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Double Yellow-headed Amazon

Yellow-headed Amazon, Yellow-headed Parrot

Family: PsittacidaeAmazona oratrixPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

Double Yellow-Headed Amazons are excellent talkers and frequently sing very well too!

The Double Yellow-headed Amazon Amazona oratrix, is an extremely intelligent, attractive and entertaining parrot. Also known as the Yellow-headed Amazon and Yellow-headed Parrot, this is a prize bird that is particularly handsome with a high aptitude for speaking. While young these mostly green birds have only a yellow forehead and maybe a dappling of yellow across the rest of the head. The completely yellow head of mature birds takes place through molting over a period of about 4 years. The adult is a lively, spectacular colored pet bird.

The Yellow-headed Amazon has been popular as a pet for several 100 years. These birds are very inquisitive. They are definitely not a timid or shy bird and are known to be drama queens/kings. The Double Yellow Headed Amazon will usually attach itself to one member of the family as a mate but will tolerate the other members of the family as part of the flock.

Similar to other Amazons they are very sociable and active, but with them it's to an unusual degree. Depending on the individual bird, Double Yellow-headed Amazons can have an incredible vocabulary. They are considered the best talkers of all the Amazon birds, and second only to the African Grey Parrots. These parrots also strongly desire the attention of their owners, and will perform all sorts of amusing antics to gain and keep it. Such things as fanning out their tails, quick wild head movements, turning their head upside down, and rapid in-out dilations of their pupils.

This particular amazon can be feisty. Early socialization and training will help alleviate that to a great degree. The Yellow-headed Amazon is very social on the one hand, enjoying its human companion and their company. Yet on the other hand it can be quite independent, needing and wanting alone time and its own territory. A human needs to understand their birds' body language. If they are not in the mood for company or interaction, they will let you know. . Learn when its head is down and its beak and wings are in position, that it means "NO", and if you are persistent you might get nipped. The Yellow-headed Amazon is also prone to a hormonal stage as it matures, which is why they are recommended for an experienced bird owner.

With the Double Yellow Head you get the best of both worlds. A parrot that will enjoy the interaction with its human, eating and playing or even watching television. Yet it can also entertain itself without being demanding, content just playing with its toys, for hours at a time.

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

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

Scientific name Amazona oratrix oratrix
Previously: Amazona ochrocephala oratrix

Subspecies:
Amazona oratrix oratrix (Ridgway, 1887)
Amazona oratrix tresmariae (Nelson, 1900)

More recently the birds in the ochrocephala group have been under review, with some classification adjustments being made. In in 1991, a recommendation to reclassify this group was made by the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of the American Ornithologists' Union. This has resulted in the Amazona ochrocephela now being identified as the Yellow-crowned Amazon only. The Yellow-naped Amazon is now described as Amazona auropalliata, and the Yellow-headed Amazon is now Amazona Oratrix.

Distribution The Double Yellow-headed Amazon Amazona oratrix was first described by Ridgway in 1887. It is also known as the Yellow-headed Amazon and Yellow-headed Parrot. It is native to central and northwestern areas of Central America, the coastal regions of Mexico. In the wild they live in pairs or flocks, and are sometimes seen singly. They inhabit forests, savannahs along the forest edge, and wooded areas where they feed on fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, and the blossoms and leafy buds of foliage.

The Amazona oratrix has three recognized subspecies, and a couple others that are not:

• Tres Marias Amazon - Tres Marie Yellow-headed Amazon A. oratrix tresmariae
  This subspecies from the Islas Marías is more colorful. Its color shows a brilliant yellow which extends onto its chest and intermittently down to the start of the tail. It has a vivid red on the bend of the wing and is also missing the black barring on the shoulders.
• Belize Yellow-headed Amazon A. oratrix belizensis
  This subspecies is found widespread in coastal Belize. This Yellow-headed Amazon, is yellow only on the upper head to a line from lores to earspot, including the upper cheeks.
• Honduras Yellow-headed Amazon A. oratrix hondurensis
  This subspecies is found in the Sula Valley, Honduras. Its yellow coloration is only on the fore head and the nape.
  
  
• Greater Yellow Headed Amazon - Magna Amazon A. oratrix Magna
  Another race, the Magna Yellow-headed Amazon A. oratrix Magna, is from the Gulf slope of Mexico. It is not a recognized subspecies. Say it is smaller and the variations in color are a result of location. It looks identical to the nominate species as a juvenile, and does have the black barring on the shoulders as an adult.
• Yellow-headed Parrot A. oratrix guatemalensis
  The guatemalensis s found in north-western Honduras and adjacent eastern Guatemala It is also not a recognized subspecies, but resembles the Belize Amazon A. oratrix belizensi so is commonly included in the subspecies. It may be an undescribed subspecies.

Status The Amazona oratrix is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Endangered (EN).

