Amazon parrot what daylight hours for. Amazon parrot and its species in the wild. The nuances of determining age and gender

Do you want to acquire a smart and beautiful interlocutor? It may well be an Amazon, but keep in mind that a quarrelsome character and excessive morning talkativeness are attached to his high intelligence.

Description of the Amazon Parrot

This is a medium-sized bird of dense build with a short rounded tail, growing up to 25-45 cm. The wings do not reach the tip of the tail. The Amazon has a powerful, rounded beak that can crush large nuts..

Parrot Intelligence

It is believed that the thinking abilities of the Amazon are slightly more modest than those of its African counterpart, but Amazons are recognized as the best onomatopoeia among American parrots. They ingeniously reproduce natural sounds (including the cries of animals), imitate human speech and the sound of musical instruments, and also whistle their favorite melodies.

Amazonian parrots are well tamed, and once accustomed to the owner, they can be trained, memorizing simple circus tricks. These birds love to be in the center of everyone's attention, and therefore do not hesitate to talk with a large gathering of people. They become attached to the owner and are well adapted to life in captivity.. The calmest domestic recluses include white-headed, Brazilian, yellow-winged, red-fronted, Surinamese, blue-fronted and Venezuelan Amazons.

Appearance, colors

Amazons are not particularly impressive, but they amaze with the variability of color while maintaining a holistic green plumage background, characteristic of almost all species.

A distinctive sign of each species are noticeable colored spots that adorn the neck, head (including the back of the head), wings and tail. These marks scattered throughout the body can be bright red, yellow, lilac, blue, blue and more.

It is interesting! The iris of the eye in young parrots is colored gray-brown, which changes to chestnut-brown, red-orange or red by 2-3 years. During this period, it is especially difficult to name the age of a parrot, focusing on the iris.

It is difficult to establish the sex of an adult bird, based only on its exterior. It is much easier to do this when the parrots are in a group showing mating behavior.

Amazon species

According to various classifications, from 26 to 32 species belong to the genus of Amazonian parrots, and two of them have already disappeared from the face of the earth.

Here is just a part of the species diversity of Amazonian parrots:

white-fronted and blue-fronted Amazons;
yellow-shouldered and yellow-necked Amazons;
Venezuelan and red-tailed Amazons;
red-throated and red-fronted Amazons;
Jamaican black-billed and yellow-billed Amazons;
blue-cheeked and blue-capped Amazons;
festive and luxurious amazons;
Cuban and soldier Amazons;
royal and imperial Amazons;
Surinamese and yellow-headed Amazons;
Amazon Muller.

In our time, several species of Amazonian parrots (due to the threat of extinction) are in the International Red Book.

Range, habitats in the wild

Amazon parrots inhabit tropical rainforests that grow in abundance in South / Central America, and also live on islands located in the Caribbean.

Keeping an Amazon parrot at home

Not all ornithologists welcome the keeping of parrots in captivity. The arguments are simple - not every owner will be able to properly feed and walk the bird, maintain its health.

Parrot cage device

An aviary is preferable to a cage, especially if you don’t have time to monitor the free movement of the bird around the apartment. The cage should not please you, but your parrot. It is placed away from heating appliances and drafts.

What is included in the concept of a "correct" cell:

spread wings do not touch the walls of the cage (minimum dimensions 65 * 45 * 80 cm). The larger the bird, the more spacious the dwelling;
the bars of the cage must be very strong so that the bird does not destroy them with its beak. Permissible cross section of the rod 2-3mm;
the cage must not be unlocked from the inside, otherwise the amazon will come out of it. Better to use a miniature padlock;
the cage must be equipped with a tray that will partially protect the room from debris and fluff;
impenetrable (for beak) feeders, metal or plastic;
a cage equipped with wheels will simplify the transportation of the bird.

Don't forget water bottles, toys, and exercise equipment such as swings, ladders, and rings.

Care, hygiene

As a true tropical inhabitant, the Amazon loves heat (+22+27 degrees) and extreme humidity (above 60-80%). Dryer air causes skin diseases (itching and dandruff) and increased fragility of feathers.

Maintaining such humidity parameters throughout the apartment is completely optional: it is enough to get aquarium fish or buy an air humidifier. Amazon parrots are delighted with water procedures, so equip your bird with a bath and periodically pamper it with a spray shower.

For the full care of the Amazon, UV radiation is also required: a lamp (20 watts) is mounted above the cage. A year later, the lamp, which worked 12 hours a day, is replaced with a new one. In summer and warm autumn, in clear weather, the pet should be taken out to the balcony so that it takes sunbaths.

