Animal-World > Birds > Amazon Parrots > Red-lored Amazon

Red-lored AmazonYellow Cheek Amazon

Family: Psittacidae

• Puzzles
• Postcards

Amazona autumnalisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Peter van der Borst

     The colorful face of the Red-lored Amazon or Yellow Cheek Amazon has inspired many enthusiats to proclaim it the most beautiful of the Amazons!

     The common names, Red-lored Amazon and Yellow Cheek Amazon, are readily apparent on this birds pretty face. Which ever name you prefer, it is fitting as the lore (and forehead) is definitely red and the Cheeks are definitely yellow.

     This beautiful amazon is regarded as a wonderful pet, being very gentle, affectionate, and loyal. They display less aggressive behavior than many of the other popular amazons. Although capable of being quite loud at times, the Red-lored Amazon is not considered to be the best talker. Some will be good talkers while others will only say a couple of words.

     As is true with all Amazons, they are very social and enjoy the company of people as well as other birds. They will form very strong bonds with their owner, becoming fast friends and exhibit total confidence. They are also a hardy robust bird and can do well in either a cage or an aviary.

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

Scientific Name: Amazona autumnalis Subspecies:

• Red-lored Amazon
  Amazona autumnalis autumnalis
• Salvin's Amazon
  Amazona autumnalis salvini
• Ecuador Amazon or Lilacine Amazon
  Amazona autumnalis lilacina
• Diademed Amazon
  Amazona autumnalis diadema

Distribution:      The Red-lored Amazon or Yellow Cheek Amazon is found in Central America from eastern Mexico to the peninsula of Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. They inhabit the canopies of woodland and forest trees in tropical zones.

Description:      The Red-lored Amazon or Yellow Cheek Amazon has an overall green coloring. The lore and forehead are red, the crown is blue, and the cheeks are yellow. The wings are a spectacular array of color; green with red in the middle and blue on the outer edges and on the tips. The eye is orange with a white ring around it. The beak is gray but with a yellow horn color on the upper portion and the legs are greenish gray.      Juveniles will have less red on the lores and forehead, the cheeks may have some green, and the eye is dark brown.

Size - Weight:      Mature birds are about 13 1/2 inches (34 cm) long from the head to the tip of the tail.

Care and feeding:       A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend a good deal of their time on a play pen or parrot perch.       In the wild these birds eat fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, blossoms and leaf buds, as well as foraging in corn fields. The Amazon's main diet should primarily be seeds, nuts, fruits, and green vegetables. A commercially prepared parrot mix or pelleted diet can also be beneficial.

     See About Amazon Parrots: Housing and About Amazon Parrots: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:      Amazons enjoy human interaction as well as interaction with other birds. In the wild they are very social birds living in groups. They are usually seen in groups, but with some distinct pairs in the group. The groups can be small with as few as six birds, to large with up to a hundred birds. They form monogamous pairings during mating season.

     See About Amazon Parrots: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded Amazon.

Activities:      Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys. Also needs room to stretch its wings although climbing seems to be its favorite activity.

Breeding/Reproduction:      These amazons were first bred in captivity in the United States in 1956, but breeding successes have been variable. They become sexually mature at about three to four years and may raise more than one brood per year. The hen will then lay two to eight eggs which incubate for about 26 - 28 days. The young will leave the nest at about 12 weeks.    As with many parrots, the male will eat for both himself and the female while she incubates the eggs and feeds the young. The male regurgitates the food for the female to eat. He gets a lot less picky about what he eats at these times!

     See About Amazon Parrots: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.

Potential Problems:      These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Like all amazons, the Red-lored Amazon can be noisy first thing in the morning and just before the sun sets. They have a loud piercing call, though many owners say their Red-lored pets are relatively quiet. Amazons can often be quieted by just covering their cage for a short period of time.

     See About Amazon Parrots: Potential Problems for information on health.

Availability: The Red-lored Amazon or Yellow Cheek Amazon is occasionally available.

