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The Amazon Wild Life
Amazons are a parrot of the family Psittacidae, the sub-family Psittacinae, and the genus Amazona. This large parrot family includes some 27 to 32 species of Amazons (there is much debate on some modern Amazon classifications) and most of the species have sub-species. Like the rest of the parrot family, Amazons have two forward facing toes and two rear facing toes along with a hook bill. Amazons are considered a medium sized parrot with the smallest coming in around 10 inches and the largest around 18 inches.
All of this genus is found strictly in the American continents, from northern Uruguay and Argentina to northern Mexico. This huge area contains several different climate regions as well as a variety of different vegetation. The range of each species varies greatly as well. Some inhabit large land expanses that cover many countries while others inhabit very small, isolated islands.
Wild Amazons live in groups that may consist of just a few individual birds or very large flocks of one hundred birds. They usually forage together and
These birds were among the first creatures noticed by the early Spanish conquerors. When the Spaniards arrived in the Americas, they found that tame Amazon parrots were being kept by many different Indian races. The Indians used the parrots feathers as decoration and the parrot itself as food. Around the beginning of the sixteenth, the first of the Amazon Parrots made their way to Europe as gifts to the royals.
Captive Amazons
Amazon parrots are popular in the United States and throughout Europe. This popularity comes from the its beauty, playful nature, long life span, amazing intelligence, and charming personality. Amazons are also known to be very affectionate to their owners. While not as affectionate as say a cockatoo, it is rare an Amazon that doesn't like its head scratched!
Amazons are generally very confident, curious, and sometimes fearless parrots. They must be carefully supervised when out of their cage to prevent them from getting into any trouble.
While all of the fore mentioned is true, Amazons have also developed a reputation for being headstrong and once sexually mature the males have a tendency to become aggressive.
Since the wild Amazon would feed on a wide variety of seeds and fruits, it is important to keep this variety in captive Amazons diet. After all, captive Amazons are prone to vitamin A deficiency, obesity and liver problems so this is especially important for this parrot species.
Amazons also have the amazing ability to mimic the human voice as well as sounds in its environment. In fact, only the African Grey parrot is known to be a better mimic than the Amazon Parrot. While this talking ability can be very important for someone considering a Amazon, it should not be the primary concern. Placing too much emphasis on the birds talking ability could lead up to a big disappointment if the bird fails to live up to that expectation. Usually when this happens, what is left is an unhappy owner and a neglected Amazon.
Amazon parrots are also show offs. They are true clowns of the parrot world. Tame Amazons usually love to perform for people making them very easy to train. Encouraging behavior they naturally exhibit during playtime by offering their favorite treat and praise will more often than not get your Amazon to repeat the behavior.
Amazons are very intelligent birds with very long life spans. They can easily outlive their owners if properly cared for so this should be a consideration before choosing an Amazon.