Diet - how to feed an Amazon parrot

In the wild, the menu of parrots consists mainly of buds, flowers and fruits, and only last of all grains. AT home diet 60-70% falls on berries, fruits, herbs, vegetables, and 30-40% on ready-made grain mixtures.

Important! It is better to buy a mixture for medium parrots, combining with a mixture for large ones in a ratio of 3/1. It is important that small grains (millet, oats, canary seed) are eaten, which the feathered one often ignores. To do this, you can give grains in a spikelet: parrots like to peel them.

Sunflower seeds and nuts are dosed (fat is harmful to the liver). Given that under natural conditions, these parrots do not eat dry grains, they are pre-soaked. Amazon Recommended Products:

germinated grain;
cereals on water (with the addition of honey, but without salt and oil);
soaked dried fruits and legumes (boiled);
fruits/vegetables high in carotene;
children food(vegetable / fruit purees and juices);
fresh berries (viburnum, sea buckthorn, mountain ash, wild rose, cranberries);
buds and flowers of dandelion, wild rose, chamomile, willow-herb;
flowers / inflorescences of apple, cherry, pear and lilac.

Protein is given little: its excess leads to obesity, self-plucking and other problems. Once a week, the Amazon receives a boiled egg (chicken/quail) and some fat-free cottage cheese.

Important! The parrot should eat branches (apple trees, raspberries, cherries), especially in cold weather. In the spring, branches with ripe buds are harvested for future use and stored in the freezer. In winter, the branches are placed in the water, waiting for the buds to blossom and offering to the feathered one.

List of prohibited products:

avocado (poisonous to birds);
papaya and mango (only possible as part of baby puree);
potato;
onion and garlic;
food from the table.

Every year, especially during the molting period, Amazons are fed with vitamins for birds.

Lifespan

This indicator is directly proportional to the quality of the feathered content. Ornithologists believe that the average human parrot is assigned to the Amazonian parrot - about 70 years old.. Official data show shorter life expectancy different types. So, it is known that one Surinamese Amazon lived in captivity for 56 years, a yellow-necked Amazon - 49 years, a blue-fronted Amazon - also 49, and a Venezuelan Amazon - 30 years.

Parrot diseases, prevention

Not everyone knows what a healthy Amazon should look like, but there are several defining signs:

the beak is shiny and smooth, without peeling / layers;
plumage - dense and bright, without blackened feathers;
eyes - clear, not squinted;
paws - full and powerful, with evenly thickened fingers;
the skin on the paws is shiny and smooth, with no wrinkles or flaking.
behavior - calm, without apathy and nervous breakdowns.

Amazons are prone to ailments common to many parrots.

These diseases are bacterial, viral or fungal in nature:

glandular stomach expansion syndrome;
salmonellosis and chlamydia;
pseudotuberculosis and tuberculosis;
papillomatosis and poliomavirus;
paramyxovirus and circovirus;
herpesvirus infection of parrots;
candidiasis and cryptococcosis;
aspergillosis and malassezia;
parrot megabacteriosis.

Watch out if your bird has become lethargic, fluffed up and ruffled, does not eat well, has lost weight, wheezes or sneezes, has fallen off the perch, is limping, shaking and showing drowsiness.

Important! Any of these symptoms will be a signal for urgent treatment to the clinic.

Alarming symptoms include self-plucking, overgrowth of the beak, redness of the nose/cloaca, diarrhea, nausea, discoloration/consistency of the feces, as well as cloudy, reddened, inflamed eyes, and tearing.

Can an Amazon be taught to speak?

The Amazon parrot is easy to train and can retain more than 100 words and sentences in memory.. Lessons begin only after the pet gets used to the new housing and the owner. Speak the words clearly until the student understands what is required of him.

For correct pronunciation, reward with treats and praise. When the Amazon gets a taste, it will begin to remember and reproduce everything it hears, so exclude all strong words from your vocabulary.

Amazon parrots already in the 15th century appeared in the homes of the nobility as pets. They live in South America, Central America and the adjacent islands. These birds began to conquer Europe after the voyage of Columbus. Amazons were first discovered in the forests of the Amazon Basin, the Latin name of the genus, Amazona, is associated with this fact. Detailed description genus from the parrot family was made only in the 19th century.

Amazons are talented, they skillfully imitate a wide variety of sounds:

the crying and laughter of man;
human speech;
animal voices;
sounds extracted from musical instruments - violin, cello and others.

Particularly advanced individuals can memorize up to several hundred words and memorize entire phrases. The Amazon parrot easily adapts to new conditions, it is easy to keep it at home. The bird can be trained and is able to perform simple tricks.

