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Blue-fronted Amazon Parrots

Blue Front Parrot, Turquoise-fronted Amazon

Family: Psittacidae"Pleco"Amazona aestivaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy April Gonazles

   Blue Front Amazon is a very outgoing bird, a great performer and loves to talk!

   The Blue-fronted Amazon Parrots Amazona aestiva are very sociable extroverts, they love to showoff. These pretty birds have long been popular as pets and are one of the most commonly kept Amazon species. They are mentioned in literature written well over 100 years ago. It is an attractive bird with vivid coloring as an adult, yet each adult will have its own feathering pattern. It is known to have one of the longest life spans, 40 plus years, with the potential of reaching nearly a century in captivity.

   This is an intelligent parrot that can be trained to perform tricks and to talk. Comical and entertaining, the Blue-Front Parrot is a bird that you will frequently see in live animal acts. They love to learn and they even can sing. They definitely love music. They can speak and some Blue-fronted Amazons speak just as well as the yellow Amazon parrots like the Double Yellow-headed Amazon Amazona oratrix, or the Yellow-crowned Amazon Amazona ochrocephala.

   The Blue-Front Amazon can be quite independent, but it is one of the easier going Amazons. It will probably have a favorite in the family, however will normally consider the entire family to be part of its flock and behave accordingly. Yet it can become quite attached to one person and if it is not socialized well, will frequently dive bomb anything it feels is a threat to its human. In general all Amazons can be quite protective of their human counterparts. It is important to socialize this parrot starting at a young age.

   This is a calmer amazon and fun to watch. Blue-fronted Amazons like interaction but are quite content to entertain themselves for hours at a time just playing with their toys. The Blue-Front gets along quite well with other birds. It is usually non-aggressive although the males might get a little territorial during breeding season or molting.

For more information about Amazon Birds see:
Amazon Parrot: Information and Care

Geographic Distribution Amazona aestiva Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Scientific name   Amazona aestiva

Distribution    The Blue-fronted Amazon Amazona aestiva was first described by Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as the Blue Front Parrot and Turquoise-fronted Amazon. It is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Northern Argentina. In the wild they live in flocks. They inhabit forests and wooded areas where they feed on fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, and the blossoms and leafy buds of foliage.

Status   The Amazona aestiva is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Least Concern (LC).

Description   The Blue-fronted Amazon is similar to the Orange-winged Amazon Amazona amazonica, but is larger overall. The Blue-Front is primarily green, however, there is quite a bit of color to this species. The feathers are edged with a dusky black. Directly above the upper mandible are blue feathers, going into white and then yellow. The yellow feathers can wrap around the head, eyes and neck. The feet and beak are gray. These birds can reach up to 14" (36 cm).

   There is considerable variation in the markings and coloration on the Blue-Front. Sometimes the blue is a vivid turquoise, thus the name Turquoise-fronted Amazon. Sometimes the blue will cover the entire face. The wings, when extended, will show vivid colors of bright red and violet blue. There are also several mutations of the Blue-Front, but the mutations are not readily available in the pet market.

• Lutino - There is a Lutino mutation where the bright yellow feathers are replaced with white.
• Cinnamon - The Cinnamon mutation is a cinnamon-yellowish color.
• Blue - Another mutation produces an all blue bird with pale yellow markings.

Care and feeding    In the wild, the diet of the Blue-front parrots consists of fruits, plants, seeds and nuts and probably some protein. A pet bird will enjoy a varied diet, including a quality seed mix or a pelleted diet, and many fresh fruits and vegetables. Plenty of human food that is nutritious can be offered, and they like chicken. Avocado and chocolate are toxic to any parrot. They like to eat at the table and enjoy eating with their family. They will let you know when it's dinner time.

Housing   A roomy cage is required for the Blue-fronted Amazons. Amazon parrot cages must not be too confining, so get one that your pet will be able to feel comfortable in. It is their territory and their safe place.This parrot likes to climb and play, and enjoys expanding its wings. It is recommended that a cage be 2 x 3 feet wide and 2 1/2 to 5 feet high, and with a play pen top. A great thing is to have a hanging perch above that for climbing.

