Inquisitive, calm, playful, smart - all this is a Amazon parrot. Owner reviews say that this exotic bird can become a pet for the whole family. But, as with any animal, you need to know the features of the content so that then there are no unpleasant surprises.
Amazons in the wild
Amazonian parrots come from Central and South America, prefer to live in wet savannahs and tropical forests. These birds are flocking, kept in small friendly groups. And only in the mating season are divided into pairs.
In nature, Amazons spend most of their time on high branches, eating tree shoots, leaves, flowers, seeds, nuts and fruits. Like all birds, these parrots wake up early with sunrise. The first thing that the Amazons do after waking up is by means of a scream to tell each other the news of last night. Most of the day is spent searching for food and water.
What does the Amazon parrot look like?
Amazons are classified as large parrots. The length of their body can reach from 25 to 45 centimeters. And Amazon can weigh up to 700 grams. It all depends on the species.
These exotic birds are stocky, with a short and rounded tail. The beak of the Amazon parrot is powerful, so that he can stand up for himself, even if his character is calm.
The main color for the color is green, which is complemented by spots of other shades: yellow, red, blue and lilac. Usually they are scattered on the head, nape, neck, tail and wings. It is by the colors of these spots that species of Amazonian parrots are distinguished.
Types of Amazonian Parrots
To date, about 30 species of amazons are known. Of these, 2 are considered extinct, and 18 are endangered and listed in the Red Book. We list only those species that are most often sold for home maintenance. Of these, it is worth choosing a pet.
- Yellow-faced.
- Red-faced.
- White-faced.
- Blue-faced.
- Blue-cheeked.
- Yellow-necked.
- Amazon Muller.
- Cuban.
- Festive (festival) parrot.
- Venezuelan Amazon.
Characteristics of the Amazon Parrot
Usually the first feathered pet in the house becomes a budgie. People for various reasons are afraid to start larger exotic birds. Although all fears are not justified. Amazon - this is exactly the bird that will not spoil the first impression.
Parrots of this breed are calm, not vindictive, make contact, are friendly to people and love their owners. Amazon parrots are great companions. They are distinguished by activity, curiosity and, as stated in the cartoon "The Secret of the Third Planet", intelligence and quick wit. If the Amazon is attached to a person, then rarely when he refuses to caress and "scratch".
Variability in mood is a feature of the character of this exotic bird. Here the parrot just sang and jumped on a perch, and now sits offended, having turned away to a wall. You just need to get used to this behavior. Such a strange character trait is the Amazon parrot.
Owner reviews also talk about the downsides of these birds. Amazons are arrogant and very demanding of attention. If they become bored, they will certainly notify about it with a cry. They can behave impudently, bully and are not afraid of anything. So from the first days of the appearance of this bird in the house, special attention should be paid to his education. As soon as the parrot settles in a new place, you can teach him the rules of behavior. Amazons are smart, they will quickly understand what is happening and what rules should be followed.
You need to be able to distinguish between a demanding cry for attention from morning and evening rituals. As in nature, at home these birds will carry out noisy roll call in the morning. And in the evenings, the Amazon parrot loves to sing loudly. Feedback from the owners of these birds suggests that it’s worth it to come to terms with such behavior and treat the feathered pet with understanding. Amazon will not be silent during the day either. Parrots, in principle, love to sing songs, so that in your house you will always hear melodic and not very trills.
Intellectual abilities of the Amazons
Usually parrot owners wonder if they can learn to talk. Amazons in this regard are very capable birds. They can easily remember up to fifty words, learn poems and songs. Of course, the construction of phrases in these parrots cannot be called ideal; in imitation of human speech, they often make funny mistakes. But the Amazons are talented in copying other sounds: laughter, cough, doorbell, phone beep, cat meow, etc.
What else is the Amazon parrot interesting for? Responses of owners say that this bird can become a real circus performer. Teach your pet to approach the call, turn around, dance and even play basketball! Learning tricks with a feathered pet, both the parrot and the owner will enjoy.