Amazons are not overly shy. They do not hesitate to talk in the presence of strangers and are happy to interfere in their conversation. These parrots are mobile and emotional.

The undoubted advantage of Amazons is the absence of specific pollen on their plumage, which is observed in some representatives of parrots, grays and cockatoos. Even allergy sufferers can keep this bird at home.

Description

The Amazon parrot is a rather large bird, its body is from 25 to 45 cm long. It has a dense physique, a powerful shortened beak, strong paws and a short tail. Wings of medium length do not reach the end of the tail.

The color of the plumage of representatives of this genus is dominated by green, thanks to which the Amazon parrot manages to disguise itself in the foliage. The bird owes its bright outfit to colored fragments, red, blue, yellow, purple and white, on feathers in various parts of the body. Some types of Amazons get their name from these spots. The names of other species and subspecies are associated with the territory of their habitat.

Amazon species

The Amazon genus includes 32 species, each species includes several subspecies. Amazons of the same species living in different geographic areas may differ in size and color. The population of these birds is steadily declining. Local hunters kill Amazons for their delicious meat. Every year parrots are caught in large numbers and taken to Europe for sale. Two species of Amazona no longer exist, some species and subspecies of Amazons are listed in the Red Book.

Types based on color:

White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons);
Wine-breasted Amazon (Amazona vinecea);
Green-cheeked Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis);
Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix);
(Amazona ochrocephala);
Yellow-shouldered Amazon (Amazona barbadensis);
Yellow-bridled Amazon (Amazona xantholora);
Yellow-necked Amazon (Amazona auropalliata);
Red-throated Amazon (Amazona arausiaca);
Red-fronted Amazon (Amazona autumnalis);
Red-tailed Amazon (Amazona brasiliensis);
Blue-faced Amazon (Amazona versicolor);
Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva);
Blue-capped Amazon (Amazona finschi);
Blue-cheeked Amazon (Amazona dufresniana);
Black-eared Amazon (Amazona ventralis).

Types on a territorial basis:

(Amazon amazonica);
(Amazona leucocephala);
Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata);
Suriname Amazon (Amazona ochracephala);
Tucuman Amazon (Amazona tucumana);
Jamaican yellow-billed Amazon (Amazona collaria);
Jamaican black-billed Amazon (Amazona agilis).

Other types:

(Amazona farinosa);
Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis);
Royal Amazon (Amazona guildingii);
Festive Amazon (Amazona festiva);
Luxurious Amazon (Amazona pretrei);
Soldier Amazon (Amazona mercenaria);
Amazona kawalli;
Amazona rhodocorytha.

Extinct species:

Martinique Amazon (Amazona martinica);
Purple Amazon (Amazona violacea).

Amazon parrot: how long does it live in captivity

Types of Amazons that are usually kept at home:

a. Muller;
Venezuelan a;
Yellow-necked a.
Sineshcheky a.
Bell-fronted a.
Festivalny a.

The larger the parrot, the longer the life span is given to it. Amazons live 50-60 years. The life span of an Amazon parrot at home directly depends on the conditions of its maintenance.

Parrot Amazon: content at home

The parrot needs a spacious cage, a balanced diet and active leisure. Important for the health of the Amazon play temperature regime and insolation. The owner is obliged to provide his pet with comfortable conditions and deal with him.

Cell. The cage must be spacious so that the parrot can fly in it. The minimum dimensions are 70x60x80. 2 mm thick rods and a strong lock will not allow the Amazon to break free.
Wet air. The inhabitants of tropical forests do not react well to dry air in the apartment, their feathers dry out and break. Get an aquarium or use humidifiers.
Bathing. You can bathe a parrot with a spray bottle, spraying it once a week. After spraying, be sure to dry the plumage with a hair dryer, expose the bird to the sun or simply leave it alone for 2 hours to spread its wings and dry the inner feathers. Features of the plumage of the Amazon - the absence of a protective "powder" on the feathers. When bathing, the feathers get very wet and if they are not dried out, they will begin to rot and smell bad. The parrot will get nervous and lose feathers.
Air temperature. Constantly maintain the air temperature in the room at 22 - 25 ° C. Do not place the cage in a draft, so as not to catch a cold.
Food. Include fruit in your parrot's diet daily. Under natural conditions in its habitat, fruits are available all year round. Tree twigs placed within the parrot's reach will help it maintain its beak in the desired shape.
First appearance in the house. You can start accustoming a parrot to the house 2 weeks after its acquisition. In the room, close all doors and windows, remove all pets, and let the chick out of the cage. Have him walk around the floor and get familiar with the surroundings. If the bird does not want to go back to the cage, use a net. Be careful not to startle the parrot.
Taming an amazon chick. The bird makes contact easily. It is enough not to frighten or offend her. First, we teach the chick to the hand, then he will begin to take food from the palms, and then he will fearlessly sit on the hand. It is convenient to use special sticks with a sharp tip. A piece of food is placed on the end of the stick and brought to the bird. Gradually, the stick is shortened, and the chick approaches the hands.
Leisure. It is necessary to place a lot of toys in the cage. Mobile birds will entertain themselves all day long. The parrot will be happy to hang upside down on the perch, look at itself in the mirror, pull the wheel with its beak.
Education. Amazons are able to remember up to 100 words, it is interesting to communicate with them; a parrot is able to express emotions, the intelligence of some species corresponds to the level of development of a 3-year-old child. You need to do it for 15 minutes twice a day, protecting the bird from extraneous sounds. First, master the sounds with your pet, then simple monosyllabic words. Young birds learn faster. Birds perceive female high voices better.