   Blue Front Parrots can tolerate varying temperatures, but they need to be kept away from any drafts. They love to be out of their cage on a playpen, and will enjoy interacting with their human as well as playing with toys. A variety of perches should be used of varying size and texture. A rougher textured perch instead of the smooth, doll-rod types, makes it easier for them to perch and is better for their feet and legs. A concrete perch can be placed as the highest perch in the cage and next to a toy. At times during the day they will perch there and it will save them (and you) from the ordeal of having their nails filed.

   Learn to have fun during bath time. Whether you spritz your amazon with water or an aloe spritz, or just put him in the kitchen sink, make it fun. Your amazon will teach you how he likes to be bathed.

Maintenance   The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.

Social Behaviors    These parrots enjoy human interaction as well as interaction with other birds. They like to be greeted when you come into the room. They like to eat at the table and will let you know when it's dinner time. They are quite content and comfortable to be on a perch and in the company of its humans. Whether watching TV or eating dinner, the Blue-Front wants to be with you. The more your amazon is around its human counterparts, the more socialized it is and the more it will talk, sing and mimic. You will establish a greater attachment between you and your feathered friend the more you are together.

Handling/Training   The Blue-fronted Amazon quickly becomes accustomed to a new environment and its keeper, and is then ready to start bird training. Generally though, you should give a new arrival a few days to get use to you, your voice and its cage before trying to handle it. A hand fed baby will not need much taming and can often be handled right away, as it is use to human attention.

   For information about training your Blue Front parrot see: Amazon Parrot Care: Handling and Training

Activities   The Blue-Front is an active amazon and needs plenty of toys, and a hanging perch would be great. A moveable perch that can follow you around the house is almost a requirement. It likes to play, will make its own music and dance, and is quite an acrobat. They entertain themselves quite well and you will enjoy it.

Baby Blue-fronted Amazon Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

Sexing - Sexual Differences   Blue-fronted Amazons are not sexually dimorphic, females look like males. If gender identification is important (for example for breeding birds) DNA / Feather or surgical sexing is recommended.

Breeding/Reproduction   These Amazons are commonly bred in captivity. But the sexes must be confirmed and the pair must be harmonious, bonded with each other.

   They will need a nest box that is 31"-39" (80-100 cm) high with an inside diameter of 12"-14" (30-35 cm) and an opening of 4"-5" (10-12 cm). Provide some soft bedding material inside on the bottom of the box.

   The hen will lay two to four eggs (sometimes 5) which she will incubate for about 29 days. The young will leave the nest at proximately 9 weeks old. In some cases the female will not feed all the chicks so a breeder will be feeding some from day one.

Potential Problems    The Blue-fronted Amazon, though a quieter amazon, can be noisy early in the morning and when the sun is setting. This usually lasts for about 10 minutes. It is just waking up and letting you know it is up or getting ready for bed. These parrots when well cared for will seldom become ill. Though it is often difficult to determine illness, some visible signs of illness to be aware of are:

• ruffled plumage
• listlessness
• drooping wings
• sagging body
• extreme mood changes
• having no appetite
• bulges in feathering
• partially closed or watery eyes
• swelling of the eyelids
• rasping
• difficulty breathing
• excessive saliva
• dirty vent
• any change in the feces not apparently diet related.

   Some of the more common illnesses are:

• Psittacosis (chlamydiosis or parrot fever)
• bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
• feather picking (results of boredom, poor diet, sexual frustration, lack of bathing)
• allergies
• chewing flight and tail feathers by juveniles
• beak malformations in chicks
• Papillomas
• kidney disease (gout)
• toxicity
• heavy metal poisoning
• lipomas in older birds.

   If you notice any of these bird illnesses in your Blue Front parrot, immediately provide a warm, draft free, secure environment kept at about 86°F (30°C). Place food and water close to the perch where it is easily accessible. An ailing parrot should be taken to a avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Availability   Blue-fronted Amazon Parrots are readily available and it should be easy to find one in a pet store or from breeders in your area..

