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Green-cheeked AmazonRed-crowned Amazon

Family: Psittacidae

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"Cha Cha"Amazona viridigenalisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   "Cha Cha" is a female Green-cheeked Amazon that is approximately 1 year old.

     She takes all her queues from "Joey", the Blue-fronted Amazon she lives with. She says 'Hi Joey', 'Poor Joey', whistles, and barks like dog. She loves her hanging bed, which is like a fuzzy blanket hung like a hammock. Being a young bird her owner says she is quite the clutz!

For more information about the care of Amazon parrots see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Amazon Parrot.

Scientific name: Amazona viridigenalis

Description:    Another name for this bird is the Mexican red-head. Some are talkers, but others are often better at mimicking sounds. Though not as good a talker as many other amazons, they make up for it by being very affectionate and playful. The color of the crown and forehead is a deep scarlet. The cheeks are an iridescent light green and there is blue lilac color behind the eyes.

Care and feeding:    The amazon's main diet should primarily be nuts, seeds, fruits, and green vegetables. A commercially prepared parrot mix or pelleted diet can also be beneficial.

Distribution:    Lowlands of Northeast Mexico.

Size - Weight:    Mature birds are about 13 inches long from the head to the tip of the tail.

Social Behaviors:    Enjoys human interaction as well as interaction with other birds. They like to be greeted when you come into the room. Many tame amazons like to eat at the table and will let you know when it's dinner time!

Breeding/Reproduction:    Green-cheeked Amazons are commonly bred in captivity. The hen will lay two to four eggs which incubate for about 29 days. The young will leave the nest at 9 weeks old.

Availability: Readily available.

Activities: Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys.

Problems:    Amazons can be noisy first thing in the morning, and just before the sun sets. This is easy to control, they can be quieted by just covering their cage for a short period of time.