Amazons can live alone. With the right upbringing, they will not show aggression. If you had no experience with parrots before, you should pay attention to the Venezuelan Amazon. It is relatively inexpensive and unpretentious, easily tamed, and gets along well with small children.

A few tips on how to choose a Venezuelan Amazon parrot

When purchasing a parrot, give preference to a young individual (5 months); it will be easier to get in touch with him.
In a young parrot, the iris of the eyes is brown, the plumage is faded.
The beak of a parrot of this breed should be dark in color, brown or black.
There should be yellow spots on the forehead and cheeks.
Around the eyes, the skin is blue-violet.
Undertail red.
On the wings there are yellow and red feathers.
It is impossible to distinguish a female from a male, but the ability of parrots to learn does not depend on the sex of the bird.

How to feed the Venezuelan Amazon

Like all Amazons, this type of parrot loves fruits. You can purchase a special feed that contains all the microelements and vitamins necessary for the normal development of the bird.

In nature, the parrot also feeds on flower and leaf buds, flowers; he happily nibbles on the branches of fruit trees. These "delicacies" can be offered to a pet parrot.
In spring, the pet will enjoy eating dandelion flowers with pleasure, and in summer, you can dig up dandelion roots and add them to the feed.

In captivity, the Amazon is restricted in movement and may suffer from obesity. Do not overfeed him, the parrot loves to eat, but only 50 g of food is enough for him per day.

porridge boiled in water;
dried fruits (soaked in water);
legumes (boiled);
fruits vegetables;
baby food (fruit and vegetable purees, juices);
fresh berries.

Sunflower seeds, due to their high calorie content, should often not be given. Nuts are given in limited quantities.

Amazons are smaller than the Jaco parrot and remember fewer words. On the other hand, they are not as aggressive, are easier to train and build relationships with family members and pets.

Amazons have been known since ancient times, they are very beautiful, have large sizes, and are able to pronounce human words. They are capricious, the bird demonstrates the mood with all its appearance, and when it is unimportant, the parrot will not be calm. However, if the mood is excellent, then he will entertain you with his pranks and chatter, and quite meaningful. From the video materials it is clear that they can imitate a lot of sounds. Parrots of this breed have a good memory and their mood often changes.

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Breed overview

There are 29 species of Amazons in the world. Parrots of this breed reach a length of 45 centimeters and are distinguished by a dense physique. The photo and video shows that almost all parrots of this genus have green feathers, while some species differ in spots in the area of \u200b\u200bthe wings, tail or head: red, blue, blue and yellow. They were included in the group of parakeets, which are distinguished by increased communication. The average life expectancy of Amazons is 45 years, and some individuals live up to 70 years.

In the wild, parrots of this breed live in packs, but for the production of offspring they are divided into pairs. To do this, they look for a suitable hollow high on a palm tree and lay 2-5 eggs in it. The female is engaged in incubation of eggs for a month, during this period the male provides her with food without moving away from the nest. The female only occasionally, for a short time, leaves the nest. After hatching from the eggs, the chicks do not leave the nest for up to eight weeks.

Birds eat fruits, nuts, various seeds and even the fruits of the coffee tree. Occasionally, flocks of Amazons devastate orchards.

Origin

The very name of the species indicates that these birds live in the wooded area of the Amazon River. Their homeland is the territory of South and Central America. Parrots of this species can also be found on the islands of the Caribbean. Some types of Amazons settle on tropical plains, others - in tropical forests. More often they choose to live in coniferous and tropical rainforests, as well as plains, but up to a height of a thousand meters above sea level.