References

• Animal-World References: Pet Birds - Exotic Birds
• Dr. David Alderton, The Atlas of Parrots of the World, T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 1991
• David Alderton, Parrots, Salamander Books, 1999
• David Alderton,, A Bird Keeper's Guide to Parrots and Macaws, Salamander Books, 1989
• Arthur Freud, All About The Parrots, Howell Book House, 1986
• Werner and Susanne Lantermann, Amazon Parrots, Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 1988
• Blue-fronted Yellow-shouldered Amazons, AvianWeb LLC, Copyright 2010

Author: Cheryl Galloway, Clarice Brough CAS

Lastest Comments on Blue-fronted Amazon View all 52 comments on Blue-fronted Amazon Add Your Comment

Brian - 2008-03-03 I just got my second BFA about 3 months ago and I'm so happy that my first one has a companion. I got Toby 9 years ago and is about 15 years old. It only likes me and no one else. But ever since it bit me I have been scared to hold it again, but I'm slowly getting it to come to my hand. Then I got Maya who just turned 9 months old. She's really cute. She also likes me so I lucked out in my family. When I come in she says "hello" and now I'm trying to teach it its name and mine as well. I have them in two separate cages and soon they will be together. I love these birds and wouldn't give them away for the world. Click For Replies (1) Lucinda - 2012-01-01 Putting them in same cage is a bad idea they will bond and be hard to handle. Reply

Amanda - 2009-08-28 I have a male bird named louie. He can say hello lou and he can laugh. He laughs when everyone around him laughs, and he is atached to me. He is scared of everyone and bites them all. Click For Replies (2) alma - 2010-09-06 That is just how my bird eddie is also, and I don;t no what to do. I've had him for over 20yrs. and he will not talk. Lucinda - 2012-01-01 Well they bite because they have chosen you for their mate and they are protecting theirs. The best thing I was told to do is try to get them to step up to all even if on a perch. This is very important cause god forbid something happens to you they need to be taken care of and handled. Reply

crystal miller - 2010-01-25 I got a male and he will bite you when trying to get him out of the cage. After you get him out he's fine. We got him a week ago. The people we got him from says he talks, but we have tried to get him to talk and he won't. We ask them why he doesn't talk to us they say he has to get to know his new home. He is a 1-year old. I sat with him and talked and talked, can't get him to say anything, what can I do. Click For Replies (6) Iain - 2010-03-12 Patience, patience, patience. He's extremely young and rightfully nervous. Try not to take him out of the cage but instead open it and let him climb out. Otherwise do exactly what you are doing, sit with him and talk. Offer him tidbits/treats (in moderation) from your hands and slowly he'll get used to you. As he settles and becomes more comfy he will respond (usually with words or sounds you've been making to him). Don't force / push the pace otherwise it'll backfire. Some people find playing music (while he watches) will start responses (also dancing) or in warm weather use a fine water sprayer to moisten his feathers. All these things and others - done slowly, whilst talking, over time (not hours or days but weeks and months) will enhance his confidence and bring him out of his shell. Enjoy your bird even if he doesn't talk and he'll enjoy you. All the very best with him (I brought mine up this way he's now 10 and runs the house, dogs, cats and us :)) Cyndi - 2010-05-12 Crystal, the only thing you can do with a bird to "make him talk" is to let him be. Not all birds talk, although they are capable. If that is the only thing you are looking for in a bird, then please get a toy bird. Please take some time to do research on the internet. Answers from blogs are not the only source. Just read. And read. Having a new bird is like having a new 13-year old in the house - they will get used to you and will probably surprise you. Good luck! Anonymous - 2010-05-24 We just got a beautiful 4yr old YC amazon.She is super sweet and super shy. She would "growl" at me trying to get her out of the cage.I put a glove on and she jumped right on my hand.I was actually kinda shocked. We are working her away from the glove. Now I have it just in my hand. Just my persnal opinion sounds like your little man is a bit territorial(Sp?) about his cage. My Olivia wants to be on her cage all the time. I believe the previous owners let her sit all day and that was it. We like our sweeties to be a part of the family. Ours was also suppose to talk but have mot heard a word.I am hopingit is jst because she is new and nervious...but if she never udders a word thats okay to. Steve - 2010-06-11 He will bite you as you are entering "his Domain". what you need to do is to open the door to his cage and let him come out by himself, as he is already 12 months old, do you know how he was handled before you took him? Many pet shops are very "rough" with the birds and he will be finger shy. You need a lot of patience.. I mean a lot we are talking about 6-8 weeks of daily attention to create a bond and build the trust relationship. Once he trusts you it all becomes easier. As to talking, Amazons usually get noisy around sunrise and sunset, so be there and join in, mimic the noises he makes and sooner than later he will surprise you. Again it all takes patience... that is the key...enjoy your bird. Don Creamer - 2011-02-08 Hi my name is don I have a blue fronted amazon we got him a week ago and we could not get him to talk but one day the phone rang and he said hello clear as day just give him time do you feed him fruit they love grapes. Judie - 2011-12-23 Hi Crystal, My amazon is 4 yrs. old and a total delite to my family. He sings a total of about 14 different songs and will talk your ear off. When strangers come to the house or I have a gathering around Thanksgiving or Christmas he may manage a hello, but that's it. You would think he couldn't talk at all. I have walked just outside on the patio or in another room where he could hear me while speaking to a stranger and he would talk and sing, but the minute he saw the stranger in the same room he would stop speaking. I think your amazon just needs to get use to you and your family. Make sure he is in the family room where all the action is, and he will eventually learn your voices and phrases and start communicating. Be sure at night you cover him up and allow him quiet and sleep time and area though, because he will be crabby and not have the sleep he needs if you don't allow this. My amazon, G.W., tells me at night when he is ready to go to bed by saying 'time to go night night'. He is really a hoot!! Reply

