to 4 eggs and the fledging period is 60 days.

White-Fronted Amazon Parrots

The white-fronted (A. albifrons) is the smallest type of Amazon Parrot at only 25cm in length. It is the only Amazon Parrot that can be sexed on the basis of its coloration. They can be sexed by the time they fledge, thanks to the red plumage present on the wings of the males.

The leading edge of the wings has red plumage in cock birds and green in hens.

As a pet, these Amazons may be easier to manage than their larger relatives, but they can still be noisy and they need a robust aviary with a ready supply of perches because these will be whittled away frequently by their powerful bills.

The young White-Fronted Amazons are easily recognizable because the area of white plumage on the head is reduced in extent and has a yellowish tinge. The red feathering around the eyes is also reduced.

The incubation period is 26 days and the fledging period is 60 days. The clutch size is 3 to 4 eggs at a time.

Primrose-Cheeked Amazon Parrots

The Primrose-Cheeked or Red-Lored Amazon (A. autumnalis autumnalis) from Central America is one of the most colorful and attractive Amazon Parrots.

Its black eyelashes, which are actually modified feathers, are especially evident against the white skin surrounding the eyes.

Other, less colorful varieties of this species such as Salvin’s Amazon (A. a.salvini) occur in South America but are rarely seen in collections. Young birds in all cases have dark irises when they first leave the nest.

It is 33 cm in length. The incubation period is 26 days and the fledging period is 60 days. They lay 3 to 4 eggs at a time.

So there you have it, a list of the most common forms of different types of Amazon parrots.

Are they not beautiful?