Appearance

Judging by the numerous photos and videos, as well as the reviews of the owners, the Amazon parrot looks like a large bird with a dense build. The length of parrots varies from 0.25 to 0.45 meters. The feathers of birds are painted in green tones, certain types there are red spots on the head and tail, others have the same markings on the wing (see photo). The main feature of the parrots of this breed is a powerful beak of medium length and rounded shape, as well as a mandible, turning to the base into a sharp rib. The wings are of medium length and do not reach the tip of the tail.

One of the most popular captive species is the Venezuelan Amazon. This bird has a length of 31-33 centimeters and a weight of 350-450 grams. The photo shows that the feathers of the bird are painted in green tones, and the forehead has a bluish tint. The main distinguishing feature of the Venezuelan Amazon is the presence of orange feathers in the wings, the cheeks have yellow feathers, and the paws are gray-brown in color. It is impossible to visually distinguish birds by sex.

In young parrots, the iris of the eye is gray. Upon reaching the age three years it changes color to red or brown. During this period, it is not easy to establish the age of the bird, as well as its sex.

Sounds

Amazons are by nature loudmouths who like to draw attention to themselves. Watching the video, you pay attention to the fact that they are by no means quiet in captivity, especially in the morning and evening hours. This character trait should be emphasized in order to protect yourself from unexpected surprises in the future. An Amazon parrot can remember up to a hundred words and short sentences, not counting songs.

Many Amazons have the ability to make sounds characteristic of the violin, as well as imitate many musical tones. The parrot pronounces human speech with a bird's accent and at the same time burrs a little. Amazons are also excellent at imitating the sounds of a siren, the meow of a cat, or the barking of a dog. The greatest talent in the conversational genre was noted in the Yellow-headed and Blue-fronted Amazons, slightly less ability in the Venezuelan.

Content Features

Amazons are quite demanding on living conditions. When kept in an apartment, you need to provide them with a large cage so that the bird, waving its wings, does not touch the bars of the lattice. Square cells are considered the best, the minimum dimensions of which are 80 by 80 centimeters. Inside the cage, it is necessary to equip wooden perches, hang ropes and rings, and fix metal bowls. At the same time, do not put them on the bottom of the cage, because in their natural environment these birds almost never descend to the ground.

The main food of these parrots is a grain mixture. AT without fail It is necessary to give the birds mineral supplements and vitamins.

Along with the following should be offered:

vegetables;
fruit;
berries;
carrot;
young tree buds;
quail eggs.

According to the reviews of the owners, Amazons love water procedures, they need to be sprayed with a spray gun up to five times a day and bathed twice a day.

Watching the video, you notice that the Venezuelan and other subspecies of the Amazon are birds with a noisy temperament, not easy to keep. It is unacceptable to deprive the parrot of attention, ignore it or cover the cage with a cloth for a long time. He will experience stress, which will end in plucking of feathers and nervous diseases.

Photo gallery

Video "Amazon parrot bathes"

This video shows how the Amazonian parrot Grisha bathes. After watching the video, you can understand with what pleasure the bird takes water procedures.

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Amazon parrots- it's pretty large birds, exceeding the average size of parrots, which mainly live in the territories of Central and South America and in the Antilles. The length of the birds reaches from 25 cm to 45-50 cm. As for the length of the tail, this bird belongs to such species as parrots. The distinguishing feature of these parrots is the beak and plumage color. The beak of the Amazon parrot is powerful, rounded in shape with a sharp rib at the base. The Amazon is also distinguished by the color of the plumage, it is mostly green, some species have red spots on the head and tail, others have a blue spot on the forehead. There are 28 members of the Amazon family. various kinds, some of these bird species are even listed in the International Red Book. Amazon parrot lifespan is up to 50 years in appropriate good conditions, but there are also centenarians of this species. So there is documented information that the Amazon parrot lived for 70 years.

Amazons have been attracting parrot lovers since the time of Columbus. These birds are quite unpretentious. They easily adapt to any conditions and are not afraid of a person, on the contrary, they feel good in his society.

AT wild nature Amazons are also quite gullible. They prefer to stay in small families, sometimes in packs. During the mating season, the Amazons break into pairs.

Amazon parrots are very mobile birds, so the best thing for him would be not a cage, but an aviary so that the parrot can flap its wings and not cling to the bars of the lattice ( minimum size cage-aviary should be 80-90 cm). Amazon parrots are arboreal birds in nature, they very rarely descend to the ground, therefore feeding troughs do not put on the bottom of the cage.

Amazon parrots they are very thermophilic - it is desirable to provide a warm room for them, it will be optimal to maintain a temperature in the room of 22-27 degrees, 18 degrees - the lower limit of the norm, of course, drafts and sudden changes in temperature should be completely excluded.