Linda Beninato - 2011-02-03 I would like to know if the female amazon egg needs to be fertilized? No this is not a joke. Click For Replies (2) Paul - 2011-02-15 Yes, of course it does. Fertilization is internal. So if your parrot lays an egg and has no mate the egg is sterile. Just throw it out. Judie - 2011-12-23 Hi Linda, Yes, you need a male amazon to fertilize the egg if you want the egg to hatch into a chick. Reply

Jill - 2011-03-11 I adopted a blue fronted amazon. We believe it to be a female around 20-25 years of age. She has not spoken a word since we brought her home 3 months ago. If we reach into her cage she growls and snaps. She will come out of her cage on her own and sit on the top, but if you go over there and try to put your hand out she will move away or snap at you if she is crabby. We feed her from our hand each day, misc treats. She takes food from your hands very gently. We were expecting more of a family bird. Any suggestions on how to begin holding her? Click For Replies (8) Mary - 2011-03-22 I am having the same problem with my bird, he was my mothers so he knows us, but she has passed; so now he is mine. I went to the pet store and read that if you try to pet him/her when her feathers are flat against the body, it is best to leave alone, try petting when she is fluffed; like when she is preening, go SLOW. This worked for me. I still can't handle mine except on his terms and he knows me.:D good luck. Cari Sakell - 2011-04-17 Hi Jill, I just adopted an 8 year old Blue Front and when I first met him, I could not even pick him up without biting. Not only being neglected, before, was a pet with two young boys whom absolutely did him wrong, very scared of a stick. The way I communicated in the beginning, was, talking and chanting "His" language". He was very standoffish and took me a lot of patience for his trust. Long story short, He is my absolute, beautiful baby, very, very protective of me. I think, if you try to speak his language first, You will have a bestest friend for life. He protects me with his life, just takes patience. Speak his language first, never, ever regret that. Mine was older, neglected, and abused, before I had even acquired him. Don't give up, they are the most wonderful friends you could ever, ever have. Charlie Roche - 2011-06-03 A blue front can make and normally will make an excellent family pet. The Blue Front has an Independent nature at times (as many Amazons do) but they learn to love and trust their humans. Sounds like this one is pretty scared. She is also what I call cage bound. She knows she is safe in the cage and she is afraid to come out except on her own and only when she feels she can get back in fast. Continue to feed her from your hand. Cheerios, pieces of walnut, shelled sunflower - anything she can eat pretty fast. Then try and put a bowl full of this kind of treat in front of its cage but away from the cage. Put it on a table next to the cage. Put it on anything where the bird has to come out of its cage and over to the bowl - 6 inches then 12 inhes then 18 inches etc. Then hold the treat in your hand 6 inches, 12 inches 18 inches from the cage. Somehow you are going to have to get this little gal out and off it's cage and on to a wooden perch - neutral territory. It is going to take awhile so be patient and go slow. Somehow you just want to get him from the cage to the perch. Treats on the perch, toys on the perch. If you make a fist - real tight with the back of your hand facing the back of the bird there really isn't lose skin for the bird to bite. Start getting him used to the back of your hand. Feed him with your fingers and now he is getting used to hand and fingers. You talk, whistle, sing and listen and watch. If he is fluffed, he is probably relaxed. If his feathers are down and head low and forward he is probably ticked. If his pupils are going in and out - he will bite. Watch and listen to her and learn the body language. You are almost ready. The bird is used to your hand, used to your fingers, you are used to the bird so now you