Yellow-naped 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 Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata) of the Pacific slope of Central America is widely considered the best talking and singing parrot alive, with a clear human-like voice, an ear for melody and the ability to learn songs in full. It weighs half a kilo to just under 700 grams and can live fifty to seventy years. It is also critically endangered in the wild, largely because of trapping for the pet trade, so a legal bird is captive-bred and comes with documentation. Anyone taking one on has to plan for its adolescence honestly. Yellow-napes are famous for a hormonal season in which a previously sweet bird becomes territorial, unpredictable and capable of a serious bite; it typically begins around four to six years old and returns annually. It is managed, not cured, by limiting daylight to about ten to twelve hours, removing nesting cues and dark cavities, avoiding petting anywhere but the head and neck, and reading body language such as pinning eyes and fanned tail. Owners who prepare for this keep their birds; owners who are surprised by it are why so many Amazons are rehomed at five. Daily care is otherwise manageable. Provide a large cage, hours out, hardwood chew material and puzzle feeders. Diet is a pellet base with vegetables and dark greens and very limited seed, nuts and fruit, because Amazons are the parrot most prone to obesity and atherosclerosis; an overweight middle-aged Amazon is the single most common preventable presentation in avian practice. Weigh the bird monthly, keep the air free of non-stick fumes and smoke, and see an avian vet yearly.

• How much activity does a Yellow-naped Amazon need?

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

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

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

• What cage does a Yellow-naped Amazon need?

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

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

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

• How long do Yellow-naped Amazon live?

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

• What health issues affect the Yellow-naped Amazon?

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

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