Dry air is very harmful to Amazons, birds originating from tropical rainforests, especially during the period when heating devices are working. In order for the bird to feel comfortable and not have problems with the skin and feathers (itching, dandruff, brittle feathers), the air humidity should be from 60 to 90%. If the humidity in the room at least periodically falls below 60%, you must turn on the humidifier or use improvised means (hang wet towels, etc.). The bird should be sprayed daily 2-3 times with warm water from a spray bottle, and once every 2-3 weeks you can bathe with the feathers completely wet (under the shower or in a container of water). Amazons love to swim and play in the water more than other parrots, the main thing is to give the bird this opportunity and regularly offer it bathing and showering, especially in the summer heat.

The Amazon is a very active bird, so it is better to replace the constant stay in the cage with walks indoors, after making sure that the windows are closed in order to protect yourself from losing the parrot flying out the window. The best option for walking would be the equipment in the apartment walking stand from strong branches, snags, thick perches, etc. A variety of ladders, rings, natural (hemp, jute) ropes are placed on the stand (Amazons love to climb ropes - like climbing vines) and, of course, toys- both store-bought and homemade. Each bird has its own preferences, but many Amazons like baby pyramids, rattles, small balls, wooden cubes, colored wooden pendants, etc., and bright colored toys are clearly preferred to faded and gray.

It is known that amazon parrot - talking parrot. A tamed Amazon can memorize and pronounce about the same number of words and sounds as a Jaco parrot, but he does it in a special "croaking voice". Talking amazon parrots also known as skillful "repeaters" of various sounds, they are best obtained: dog barking, laughter, coughing. Amazons boldly demonstrate their talents to any public, unlike, for example, Jaco parrots, who, although no less talented, are rather distrustful. They love and know how to draw attention to themselves. Amazons are able to memorize up to 100 words and sentences.

Amazons are by nature loudmouths. Therefore, in captivity, they behave quite noisily, especially in the morning and evening. It is worth paying special attention to this feature of the Amazons, so that later you do not have problems with the immediate home environment. The temperament of these parrots is quite peculiar, sometimes even arrogant. Amazons have a good memory and are prone to frequent mood swings.

In the diet amazons nutrition includes many grain mixtures of fruits and vegetables. Amazons are also known to eat meat, but you shouldn't give him meat. It is known that when the Amazon is fed meat for a week, feathers begin to fall out, the molt takes much longer, after which the parrots become obese. Therefore, many professional breeders recommend the Amazons' vegan diet. The main food for Amazons is grain mixture. Desirable buy food in specialized stores. Be sure to give the Amazon mineral top dressing. Amazons have a very good appetite. Usually, when other species are sick, their appetite disappears, Amazons eat well even when they are sick.

Amazons are very fond of carrots, it contains vitamin (A). Also from vegetables they prefer pumpkin, colored Chinese white cabbage. From fruits apple, pear. Citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, limes) - it is advisable to peel them, because. imported fruits are treated with chemicals to control pests and extend shelf life. Berries (strawberries, currants, raspberries, blueberries, viburnum, lingonberries, gooseberries, red and chokeberry ashberries, wild roses, cherries, cherries, cranberries, blueberries). Berries can be given both fresh and frozen, having previously thawed to room temperature. Bananas, melon, watermelon (both pulp and seeds). Plum, peach, apricot. Grapes (no more than 4-6 large berries per day, with seeds). Pomegranate (no more than a quarter of the fruit per day). DO NOT GIVE: mango, papaya, persimmon, avocado, potato. Parsley and other herbs (contain a large amount of essential substances harmful to parrots). Do not give candied fruits.

Excess protein in the diet is extremely harmful for Amazons, it can lead to obesity, self-plucking, etc. Therefore, protein food for non-breeding birds is strictly dosed - once a month you can give a little low-fat (preferably 0%) cottage cheese, a boiled quail egg. You can not treat the bird with food from your table, this leads to illness and premature death.

The Amazon parrot is a bird for those who appreciate intelligence, sociability and beauty. If this is your first time getting a parrot, know that this representative is an excellent choice even for beginners. The reviews of the owners are mostly positive: active, cheerful, friendly, sociable, lively, inquisitive, smart, artistic, loving their owners and at the same time noisy, arrogant, quarrelsome and talkative, especially in the morning.

Let's talk about the maintenance and care of these unusual pets, so that communication between you brings mutual pleasure.

Amazon birds prefer to inhabit the warm and humid tropical forests and savannas of Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. They spend most of their time in the branches of tall trees. They gather in small flocks. When the nesting season comes, they form pairs.