Description The Double Yellow-headed Amazon is generally green with paler, more yellowish on the under parts. The entire head and throat are yellow and the bend of the wing is red with some yellow mixed in. The carpal edge and thighs are yellow. The ring around the eye is unfeathered and white. The iris of the eye is orange and the beak is horned colored turning gray towards the base on the upper mandible.

Yellow-headed Amazons are surprisingly heavy bodied. Mature birds are a bit larger than other Yellow-crowned Amazons , these Amazons reach 15 -17 inches (38- 43 cm) long from the head to the tip of the tail. Maturity is considered in the 4 - 5 year range and the life span for these creatures is 60 - 80 years.

Lutino and blue variations of the Yellow-headed Amazon have been produced in aviculture as well as a myriad of other combinations. This species will hybridize with other yellow Amazons in nature. So the exact feathering and color in the wild as well as in captivity can be quite different in each bird.

The immature bird has only a patch of yellow on the forehead with maybe a dappling of yellow across the rest of the head, and less red at the bend of the wing. The completely yellow head of mature birds takes place through molting over a period of about 4 years.

Care and feeding In the wild, the diet of the Double Yellow-headed Amazon 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. Pellets will work if started at an early age.

Yellow-headed Amazon (juvenile) Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

"Louis" is a juvenile Double Yellow-headed Amazon
about four and a half months old. When he (or she)
gets older the entire head and throat will be yellow.
Lou is headed to being a great talker since he is
very vocal and already seems to be forming words!

Plenty of human food that is nutritious can be offered, and they like chicken. They like to eat at the table and enjoy eating with their family. Avocado and chocolate are toxic to any parrot. They will let you know when it's dinner time.

Housing A roomy cage is required for the Double Yellow-headed 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.

Yellow-headed 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 The Yellow Headed Amazon enjoys human interaction as well as interaction with other birds. In the wild they are very social birds living in groups with the available food supply determining the size of the group. Many times there are several hundred seen in a group. They also form permanent pairs when they are sexually mature. However, they are also seen singly in the wild, which may be the reason for their more independent nature.

If you are looking for a quiet, shy, timid bird, this amazon is not for you. It is a highly social bird who loves to be the center of attention. They will learn tricks, and learn to play tricks on you. They look forward to interaction and games and will provide you with many fun moments and a lot of laughter.

Handling/Training The Double Yellow Headed 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.

"They love to learn and find their humans to be quite entertaining at times. I would say to my Double Yellow Head "I'm a bird, I can fly. I'm a bat I lay down'. While saying this I would hold her high in the air and let her flap her wings and then I would lay her gently down in the palm of my hand and let her rest there. This taught her to land on my hand in the air and to lie down on her back. She enjoyed the game and she learned"... Cheryl Galloway

For information about training your Yellow-headed Amazon see: Amazon Parrot Care: Handling and Training

Activities The Yellow-headed Parrot is an active bird 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.

Sexing - Sexual Differences Double Yellow Headed 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. They must be mature, 4 - 5 years of age. 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.

At the onset of warm weather (April to early May) courtship will begin. The hen will then lay two to five eggs which incubate for about 28 days. The young will leave the nest at 8-9 weeks old. 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.

Potential Problems In the wild, amazons will call out to each other first thing in the morning and then again as the sun is setting. So early in the morning your Double Yellow Headed Amazon will be calling for you and he will warn you when the sun sets that it's bed time. These two periods of the day, which usually last about 10 minutes, can be a little noisy with an Amazon. 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 Yellow Headed Amazon, 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 The Double Yellow Headed Amazon is readily available and it should be easy to find one in a pet store or from breeders in your area. They can be rather expensive.

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
• Yellow-headed Amazon Amazona oratrix, BirdLife International, 1986
• Amazona oratrix Ridgway, 1887, ITIS Report
• Werner and Susanne Lantermann, Amazon Parrots, Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 1988
• Yellow-headed Amazon Parrots, AvianWeb LLC, Copyright 2010
• Joanie Doss, Amazon FAQ , Up at Six, Last Revised: Sunday, 20-Jul-2008

Author: Clarice Brough CAS, Cheryl Galloway

Lastest Comments on Double Yellow-Headed Amazon View all 38 comments on Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Add Your Comment

meg - 2011-10-23 Hi - writing from Lower Mainland B.C. Canada...does anyone have a big L shaped breeding/nesting box suitable for Amazon parrots or a pattern so I can make one...or know where I can buy at reasonable price....thanks so much. Meg Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-10-24 China Prarie Farms Nest Boxes has really great nest boxes and easy to clean, view eggs etc. They just don't wear out. Anonymous - 2012-01-22 Doctor Foster and Smith 18008267206 they might have some for sale Reply