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Latest Comments
For Lolita's Mom -- we would certainly be interested in caring for your bird when the time comes. We have a red-headed Amazon and obtained him in much the same way you did... email us at BJZotter@aol.com -- we live in the Kansas City area. We have many other birds we have adopted as well. Thanks, BJ & Tom BJ 2009-08-24
Our Green Cheeked Amazon (Mexican Red Head) is a female named Lolita. I found her in a tree after a hurricane in 1995. She came to me immediately. I had no cage and no experience, but since she was banded, I thought it would be no problem at all to find her owner. DUH! The band contains breeder-specific information only. Suddenly I was owned by a Parrot. I bought books (pre-internet) and asked questions. I am fortunate enough to know a couple who own a pet store and specialize in large birds. They have always been a great help. Fast forward some 13 years + and we are still a happy flock. She loves her "Momma," who does nothing to maintain her save fixing her breakfast, while I get a whistle, although a special one. Over the years she has won five awards, including most social bird, at the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in May. Everyone loves her ----- except my three children, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Today is my 70th birthday. Do the math and you will see I am entering the desperate age. Someone who will love her and give her a good home has to appear on the horizon soon. Oh, she has a hatch date (we think) of December, 1993, making her 15 +. She has 40 to 60 years ahead of her yet. We are keeping this in mind, but until necessary she is our baby. She insists we sit with her every night from about 6 to 8 PM for her "flock hour." Phil Berry 2009-02-12
We have had Oliver, a (Green Cheek) Red Headed Amazon for 40 years. Oliver was purchased at a dimestore by my mother as a birthday present for my dad. Little did we know that we would still have him today! Ollie outlived dad, four dogs and a cat. He dearly loves my mother and will say hello to her immediately. Oliver also loves my husband and bonded with him years ago when we visited my parents, so it came as no surprise that when we took mom and Oliver home to live with us, Ollie started singing and whistling with my husband as loud or high pitched as he could to show he was his buddy. As a matter of fact, my husband is the only one that can open up the cage and play with his feathers without getting bit. I can only pet his head when we are alone but I don't dare open the cage and put my hand in there. He has forgotten some things he used to say as a young bird but has introduced new sounds instead. He used to sing the birthday song but now only one line of it. He can vocalize arpeggios but only going up the scale, says, "Hello there", "Hi Oll",("Bye bye"- When we grab our keys or put our coat on), makes a drinking sound, seeds sound going into his cup, silverware scratching on plate sound, a special sound my dad taught him to make when we ask him if he likes what we put in his cup- his eyes also turn bright orange when he shows he likes something too.He can say "night-night" but used to say "night, night, turn out the light" so he has actually shortened his word phrases. He loves oatmeal with milk, fresh or cooked green beans-so he can take out the seeds, corn on the cob, potatoes and butter, chicken leg bones to tear apart, orange and apple slices, raspberries, carrots to tear apart, most nuts. He loves to hold walnuts and pecans in his claw. Big striped sunflower seeds are a necessity everyday. His eyes are always watching you even if he is resting, he doesn't miss a meal or a snack because he knows when the cabinet opens that's where the nuts are! I try to feed him first because he will scream till he gets fed or if we cover him up he will still yell. He gets put in the back bedroom when he can't be quiet when we have alot of company. Oliver loves a good argument. If I raise my voice to talk he does too. If my husband and I are having a conversation he joins in too. If I whisper he talks softly like a little bird cooing. He used to come out of the cage and stand on top but now is afraid to come out even if the door is open. He says "hello there" to strange cats and dogs that come to visit. I think he's really frightened but showing he's the boss. When I vacuum he takes a bath in his water cup so I put fresh warm water in there before I begin when I remember to do so. We cover him on three sides to keep him warm all year round and I make a tent for him when he takes naps. At night he get covered completely and by blankets if its cold. We move the cage around the house so he can be with me or mom during the day. He is afraid of being left by a window or door. I think he's afraid of other birds flying by. But if my husband is outside he loves to watch him. Talk about high maintenance! I know we are programmed by this bird but we're used to it!!! We wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. Barb, IA 2009-02-02
I just lost my Green Cheeked Amazon, Polly after being owned by him for 24 years....He was 51 as far as I know. He was supposed to be 26 when we got him. I am still in major grief mode as you can imagine. I don't know how I will fill the void. I do not plan to get another bird as I'm in my 60's and would not want to leave the bird behind. It's very nice to read comments about all you people who have parrots and love them well as I did my Polly. He died peacefully in my loving hands. Just wanted to share with someone. Penny Valier, Mt. Penny 2008-08-03
My boyfriend and I have a Mexican Red Head parrot. His name is Chico. He is a very loving bird to myself. But when it comes to my boyfriend, Chico will allow him to pick him up but then quickly flies back to his cage. However when I pick Chico up he will let me pet him on his back, pokes holes in my shirt with his beak, groom me by running his beak through my hair, and climbs up to my shoulder. He says, "What?" which I think he gets from me asking him, "what are you doing?" Chico also coos like a dove and chatters like he is trying to say something but it isn't legible. We got Chico from a couple that never had time to spend with him. They kept him locked in his cage and wouldn't let him on their shoulder. When We brought Chico home he was very shy at first and ran away when we tried to pick him up. Now he loves to perch and sleep on top of his cage. I never close him up unless he gets into one of his flying moods or we have alot of people over. When I come home from work and don't greet him he will let me know he wants attention by flying to thw kitchen window or flying into my bedroom. He is like a different bird than when we first got him. We have had him for a year now, he is around four years old. We love him very much and look forward to being with him for many more years. Origionally Chico was suspose to be my boyfriends bird but has bonded with me instead. Misty Pollard 2008-05-03
Some of the coolest comments:
Seeing this picture reminds me of my first parrot- obtained in 1968 when I was 14 years old. What a great friend, wonderful pet it was! Certainly it was a captured bird, and had spent time on a farm in its native land. It never talked a word, but had a full repetoire of farm animal sounds, from "quack" to rooster crows, dog barking, cow mooing, etc. I had the great imagination (not!) to name the bird Quack. He needed no training, but was tame from day one. Would lay on his back in my hand, ride the handle bars of my bicycle, "read" books with me, obligingly puncturing the right front corner of each page as turned. With Quack I never needed a bookmarker! His attempts at human speech were mumbles more than articulations. The bird had a built-in clock. He ONLY screamed when he knew I was due home from school. Often, as I walked the last block to home that was when the bird set up his raucous scream- to be let out of the cage and be with me. Reid Welch, Miami Fl 2003-08-20

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