These are very noisy birds, they constantly scream, no matter what they do: waking up early in the morning with the first rays of the sun, they start roll call and tell each other the news, in the evening before going to bed they sort things out among themselves for a place on a branch, and they also scream when they are looking for themselves food and even when just relaxing.

Their diet is:

fruit,
seeds,
nuts,
mango and coffee fruit,
young shoots,
flowers and leaves.

Description and intelligence of a parrot

The Amazon is a medium-sized bird with a dense build. The body has a length of 25-45 cm, on average a parrot weighs 300-480 g, but there are varieties of Amazons that weigh 50 g, and very large ones weigh 700 g.

The tail is short, rounded. The wings are also small, not reaching the tips of the tail. But the beak is powerful, rounded. With such a beak, the feathered one easily cracks large nuts.

Amazonian parrots in the photo amaze with their bright green variegated plumage:

Juveniles have a grayish-brown iris. At the age of 2-3 years, it becomes red, brown-brown or red-orange.

The main color of Amazon feathers, regardless of species, is green (except for two or three species), but species differences are represented by spots on the head, neck, nape, tail and wings. The range of colors is diverse: lilac, yellow, blue, bright red, blue.

The most popular types of Amazons

The parrot genus Amazona includes 26-32 species, according to various classifications. Two of them are already considered extinct, one is under the scrutiny of scientists, 18 are listed in the Red Book as species on the verge of extinction.

As for the nature and intelligence of the Amazons, they are second only to the Jaco parrots in the level of mental abilities. But it is the Amazons that are the best onomatopoeia among all parrots in America.

They can skillfully imitate human conversation, any sounds, including musical instruments, imitate the voices of animals, whistle their favorite tunes and even sing songs:

These are rather wayward birds, sometimes capable of behaving like capricious small children. In a bad mood, you can count on the harmful tricks of a parrot. But at good mood he will delight you with his games, whistles and conversations. Moreover, he pronounces phrases with an understanding of the meaning, which amazes everyone who communicates with him.

In the reviews, many breeders say that parrots of even the same species can have completely different temperaments: one bird is affectionate and calm (it only accepts affection only from those it trusts), the other is scandalous and wayward.

Amazons like to draw attention to themselves and do not hesitate to talk to the general public. These are very affectionate birds, easily become tame, perfectly adapt to life in captivity, which is why they are so popular in home keeping.

Keeping a parrot at home

Considering that the natural range of these birds is the humid tropics, they need to arrange a special climate in the house - the air temperature is not lower than 18 ° C (optimum - 23-28 ° C); dry air during the heating season is perceived by them very hard, so keep an eye on the humidity (within 60-90%). This is where humidifiers come in handy. You can also use wet towels laid out on batteries and regularly spraying the bird with water from a spray bottle. Drafts are not allowed!

Important! Despite the fact that Amazons quickly adapt to new conditions, once in your home, they need peace for some time. Don't overload it with communication.

Cage or aviary

If you can not let the Amazon roam freely around the room, equip it with an aviary. If you give him the opportunity to walk freely from time to time, you can equip him with a spacious cage:

the minimum dimensions are 100x100x90 cm, but if you have a small variety of Amazon, then a cage with dimensions of 80x65x45 cm will do;
cage rods are strong, 2-3 mm in diameter;
the lock that locks the cage or aviary must be strong and reliable so that the parrot cannot open it;
it’s good if the cage is equipped with a retractable tray - it will be easier for you to clean it;
place a few perches;
plastic or metal feeders and drinkers;
simulators and toys in the form of ladders, rings, swings, ropes tied with knots.

Do not overly clutter up the space of the cage or aviary - the main thing is that the Amazon can move freely inside without touching objects.

The tray in the cage is cleaned daily, as well as the feeders and drinking bowl are washed daily. The cage is washed with hot water and a brush every few days.

To travel in a room allocated for a pet, arrange for him play space with stairs, bright rattles, children's pyramids, colored wooden pendants, curved twigs, ropes. This will draw the attention of the parrot from the rest of the objects in the room. Also make sure that there are no small objects anywhere, and be sure to close the windows.