Bright - 2011-09-27 Why does my 23 year old Amazon parrot sleep so much? She seems healthy. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-09-27 I don't know what you man by 'sleep so much?' Given their own regular schedule (in the wild), they would normally go to sleep when the sun goes down and wake when the sun comes up. However, if you have to get up at 6 am - so before the sun comes up, they wake up. If you have them watch TV with you at night - they normally stay up. In the wild, they take rest periods during the day - just sorta sit around but they would be up if you were playing, talking to them or activity around the home. So is your little guy sleeping way more than this? Not active? Not playing or talking or interacting? If he is lethargic and not playing or active or his behavior has changed recently, you should take him to the vet. 23 is pretty young. Reply

Natali - 2011-09-24 I have a male double yellow headed amazon parrot that I would like to sell as my husband and I work all the time and just don't have enough time to spend with him. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-09-24 Hi, how about you give people some additional information. Sex, age, speaks, friendly, feisty - they usually are - Reply

linda cordry - 2010-10-11 I recently inherited a female doubleheaded amazon named hailee I have known her all her life. After first owner died she plucked all her feathers we got her over that now I have had her a month but she continues to pluck feathers in the same spot. She was doing good till this past weekend when I could not be here all day. She starts twitching and some shaking then plucks feathers she seem very agitated when this happens. I have to work so she is alone but with freedom and music. I don't know what to do for her. Click For Replies (2) Estry Hiltz - 2010-10-19 What is her diet? Mine is on Harrisons Organic food. I thought I had her on good food before but after a plucking issue I changed it this is better. Also does she have regular showers? Change her cage around every day and give her foraging toys so she has to work for her food. Sounds to me she is bored when you are gone. Lots of toys especially foraging toys work well. Just google foraging toys they are easily made it may take a while before she uses them but it worked for my little plucked chicken cost me lots of $$ to figure this out hope it works for you! Lisa - 2011-09-06 My Goffins cockatoo loves to chew.If you let him he will take big chunks out of your wood window trim or your wood mantle as he did mine. I buy him a box of popcicle stix --you can get them at any craft store like A.C. Moore or Michaels.I also buy wood shapes sold in the bird catalogs like Foster and Smith (make your own toys) parts and put them all in abig bowl in his cage, he drops some and chews some and I put them in the bowl again. He makes match stix size wood or chunks out of the pop stix and the good on the bottom of the cage get put back into the bowl again. A box of stix cost about $4 for a thousand I think--lasts about 2-3 months. Reply

johnsolobird - 2011-07-06 My Amazon Casey used to be the best pet in the world. He would sit on you for hours watching tv with his head tucked under your ear and then one day he just attacked me. It was like overnight he hates humans. I have tried on several occasions to let him out but as soon as I do he will fly at me or anyone else and viciously attack them. He will keep taking huge hunks out of you until you get him back in the cage. I really miss the way he was. Does anybody else have any idea why ? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-07 Sometimes amazons or any bird can get way too hormonal and it's like Jekyll and Hyde. I had Merlin and he was a lover (macaw). 2 years old and breeding season and overnight he has no (none) feathers and is the creature from below. Can't get near him. Couple months go by and Merlin says from his play top "love you". It was like the dawning of a new bird. I suspect that is what is going on with yours. He is hormonal. He is also getting new feathers (time of year) and probably going into puberty (hey a teenager). That's a lot. Second guess (as they are just guesses) he needs a firm hand. Actual bird trainer told me if bird attacks put the bird in the bath tub (no water), yell "jail" and turn off the light and leave the bathroom count to 60. First time zip. Second time bird goes on attack mode I yell "JAIL" and put the bird in the tub. Third time I yelled "jail" the little guy shook and just stopped. Whenever he (hawkhead) went to attack, I would "yell" jail and he would just revert to his cuddly self. Weird. Laughed. It worked. After a couple of weeks, I didn't have to yell "jail" anymore and it never happened again. It sounds laughable but true. Isabelle - 2011-08-24 How old is your bird??? It might be that it has reached sexual maturity!! Mine is a male and just recently went thru all that but he didnt get mean, he got depressed and chewed off a toe!!! We are still dealing with a totaly different bird. I dont know If he will ever be the same! Reply

JP - 2005-10-28 I have a double yellow headed Amazon named Harley and she is almost 6 years old. She is the funniest bird i have ever seen in my life. She can imitate any sound she hears and can say just about anything. When she talks, she keeps me laughing for hours and she loves to show off. Whenever she see's someone she says, "I'm A Bird! I'm a Bird!" and then starts laughing. She is a bit wild at times, and although I raised her from the time she was 3 weeks old, she bites when she gets excited and wants to play with you. Dispite that, she has a great personality and she always keeps me entertained. Click For Replies (1) Cheryl - 2011-06-06 We also have a double yellow named Harley. He is 8 and my boyfriend has had him since birth. "What up" is one of many things he says. He has recently taken to squaking and we aren't sure way. Any thoughts? Reply

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