The Clownish Amazon Parrot
Amazons are an independent and talented friend
The Amazon parrot is an independent, playful bird that will always keep you entertained with its excellent talking and singing abilities.
Someone once said (we’re not sure who) that, “If African Greys are the college intellectuals, then Amazons are the class clowns!” We completely agree.
Amazons can vary between species, though, when it comes to talking and singing abilities. Some are good family pets while others are mostly one-person birds and may even attack other family members. Many Amazons can also go from cuddly and quiet to aggressive and loud in an instant. They are best suited for more experienced bird owners because of this unpredictable behavior.
Some species are more outgoing while others tend to be shy. Most Amazons are loud in the mornings and evenings, but some are more vocal than others. Because of this, they are not suited for apartment living.
Amazons also have great body language, so it is not difficult to tell when they are agitated. When an Amazon is spreading his tail feathers, dilating his eyes, and raising the feathers on the back of his neck, you need to steer clear or he may bite you.
Amazons are great talkers and some can sing entire songs and even opera! The tone and clarity of their voices are excellent. However, some species may only learn a few words and mimic sounds. Amazon parrots also make a sound when they are happy or content that some people relate to a cat purring. This is a good sound.
If you are an experienced bird owner and can handle the loud vocal ability of the Amazon, then this talented parrot might be the right pet bird for you.
Types of Amazon Parrots
Blue-Fronted Amazon
Double Yellow-Headed Amazon
Lilac-Crowned Amazon
Mealy Amazon
Mexican Red-Headed Amazon
Orange-Winged Amazon
Red-Lored Amazon
White-Fronted Amazon
Yellow-Crowned Amazon
Yellow-Naped Amazon
Fast Facts
| Name | Amazon Parrots (Amazona) |
| Origin | Latin America |
| Size | 9-18 in., 250-700 grams, depending on subspecies |
| Color Differences | All have a base green color while their head colors can vary between red, yellow, green, blue, white, and lilac. |
| Average Cost | $600-1500 |
| Lifespan | up to 50 years or more |
| Noise | Amazons have a loud vocal ability and most are very loud. Amazons are most well suited for living in a house instead of an apartment. |
| Qualities | Independent, loyal, talkative, not shy, enjoy showing off, love being the center of attention, playful, enjoy human companionship, tend to cuddle only on their terms, some can be strong-willed and unpredictable (especially during breeding season), many become aggressive and bite during breeding season, very loud voices, prone to obesity. |
| Abilities | Excellent – Most are great talkers and singers, good at mimicking sounds, and easy to train. |
| Interaction/Time Requirements | Some species of Amazons need more human interaction than others–these are rather independent birds. However, the time requirement depends on the subspecies. |
| Diet | Amazons are prone to obesity, so a good diet for large parrots and lots of exercise are a necessity. Seeds should be fed in moderation because they contain a lot of fat. Amazons are also prone to Vitamin A deficiencies, so foods high in Vitamin A are good. |
| Supplies Needed | They need supplies for large birds. |
Amazon Parrot Videos
“Amazon Parrot”
Amazons are very talented birds. This video shows Groucho, the well-known Yellow-Naped Amazon from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, entertaining the audience by singing a variety of songs (in a variety of languages!)
“Moby, the yellow naped Amazon parrot”
Amazons can not only sing, but many have great talking abilities (mainly the yellows). This video is a great example of the Amazon’s ability to talk and mimick. They truly are a lot of fun!
“Double Yellow Amazon Parrot and I cuddling”
Amazons can also make great companions. They can be aggressive, but when handled and trained properly, they are such a joy. This video shows a Double Yellow-Headed Amazon and is a great example of how affectionate they can be.
Amazon Parrot Training
Amazon parrots can be very aggressive at times, so it is important to train them correctly right from the beginning. They need to be taught clear boundaries so they will learn not to bite or scream. Amazons can be fantastic companions. They are caring, loving, and they can become very attached. However, if not properly trained, they can be the most aggressive out of all the parrots.
For this reason, we highly recommend that you find an effective training program for your Amazon. Whether your parrot is new to your home or you’ve had him for years, a training program will always come in handy. We personally recommend the Bird Tricks Parrot Training Course by Dave and Jamieleigh Womach. You can see many of their videos for free to get an idea of how much they know about parrots and how they can help you train yours.
Below is one of Dave’s videos about stopping your Amazon’s biting. This video is a great example of how effective the training courses can be and how they are filled with a wealth of useful information for any bird owner.