Food

For the Amazon parrot, grain food, common to many other domestic birds, is not very attractive. After all, in natural conditions he eats little of this food. But fruits, flowers and plant buds are an excellent diet. Parrots love foods such as:

grapefruit, tangerine, orange, lemon, lime, previously peeled;
pumpkin, carrot, cauliflower;
banana, pear, apricots, watermelon, apple, peach, plums, melon;
various berries (cherries, sweet cherries, lingonberries, sea buckthorn, viburnum, wild rose, mountain ash, cranberries);
flowers, inflorescences and buds of shrubs and trees (cherry, apple, pear, as well as lilac, wild rose), also chamomile, willow-herb and dandelion;
fruit and vegetable baby food (mashed potatoes and juices);
nuts;
give seeds of canary grass, millet, oat grains, if possible, in the form of spikelets, otherwise it may turn out that the pet will ignore such small grains, but peeling the grain from the spikelets will entertain him and feed him at the same time.

Did you know? Grain feed for Amazons makes up only a third of their diet.

Dry grain is given in a soaked form.
Cereal porridges are cooked in water, you can add only a little honey and no oil, sugar or salt.
Seedlings of cereals (wheat, oats, barley) are also given.
No more than once a week, give some hard-boiled chicken or quail egg and low-fat cottage cheese.
Buy ready-made feeds that are designed for medium parrots.
Regularly give the parrot fresh water and mineral supplements.

Make sure that the Amazon always has cherry, apple or raspberry branches. In the spring, harvest branches with hatched buds for future use and store them in freezer. When cold weather sets in, place defrosted branches in water so that the buds open. Then give to your pet.

Read also: Amazon Muller: description, content, breeding

Foods that should not be in the diet:

avocado and persimmon,
potatoes and papaya
meat and dairy products,
sweets and chocolate,
mushrooms and flour products,
eggplant, tomatoes and onions,
parsley and other herbs,
fish and seafood,
coffee and alcohol,
human food from the table.

The daily norm for one parrot is 50 g of feed.

Water procedures

Almost all parrots are great lovers of splashing in the water, Amazons are no exception. If at least once or twice a month (and in the summer, in the heat more often) you do not give him such an opportunity, the parrot will have itching on the body, dandruff, feathers will crumble, break and fall out.

For water procedures, a bath is suitable in which the Amazon parrot can accommodate, or a warm shower in the bathroom.

This is how parrots like to bathe:

clipping wings

If you are worried that your pet will not fly away, being outside the cage or aviary, you can trim his wings a little. You will need an assistant:

prepare hydrogen peroxide or any blood-stopping agent in advance, you will use it if you accidentally cut off young, only developing feathers;
wrap the Amazon with a towel, hiding the beak and claws so that it does not scratch you;
take out the wing and feel for the largest feathers in the first row. Cut the 7 extreme feathers with scissors.

Training, is it possible to teach to speak

Amazon parrots are fearless, confident birds, active and can be sassy and mischievous. Therefore, it is important to stop such behavior immediately, and start raising a pet as soon as he appears in your house.

Amazons constantly demand attention, if they get bored without you, they will start screaming loudly. To prevent this cry from becoming permanent, teach him the rules of behavior.

If you are a quiet lover, consider choosing another parrot. With the advent of the Amazon in your home, you will not see silence.

The loudness of these birds is innate, especially in the mornings and evenings. To shorten the duration of calls, cover the bird with a dark cloth - this way you will train it to signal that it is time to sleep.

This is how they wake you up in the morning:

The mood of the parrots is changeable: a minute ago he whistled merrily and jumped around the cage, and now he sits, turning away and buried in a toy. This is normal Amazon behavior.

Amazonian birds are excellent talkers, they easily and quickly memorize words and phrases, cheerfully sing the songs they were taught, and also recite poems. Don't forget to reward your pet with a treat on every successful attempt. They can meow, repeat the sound of human laughter, phone rings and doorbells. Their vocabulary can be up to 100 words. Especially talkative are the blue-fronted and yellow-headed Amazons.

Breeding Amazons at home

These parrots become sexually mature at about the age of four.

Breeders do not experience any special problems in their reproduction. Individuals that like each other will fluff their cheeks and tail in front of each other, open their wings a little, and also raise feathers on the scruff.

The female makes a clutch of two or three eggs, incubation lasts 26-29 days. The male during this period feeds the expectant mother. The grown chicks leave the nest at the age of seven to nine weeks. But another month they are guarded by their parents.

There is only one big problem that breeders may face in the breeding process - the aggressiveness and destructiveness of Amazons during the mating season. Anyone approaching the cage can be attacked. Be careful and make sure that during this period the bird moves less in the wild.

Attention! Amazons who have lived alone for a long time, not in a flock, are not suitable for the role of parents. They are able to destroy eggs and offspring.

How to distinguish a female from a male

Amazons have practically no external sexual differences. Therefore, you can understand who is a boy and who is a girl only in time. mating season and in the group of birds. By their behavior (courtship), the birds will signal their gender.