are going to say "UP" with a treat in your left hand and your finger out. That is position one. It takes time. Good luck and go slow. If you are nervous - so is the bird so just go slow. mark - 2011-06-03 I just rescued my first blue fronted amazon and she wasnt treated well I was told she was 8 years old and the first 7 years of her life was spent in the 19x19 inch cage she came with. I got to doing some research and I'm starting to think she is more like 26 years old. I still don't know for sure if she is a boy or girl YET. Anyway she was very scared and biting and screeching alot when I first brought her home. All I can say is BE PATIENT. Earn their trust. My bird is coming along great and I'm thinking about adopting another. Anonymous - 2011-06-07 Thank You Cheryl. We are giving her treats. Now it is just trying to get her away from her cage. I notice each day when I walk up to her, her pupils are going in and out. Do these birds do that a lot or is she irritated that I am talking to her? Charlie Roche - 2011-06-08 The eyes going in and out (pupils getting larger and smaller) and almost looks like the eyes are getting brighter is them on alert. They are wondering what to do. They are thinking should I flee, am I safe, should I attack etc. Who is this coming toward me? Soon you will be able to go up to the cage and her eyes will stay the same and her attitude will be more relaxed. She will learn not to fear. Just takes time. You can also try feeding her outside the cage - I know you are feeding her with your hand outside the cage but you could actually put her food bowl outside the cage and just put it back in the cage in the evening. Might get her out more. lindalynnharrison - 2011-06-12 I had a bird he had a 25 word v. when he tried to bite i would squ irt him in his face an say no. after a little bit he quit. Water bottle it works Gene - 2011-11-21 The bird is not socialized. She thinks she is in charge, and she 'owns' the place. Any area she can roam freely she will decide is her territory, and will defend it, especially since she thinks you are subordinate to her. You reinforce her perception that she is in charge whenever you: 1) let her come out of the cage on her own, i.e. rather than stepping up onto a stick and being brought out; 2) feeding her when she has done nothing to 'earn' it. Start a program of training 2x per day. Rather than have food available to her all the time, feed her 2x/day--after the training sessions. Train her first to step up on a stick. Reserve her favorite treats for her to earn during training. Reply

joyce - 2011-11-10 I got my blue fronted amazon 3 weeks ago when I first went near her she attacked me I had to go to the hospital for a tetanus as she bit hard on my lip so as it didn't put me off her I stop all people coming to visit after a week she has come on to my hand let me tickle her neck played with me. However my daughter stayed over for a night and the next morning today she started to go for me and tried to bite me is she jealous? I feel this is a step back for us help. Click For Replies (2) Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-11-11 How old is your Blue-Fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva)? Is she an older bird that came to you from another home where she was possibly abused? It definitely sounds like she is jealous when you interact with other people, that sounds like it is the reason for her aggressiveness. Blue-fronted Amazons often pick a 'favorite' person, however if they are socialized frequently with many people (and from a young age) they can be friendly with many people. If she is an older bird, it may take a lot of time, patience, and socialization with other people to turn her around. joyce - 2011-11-13 She is 3 years old she has bonded to my daughter who only visits once a week I'm with her all day and night I feed her clean her but she doesn't like me help I don't want to part with her but feel I have no choice she just won't bond with me HELP ...joyce Reply

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