Red Lored Amazon

People usually look up the Red-lored Amazon when they’re weighing up whether this parrot is a good fit at home, or checking a care detail they don’t want to get wrong—diet, noise, lifespan, or the long-term commitment.

It’s a sturdy forest parrot with a powerful beak and a quick mind. In captivity, the difference between a thriving bird and a frustrated, unhealthy one often comes down to daily routine: food quality, space, light, sleep, and steady social contact.

At a glance (Red-lored Amazon / Red-lored parrot)

Scientific name: Amazona autumnalis¹
Adult size: about 32–35 cm long^{1, 2}
Adult weight: roughly 314–485 g (varies with sex, subspecies, diet, and condition)¹
Typical lifespan in captivity: commonly several decades with good care; 40+ years is realistic, and longer is possible³
Natural range: southern Mexico through Central America into northern South America; also on Trinidad and Tobago^{1, 2}
Conservation status: varies by authority and taxonomic treatment; check current listings if it matters for permits and trade⁴

Identification and appearance

In good light, the Red-lored Amazon looks mostly green, with a red forehead and “lores” (the small area between eye and bill). Many birds show yellow on the cheeks, and there is often blue through the crown and some wing and tail feathers. Adults of both sexes look alike, while juveniles usually show less yellow/red and darker eyes.^{1, 2}

Habitat and distribution in the wild

Across its range, this species uses a mix of forest types—humid and drier woodland edges, tall forest, and sometimes cultivated areas where fruiting trees are available. It is naturally a bird of Central and northern South America, not Australia.^{1, 2}

Diet: what they eat, and what to feed at home

Wild Red-lored Amazons feed mainly on plant material—fruits, seeds, nuts, blossoms and buds—taking what is seasonally abundant. In captivity, the aim is steady nutrition without drifting into an all-seed pattern, which tends to be energy-dense and nutritionally uneven.^{1, 3}

A practical captive diet approach

• Base diet: a quality formulated pellet as the mainstay.
• Daily fresh foods: a rotating mix of vegetables (especially dark leafy greens and orange vegetables for carotenoids), plus fruit in smaller amounts.
• Seeds and nuts: best used as measured treats and training rewards, not the bulk of the bowl.
• Foraging: hide portions of the daily ration in foraging toys and safe “tear-and-shred” materials to slow eating and occupy the beak.

This is less about perfection and more about preventing the common slide into high-fat, low-variety feeding. Studies in Amazon parrots show that birds offered “mixed” diets (seed + produce + pellets) may still select foods that leave the overall diet too fatty and short on key nutrients, whereas lower-seed patterns improve balance.^{5, 6}

Water and food safety

Provide fresh water daily, clean bowls routinely, and store seed/nuts carefully to reduce mould risk. Poorly stored seed and peanuts can carry toxins that damage the liver.³

Behaviour and temperament

Red-lored Amazons are social parrots with a strong drive to engage with their environment. With consistent handling and predictable routines, they can become confident companion birds; without enough stimulation, they may redirect energy into screaming, chewing, or repetitive behaviour.

They are often capable mimics. Speech varies widely between individuals, and it is best treated as a bonus rather than a promise.

Noise: what “normal” sounds like

All Amazons can be loud, particularly at dawn and dusk. In a suburban setting, that predictable “call time” is often what decides whether this species suits the household.

Housing and daily care essentials

This is a parrot built for climbing, chewing, and long hours of alert stillness punctuated by bursts of activity. The enclosure should match that reality.

• Space: a large cage with room to fully extend wings, plus daily out-of-cage time in a safe area.
• Perches: mixed diameters and textures (natural branches are useful) to reduce pressure points on feet.
• Chew outlets: safe wood, cardboard, and foraging toys; rotate items to keep interest steady.
• Sleep: a consistent, dark, quiet sleep period helps reduce irritability and noise.

Breeding and reproduction (overview)

In the wild, Red-lored Amazons nest in tree hollows. In managed breeding, clutches are commonly a few eggs, with incubation around the high 20s (days) and chicks remaining dependent for weeks after hatching. Exact timing varies with conditions and management, and should be guided by an experienced aviculturist and an avian vet where possible.²

Health issues seen in pet Amazons

Many problems in companion Amazons trace back to diet, inactivity, and long-term low-grade stress. Watch for slow changes: weight creep, reduced flying/climbing, feather damage, or a bird that becomes unusually quiet.

Common, preventable risks

• Obesity and fatty liver (hepatic lipidosis): more likely in sedentary birds on high-seed/high-fat diets.³
• Vitamin A deficiency (hypovitaminosis A): historically common in parrots fed seed-heavy diets; it can affect respiratory and digestive tract health and overall immunity.³

If you suspect illness, don’t wait for dramatic symptoms. Birds hide weakness well; early veterinary assessment usually changes the outcome.

Conservation, trade, and keeping parrots responsibly

Across the Amazon parrot group, major pressures include habitat loss and trapping for trade. For Red-lored Amazons specifically, conservation listing and taxonomic treatment can differ between authorities and over time, so rely on current, primary listings when permits or movement across borders are involved.⁴

A note for Australian readers

Australia tightly controls the import of live birds. For household pet birds, import options are limited and require permits under both biosecurity and environment laws, and only certain pathways (such as from New Zealand) may be available at all.^{7, 8, 9}

Cost in Australia (realistic expectations)

Prices vary by state, availability, age, and whether the bird is properly weaned, microchipped/banded, and accompanied by paperwork. If you see a price that seems unusually low, treat it as a cue to ask more questions about origin, health checks, and husbandry history.

Before you commit: quick checks that matter

• Can you handle a loud bird at set times most days?
• Do you have a local avian vet, and a plan for emergencies?
• Is the diet plan pellet-based, with daily fresh vegetables, and measured treats?
• Is the bird’s history clear (age, source, leg band/microchip where applicable, and any prior health issues)?

References

1. World Parrot Trust – Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis)
2. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) – Amazona autumnalis
3. Merck Veterinary Manual – Nutrition in Psittacines
4. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Search listing for Amazona autumnalis
5. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery (via PubMed) – Nutritional levels of diets fed to captive Amazon parrots
6. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine – Veterinary nutrition of large psittacines
7. Australian Government (DAFF) – Importing your pet bird
8. Australian Government (DAFF) – Bringing or mailing goods to Australia (live animals and pet birds)
9. Australian Government (DCCEEW) – Wildlife trade permits: Do I need a permit?