Amazon Parrots

People usually look up Amazon parrots when they’re weighing up a pet bird purchase, checking care needs, or trying to make sense of loud calls, sudden nipping, feather plucking, or a diet that’s drifting towards “too many seeds”. The consequences are practical: the wrong setup can mean chronic stress for the bird, noise trouble at home, and vet bills that arrive fast.

Amazon parrots are bright, long-lived parrots from the Amazona genus, mostly green with vivid flashes of yellow, blue or red depending on the species. They can be brilliant companions, but they’re not “easy” birds. Their health and behaviour are shaped by space, routine, diet, sleep, enrichment, and how well you read their body language.

Amazon parrot snapshot (quick facts)

• Typical size: about 25–40 cm (varies by species)
• Typical weight: roughly 250–600 g (varies by species)
• Natural range: Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America (species dependent)
• Lifespan: commonly several decades; some individuals can reach 50+ years with excellent care
• Noise: often loud, especially at dawn/dusk or when excited
• Common health concerns: obesity and fatty liver risk, feather-damaging behaviour, and zoonotic infections such as psittacosis

What “Amazon parrot” actually means

“Amazon parrot” isn’t one bird. It’s a whole genus (Amazona) with many species, each with its own temperament, voice, and vulnerability to stress. Blue-fronted, double yellow-headed, yellow-naped, lilac-crowned and red-lored Amazons are among the better-known pet species, but availability varies by country and by local laws.

In trade and regulation, most Amazona species fall under CITES controls (often Appendix II), which is one reason paperwork matters when birds cross borders.⁷

Physical characteristics (and why they matter at home)

Most Amazons are compact, broad-headed parrots with strong beaks built for cracking nuts and shredding fibrous plant material. Plumage is typically green, but many species carry bold patches of colour on the head and wings.

That beak-and-body design has consequences indoors: these birds can snap cheap cage welds, destroy soft plastics, and turn untreated timber into splinters in a single afternoon. A sturdy cage, safe chewables, and daily supervised out-of-cage time aren’t optional extras.

Habitat and distribution (correcting a common misconception)

Amazon parrots are native to the Americas, not Australia. They occur naturally across parts of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, depending on the species. Claims that wild Amazon parrots live in “northern Australia” are incorrect; any Amazons in Australia are captive birds or exceptional escapees, not native wildlife.

Diet and feeding: the obesity trap

In the wild, Amazons eat a changing mix of plant foods—seeds, fruit, blossoms, buds, and nuts—along with occasional animal matter. In captivity, the most common problem is a diet that is too energy-dense (especially seed-heavy mixes) paired with too little exercise.

Obesity in parrots isn’t just “extra weight”. It can feed into fatty liver disease, reduced stamina, and poorer outcomes under anaesthetic. Many birds also learn to beg for high-fat favourites and then ignore the healthier parts of the bowl.

• Aim for balance: base the diet on a reputable formulated pellet, then add a wide range of vegetables and some fruit as a smaller portion.
• Use nuts and seeds strategically: best kept for training and foraging, not as the main meal.
• Make them work for food: hide portions in foraging toys to mimic natural feeding behaviour and slow down intake.

Behaviour, social needs, and noise

Amazons are social, observant birds that notice patterns: who leaves, who returns, what times the household gets loud, when the kitchen produces food. They often thrive on predictable routines and plenty of structured interaction, but they can also become overstimulated in busy homes where they never get a quiet, safe wind-down period.

Noise is part of the package. Many Amazons call loudly, and some will “practice” their strongest calls at times of day that suit them, not you. Good management is about prevention more than correction: enough sleep, enough enrichment, and enough space to move away from household traffic and triggers such as fumes, draughts, and constant commotion.^{8, 9}

Talking and noted intelligence

Many Amazon parrots can mimic sounds and human speech. Some become clear talkers; others prefer whistles, beeps and household noises. Speech tends to improve with calm repetition and positive reinforcement, but it’s never guaranteed, and it shouldn’t be the main reason to choose one.

Hormones and seasonal attitude shifts

During breeding season, some Amazons become more defensive of a favourite person, perch, or cage area. That shift can look like sudden biting “out of nowhere”, but it often follows subtle warning signals—eye pinning, feather slicking, a low posture, or a stiff, forward-leaning stance. Respecting those early signs prevents most escalations.

Breeding and reproduction (what’s solid, and what varies)

In the wild, many Amazon species form strong pair bonds and nest in tree hollows. Clutch size and incubation time vary by species, but a typical clutch is around 2–5 eggs, and incubation is often close to a month.

In captivity, breeding should be left to experienced keepers with avian veterinary support. Unplanned breeding increases risks such as chronic egg-laying, egg binding, territorial aggression, and neglect when owners can’t meet the demands of chicks.

Common health issues (and what to do early)

Obesity and related disease

If your Amazon is gaining weight, becoming reluctant to fly, or showing breathlessness with mild exertion, treat it as a prompt to review diet and activity. Weighing your bird regularly on a gram scale is one of the simplest early-warning tools.

Feather-damaging behaviour (often called “feather plucking”)

Feather damage can be driven by many factors: boredom, lack of sleep, social stress, skin disease, pain, and underlying medical conditions. It’s rarely solved by a single trick. A vet check matters, then a steady rebuild of daily enrichment, foraging, light/sleep routine, and predictable handling.

Psittacosis (a zoonotic risk)

Psittacosis in people is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, a bacterium that commonly infects birds. Birds can carry and shed it with vague or no signs, and people can become infected through exposure to respiratory secretions or dried droppings and dust.^{5, 6, 10}

If anyone in the household develops flu-like illness or pneumonia symptoms after bird exposure, seek medical advice and mention the bird contact. If your parrot shows respiratory signs, diarrhoea, lethargy, or eye/nasal discharge, book an avian vet promptly and avoid close face contact until you have guidance.

Legal and ethical considerations in Australia

Amazon parrots are exotic (non-native) birds in Australia. Import rules are strict. For pet birds, the Australian Government’s current guidance is that pet psittacine birds can only be imported from New Zealand under specific conditions, and you may need permits under both biosecurity law (DAFF) and environmental law (DCCEEW), with species eligibility tied to the Live Import List.^{1, 2, 3, 4}

State and territory rules can also apply (keeping permits, biosecurity requirements, animal welfare obligations, and nuisance/noise rules). Before buying or moving a bird across borders, confirm the requirements for your specific location and your bird’s exact species.

Before you bring an Amazon parrot home (a realistic checklist)

• Noise tolerance: assume regular loud calling; plan for neighbours and household members who work from home.
• Time: daily out-of-cage time, training, and enrichment are part of routine care.
• Housing: a strong, spacious cage with safe perches and rotating chew/forage options.
• Sleep: a quiet, dark period every night and a stable daily rhythm.
• Vet access: locate an avian-experienced veterinarian before problems start.
• Longevity: plan for decades, including changes in work, housing, and family life.

References

1. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) — Importing your pet bird
2. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) — Importing live animals and reproductive material
3. DCCEEW (Australia) — Live Import List
4. DCCEEW (Australia) — Do I need a permit? (Wildlife trade and CITES guidance)
5. US CDC — Clinical Overview of Psittacosis (updated 18 Sept 2025)
6. World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) — Avian chlamydiosis
7. CITES — Amazona amazonica listing (example of Appendix II status under Psittaciformes listing)
8. RSPCA Australia — How to help your pet bird have a good life
9. RSPCA Knowledgebase — Keeping birds entertained and enriched
10. Merck Veterinary Manual — Avian chlamydiosis (psittacosis), professional overview