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Double Yellow
Headed Amazon
One of the largest Amazons, the Double Yellow Headed Amazon will reach 15-16 inches (38-41cm) at maturity. His wingspan averages eight to nine inches (205-235mm). The most distinguishing feature of the Double Yellow Headed is his bright yellow head. The yellow coloring does not reside merely on the top of the head, lores, or nape, but covers his entire head, extending to the sides and back of his head, as well as to his throat. Most of his body is covered in green feathers that are often tipped in black. The green feathers, which cover his body, are often mixed with yellow and some even exhibit a reddish margin. The yellow feathers are generally more prominent in males than females. The breast and abdomen typically possess no yellow feathers and are generally only green. In addition to a yellow head and random yellow feathers, the inside of the Yellow Head's thighs are also yellow, and pretty red feathers are generally seen in the bend of the wing, also mixed with yellow. This gives a very striking effect when the wings are opened to their full glory. Originating in the Pacific slope of Mexico, specifically Colima, the Double Yellow Headed Amazon is also seen in Guerrero and Michoacan (western region). In spite of his Mexican origins, the Double Yellow Headed Amazon is commonly seen in households all over the world. He is one of the most popular among all the Amazon species
Yellow Naped Amazon parrots, Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata, are beautiful Amazons that are mostly green with large patches of yellow on the napes of their necks. Some individuals also have a yellow blaze on their foreheads. Immature birds have no yellow on their napes; the yellow nape begins to molt in when they are between 18 months and 2 years old, and continues to get larger as they get older. Yellow Naped Amazons tend to be a lighter, brighter green than the other Amazon species. They range in the wild from the Pacific slope of southern Mexico through Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Yellow Naped Amazon parrots are approximately 14-15 inches in length and weigh from 480-550 grams. Our Yellow Napes at Arizona Amazons tend to be very large. The Yellow Naped Amazon is a dominant species that is closely related to the Double Yellow Headed Amazon. These highly intelligent birds need firm boundaries set in order to keep them as loving companions. They love to play and swing around on their toys and play gyms, and it is easy to teach them a variety of games and tricks. They are exceptional talkers and can be quite the singers. They start talking especially early in life, and can be a bit noisy. The parrots most often seen singing opera on late night TV are Yellow Naped Amazons. Yellow Naped Amazons are, in my opinion, the most intelligent of the Amazon parrots. They are also the most willful and determined. They are fascinating, complex creatures who learn to talk and sing very easily. Yellow Napes are not for everyone. They really need boundaries set for them, otherwise they will take over your house. While we do extensive socialization with them, in most instances we do not train them well enough to run your house! Yellow Naped Amazons, like the other Amazon parrots with lots of yellow, can become more easily overloaded (perceived as aggressive) during breeding season in the early spring. Watching their behavior closely is very important in dealing with these intelligent birds. Luckily, Amazons are very emotionally honest, and it is easy to read their behavior. Pinning eyes and flared tail is a good sign to not pick them up with your hand unless you want to take the chance of being nipped. There may be times when living with a Yellow Naped Amazon that it becomes necessary to pick up your bird with a stick to maintain a positive relationship. If you are willing to be compassionate and respectful of their wild natures, if you are willing to set firm boundaries that can help them manage their behavior, Yellow Naped Amazons are flexible, entertaining companion parrots. Beautiful coloration, intelligent and outgoing personalities and the potential to talk and sing exceptionally well make Yellow Naped Amazons wonderful lifetime companions. Blue-Fronted Amazon Averaging about fifteen inches in length, the Blue-Fronted Amazon is a beautiful and graceful animal. The bird is primarily green in color, with green feathers that have darker green edges. The Blue-Fronted Amazon has a bright blue forehead and blue and white feathers that often appear on the crown. They have vibrant yellow markings on their ears, cheeks and crown. Their wings are often either red or red and yellow. Blue-Fronted Amazons can be found in the wild in Eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Northern Argentina and Northern and Eastern Bolivia. They are easy to train and, if treated well, are excellent pets. An improperly cared for Blue-Fronted Amazon can become rather aggressive. Blue-Fronted Amazons usually bond with one owner and should not be passed among people if possible. |
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friendly
parrot. He is known to get along quite well with other birds and truly enjoys
human companionship. The friendly behavior of the domestic Double Yellow Head
clearly stems from the fact that in the wild this is a very social bird. In the
wild, this bird is seen living in large groups. Sometimes the groups will exceed
numbers of 100 or more! In addition to being friendly, this bird is also
faithful and will form lifelong bonds with its mate in the wild. Being a social
creature, the Double Yellow Head, like many Amazons, is a vocal parrot. If you
are looking for a quiet companion this fellow is definitely not for you. Amazons
in general are loud, and the Double Yellow Head is no exception to this rule. It
is not unusual to be awoken with loud screeches emanating from your Yellow
Head's cage as he greets the day. They are typically loudest in the morning and
at dusk. Often, simply covering your parrot's cage will quiet this sometimes,
annoying behavior. Their vocalizations are not limited to screeching. The Double
Yellow Headed Amazon is well known for his talking ability. There are no
guarantees that your Double Yellow Head will be a talker, but generally the
Double Yellow Headed Amazon is considered to be one of the best talkers among
Amazons, and quite possibly one of the best within the entire parrot group! The
Double Yellow Head has a strong, willful personality and needs an owner with a
like personality. They are very smart and will test their owners. Their
intelligence gives them a comical personality that is rarely hidden from
strangers. They are not shy and love to perform to an audience. Because this
parrot is so intelligent, you must never let him become bored. He loves the
stimulation of an assortment of toys, and must be given plenty of room to
stretch his expansive wings. In addition to playing with toys, this parrot also
has a great love of climbing and his cage should provide adequate room for this
beloved activity. 
The
three Amazons, which are known to be the best talkers, are the Yellow Nape,
Double Yellow Head and the Blue Front. In addition to learning a large
vocabulary, many will also whistle, sing and mimic household sounds. Blue
Fronted Amazons are highly intelligent parrots that may sometimes be moody. The
males may become particularly moody when they reach maturity and many will bite
at this time. Both males and females may display increased aggression as they
reach sexual maturity and during molts. Patience during this period is required.
Blue-Fronted Amazons love to climb and chew on things. They should be supervised
at all times if they are let out of their cages, or accidents may happen. In the
wild, Blue-Fronted Amazons often flock with other species of Amazon Parrots.
They are found in forests and open savannahs. In the natural environment,
Blue-Fronted Amazons feed primarily on fruits, seeds, vegetables and fruits. In
captivity, however, nuts and seeds should be kept to a minimum because they tend
to cause obesity in captive Amazons.