The nuances of determining age and gender
If we talk about the minuses of the Amazons, then we can not touch on the difficulties in determining sex. Only laboratory tests will give a 100% result, but they are unpleasant. Or you need to wait for the mating season and observe the behavior of several birds. In principle, the floor of a parrot is important if in the future you plan to create a couple and start breeding. If you get Amazon for the soul, then there is no difference whether there will be a boy or a girl. They are equally capable and smart.
With the determination of age, not everything is so bad. A young individual can be recognized by its dirty gray iris. But how the Amazon will turn two or three years old, and its iris will turn red, it will be difficult to say whether the Amazon is a mature or elderly parrot in front of you. Owner reviews confirm that only a conscientious breeder will reveal the real age of the bird.
Power Features
A full and balanced diet is the key to health, longevity, activity and good mood of a parrot.
The basis of the diet (30-40%) is a high-quality grain mixture, which should include millet, oats, canary and wheat. With great pleasure, the Amazons eat food soaked in water. 60-70% of the diet should be fruits, vegetables, berries and herbs. Mineral nutrition should always be in the cage of a parrot.
It is very important to introduce additional feeding once a week or two. These are porridge cooked on water (without oil and salt) and sprouted grains (wheat, oats, millet, corn and others).
Of the various components of the diet (except for dry food), you can make mixers and offer your feathered. Just mix in the plate those ingredients that your Amazon parrot eats with pleasure. The photo shows an example of how a mash of sprouted grains, fruits and greens might look like.
Nuts and seeds are very high in calories, so giving them to a parrot can rarely and little by little as a treat.
Fruits, vegetables and berries allowed for amazons. Pears, apples, citrus fruits, bananas, pumpkin, carrots, cabbage, strawberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, cherries, gooseberries, currants, cranberries, blueberries and lingonberries.
Food prohibited for amazons. Avocados, mangoes, papaya, potatoes, baked goods, onions, garlic, meat, spices.
Water is life!
The most important thing is to change the water every day. In hot weather, this is best done twice a day. Water is recommended bottled (without gas) or standing flowing. From time to time, a drop of lemon juice can be added to the drink. You should not give boiled and filtered water, there is nothing useful in it.
Cleanliness is the key to health. Timely (at least twice a week) clean the cage in which your Amazon parrot lives. The content in the mud leads to various diseases and the appearance of parasites.
Parrots are very fond of swimming, especially in the summer. At least once a week, invite your pet to take water procedures. Of course, if you don’t want to, then you don’t need to force. Some prefer bathing and bathtubs, others prefer a spray shower, and still others enjoy splashing under a tap. When swimming, parrots often drink, so the water should be fresh and clean.
Air temperature and humidity for amazons
Amazon conditions should be close to tropical. This is moderate heat (about 25 degrees) and high humidity (60-90%). Not comfortable for amazons, the temperature is below 18 degrees.
In the heating season, the issue of air humidification is especially relevant. A simple trick will help: constantly keep wet sheets or towels on the batteries and more often offer the parrot a swim. For someone, the solution would be to purchase a humidifier.
Failure to comply with these conditions can lead to premature and prolonged molting.
Is the cage a house or a dungeon?
The "apartment" for Amazon is also important, because in it he will spend most of his time. The more spacious his apartments will be, the better. The minimum cell size for Amazon parrots is meter per meter. To tell you the truth, this is an expensive pleasure. But to keep the family budget a home-made design will help.
The ideal cage is rectangular with a large length and width. Parrots often fly from perch to perch to stretch their wings. Round-shaped cells are not comfortable, and intricate structures with numerous angles simply reduce usable space.
However, no matter how big the cell is, you won’t stretch your wings there fully. Therefore, flying around the room is very important for the Amazons. The longer they are, the better. You can make the Amazon walk more interesting with the help of a game stand. On it, it’s worth placing the lion's share of toys, swings and ladders that will help your pet develop in tricks and acrobatics.
Amazon can become a true friend and companion, which will brighten up the gray days and fill the house with melodious twittering.