This video is only the first step in getting your Amazon hand tamed. We highly recommend checking out the BirdTricks Training Course for taming your parrot even further.
For more information about Dave and Jamieleigh’s courses, you can visit the Bird Tricks website HERE.
Amazon Education
To learn more about your pet Amazon, we recommend these books:
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Amazon Parrots as Pets | PrimeEligible | Add to Cart | |
 | Amazon Parrots (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) | Prime | Add to Cart | |
 | Encyclopedia of Amazon Parrots | Prime | Add to Cart | |
 | Amazon Parrots | Prime | Add to Cart |
Amazon Gifts
Have a friend of family member who loves Amazons? Gift them something that will truly spark joy!
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Green Cheeked Amazon Parrot Mug, 11oz | PrimeEligible | Add to Cart | |
 | Amazon Parrot Mug | Prime | Add to Cart | |
 | Love Hurts Yellow Head Amazon Parrot T-Shirt | PrimeEligible | Add to Cart | |
 | Amazon Parrot Ornament with Personalized Name Plate | PrimeEligible | Add to Cart | |
 | Folkmanis Amazon Parrot Hand Puppet | Prime | Add to Cart |
Related Articles:
- The Essential Amazon Supplies Checklist
- The 3 Must-Have Perches
- The Best Food For Your Amazon
- Find The Best Amazon Cage
- Toys Your Amazon Will Love
Have A Great Story About Your Amazon?
Share your experience with others! There’s no better way to learn about a pet bird than from an owner.
Some helpful information for potential owners can be: What is the species of your bird? Is he/she friendly? Loving? Cuddly? Talented? Messy? Loud? You get the idea!
Your comment may just help someone decide whether or not this pet bird is for them.
You missed a parrot called the “Yellow Lored Amazon!”
LOVE my Beautiful Yellow Nape!
Beautiful Bird!
I’ve had two big parrots, a Blue Front Amazon Hen (for 20 years she passed from cancer) and my current boy Cricket who is a gorgeous healthy, affectionate animated Yellow Naped Amazon (YNA) cock. I adopted him at 3 years old, and while it took him a couple months to get adjusted, with lots of love and attention, good food and a patient, gentle manner, he has turned into the best birdie ever! He’s very friendly (loves long-haired brunette women and is a huge flirt!) and although he is NOT the most cuddly bird he’ll let me cuddle him at night when he’s tired, and let me groom him when he’s moulting and has an itchy head. Most amazons love to play and love attention, but don’t much like being petted and stroked. He’s very animated and obviously LOVES people and attention. He’s a wonderful talker, and singer, but that’s not the important thing. He is obviously incredibly intelligent, and for that reason he’s a real challenge. It isn’t easy keeping him entertained.
All parrots need a whole lot of attention from their pet humans. Cricket demands at least 3 hours MINIMUM of direct attention a day. I’m disabled and am home a lot so that’s not a problem for me, and he really is a wonderful companion, and I have very tolerant neighbors. He is a relatively quiet Amazon, but notice that I qualified that by saying relatively. Amazons are LOUD. Their voices are designed to carry a long way in the jungle, and they do. Both of my birds have been very jealous of the phone and that makes it hard to have phone conversations sometimes (unless I go into the bathroom and shut the door). This isn’t something you can change- or that most neighbors will tolerate. They need a lot of space. The MINIMUM size cage suitable for an amazon is one at least as big as an average sized refrigerator. Having said that there is no right size cage for an amazon. Get the largest cage you can afford. Amazons are expensive to buy and KEEP. I’d estimate that a minimum monthly budget for an amazon is 100-120/month. A healthy bird will cost approximately $1600.00, and an appropriate cage may run as much. Vet care is essential and expensive.
Also, they are very very messy, and they do chew (they nest in tree holes, that they chew themselves in the wild, and this again is an instinctive behavior that cannot be changed. You must proved chewable toys, or have an unhappy bored bird that will find something to chew on it’s own). They need LOTS of fresh healthy food every day… not bird seed! An all birdseed diet is the kiss of death for an amazon parrot. Research their nutritional needs before assuming care for an amazon parrot. Finally, remember that they are a tame wild animal. They can and they DO BITE…. HARD! If you can’t handle being bitten by a parrot, a parrot is NOT the pet for you.
That being said, if you have the money, the time, the room, the tolerance for noise and mess (and the people that you live with do as well), more than the usual allotment of patience and are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to a non human creature, a parrot might be a good choice for you. Please, though, don’t buy…. and don’t support bird breeders. Adopt. There’s a lot of homeless birds out there!