Double Yellow-headed Amazon

• ExerciseModerate

  Daily out-of-cage time and foraging toys keep them busy.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment50–70 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Obesity · Respiratory issues · Feather plucking

The Double Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix) comes from Mexico and Central America, where it is now endangered. Young birds show only a yellow forehead; the yellow spreads over the whole head across several years, so a fully yellow-headed bird is an adult. It rivals the Yellow-nape as a talker and beats it as a performer: these are the Amazons that sing opera, whistle whole tunes and love an audience. That theatricality comes with the loudest voice of the commonly kept Amazons and a strong, confident personality that does not defer easily. Double Yellow-heads are bold, physical birds that need firm, consistent, entirely positive handling and clear routines. Like all Amazons they go through an annual hormonal season, and in this species it can be dramatic: expect territoriality around the cage, displaying with fanned tail and flashing eyes, and a willingness to bite that a small parrot never shows. Limiting daylight, removing nest sites, restricting petting to the head and never wrestling with a displaying bird are the practical tools. House in a large cage with hours out daily, plentiful hardwood chewing and foraging work. Feed formulated pellets with vegetables and dark leafy greens, keeping nuts, seed and fruit small and occasional, because obesity and atherosclerosis are the leading preventable killers of pet Amazons. Weigh monthly, keep the air free of non-stick fumes, aerosols and smoke, and arrange annual avian vet checks with bloodwork. Given that, this is a bird that will still be singing in fifty years.

• How much activity does a Double Yellow-headed Amazon need?

  Moderate. Daily out-of-cage time and foraging toys keep them busy.

• How much feather care does a Double Yellow-headed Amazon need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Double Yellow-headed Amazon need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Double Yellow-headed Amazon a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Double Yellow-headed Amazon live?

  50–70 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Double Yellow-headed Amazon?

  Keep an eye out for Obesity, Respiratory issues, Feather plucking. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

Be the first to join this community!