Add your comment here!
Latest Comments
My girlfriend and I have two young male red lored amazons. We got them both from a breeder and they have been handfed from the first day they hatched. They are just wonderful. We had bought one first 'Junior', but decided to get one of his siblings as well. This way we can leave them for half a day, or even a whole day, as long as they have enough fresh water and food. They are very affectionate birds. 'Junior' who is five days older then his little brother, has cast his love and affection on me, whilest the younger, has taken to my girlfriend. They both get to fly two to three times a day. We let them out in the morning while we prepare their morning snack and they both enjoy watching us prepare their food. If we start this before they are let out, they will become very vocal and upset. They like to cuddle and when they fly in our livingroom, they often land on our heads or shoulders. They often groom us, like they groom each other. They use their beak to go through our hair and also my beard get the same treatment. I am a merchent sailor and I am away for 4 weeks at the time. The first days when I am gone, the older bird, sits on the latch above the stairs and calls out to me. He does eventually stop this. When I enter the house again after four weeks, both of them make 'happy sounds' and lighten up. If they are not let out at once when I get home, they will be very vocal again. As soon as they are let out, they both fly to me and start chatting as if to let me know what has been going on while I was away. Red Lored or 'Yellow cheeked' are very social birds, and they love company. They are very trusting, even to complete strangers to them. As long as people are calm and soft spoken at first, they often fly over to guest and sit on their shoulder and groom them as well. They are both great company for my girlfriend while I am away and we both enjoy them when I am home as well. Jonas Ellgaard, Århus, Denmark. Jonas Ellgaard 2009-12-10
I rescued one of these guys - a thirty-something wild-caught male that I named Oboe, for the whistles that he makes. It took all of one hour to tame him. Now he gets jelly-legs when it's time to go back to the cage, and calls for me if I leave the room. He's the biggest cuddler I've ever seen, and much more of a chewer than my Orange-Winged Amazon. Jennifer 2009-10-13
I have two, Diego and Bella, and they are wonderful pets. Bella enjoys singing while Diego watches her. Diego bonded to my husband and bella to me. They are very loyal, we love them. Wendy 2008-03-13
this parrot is a great friend. they love to do mischief and are very jealous too. mine is 2 years old and says a couple of words. they eat whatever they can, rubber slippers are their favorite. jose chavarria 2007-06-01
This breed is intelligent and has a gentle spirit. If yours doesn't- they just need time to relax into being able to trust again. Have patience. I bought one that hadn't been socialized however he's now doing GREAT! Talk to them, provide plenty of treats, and if you can- they'll really appreciate a TV within viewing distance from the cage. I let mine out of the cage all day long so he can feel 'free' inside the house. Wonderful birds- absolutely wonderful. SANDRA 2007-05-15
Some of the coolest comments:
The Red Lored is very loyal and affectionate and likes to roll about on the bed, in your lap and sometimes be tickled on the belly or toes while laughing. Mine likes to hear and say phrases with feeling and deep emotion. He also likes the tape and DVD of Red Lored's that Mike Schindlinger PHD made during his Harvard studies. (It's only a few dollars, and Spunky likes it right up next to his ear while he eats. He also likes sharing my headset.) He says "Are you OK?" "Hot" for hot food and warm dinners. He will eat too many seeds and too much food, so we limit his a.m. and p.m. feeding of pellets to 1/8 cup of Roudybush rice or other pellets and really limit any seeds - just seeds as treats. He does like milk thistle as a treat. I slice an almond and that is his favorite. Treats should never be bigger than the parrots's eye in my opinion! He also likes cooked veggies like brocolli and yams and carrots and of course peas in the pod - like for chinese food. Once he played a trick on me when I was in the bath tub and left him alone in his room on his cage - instead of responding to my calls as usual, he hid behind his carrier and didn't say anything until I got out of the tub and walked in the room dripping wet all wrapped up in the towel. I couldn't see him anywhere, but he popped his head out from the carrier and said "Are you a dirty bird?" Which is what I say before he gets his bath. He also laughs in a high squeaky way when he sees his toys and other "funny" things to him! Like my friend Claire that has blonde hair and wears red - he does his "happy dance" whenever he sees her, even if she's outdoors. He loves a cartoon show on T.V. called "Big World" on PBS that has a bird in it! He can count -- it does take him 2 weeks to get used to new toys before he will play with them, and he needs to see me play with them first too. Chewing is his fav passtime and he likes to make chewing gum out of paper and carry it around in a little ball until his beak is clean inside, then he spits it out. Cheers, K.M. and Spunky Kathleen M 2008-11-19

Back to Amazon Parrots