Animal-World > Birds > Amazon Parrots > Orange-winged Amazon

Orange-winged Amazon

Family: Psittacidae

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"Juvenile"Amazona amazonicaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     The Orange-winged Amazon is a very affectionate and popular pet with a fairly good talking ability!

     Known for being quite friendly, they are easy to tame and quite clever. They make a wonderful companion and will quickly form a strong bond with their owner, they can however be rather noisy.

     The Orange-winged Amazon is a robust and hardy bird that can do well indoors or outdoors. As is true with all Amazons, they are very social and enjoy the company of people as well as other birds.

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

Scientific Name:Amazona amazonica

Distribution:      These birds are found in most of northern and central South America as well as the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. They inhabit damp woods, mangrove swamps, and forests.

Description:

The Orange-winged Amazon is green from head to tail, with the under parts a bit lighter green, the feathers on the back of the neck and upper back being edged with a dusky black, and there are hints of blues in the throat and on the crown. The tail is green tipped with a light yellowish-green, has some oranges on the underside, and some green barring on the top.

     They have a distinct yellow-orange on the crown, on the bend and speculum of the wings, and on the front of the cheeks. The rest of the cheek is a bright green and they often fluff their cheeks out, making them look like they have "mutton chop" sideburns. The beak is a horn color becoming gray at the tip, the eye is orange, and the legs are a pale gray.
     Juveniles are mostly green with few of the yellow-orange or blue feathers and their eyes are dark brown.

Size - Weight:      Mature birds are about 12 1/2 inches (31 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 seen in flocks, from small groups to groups of more than six hundred birds. They also form permanent pairs when they are sexually mature.

     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 are commonly bred in captivity. At the onset of warm weather (April to early May) courtship will begin. The hen will then lay two to four eggs which incubate for about 28 days. The young will leave the nest at 8-10 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. Amazons can be noisy first thing in the morning, and just before the sun sets. This is easy to control, they 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: Readily available.

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Latest Comments
I got my OW from a friend of a friend whose girlfriend didn't like birds. I was told that he was probably around three years old. The owner had only had him for a year and had gotten him from a woman. He was very shy at first, but within a couple of days he let me scratch his head. I decided to trace his open band and discovered that he was illegally imported in 1983, so he's 26 years old. I have no idea how many owners he's had, but he must have been very lucky because I've now had him for only 2 months and he's the sweetest bird I've ever had. His name has changed multiple times I think and he wasn't actually named when I got him. So, I've named him Darwin and he loves to be with me and whistles and talks all the time. His talking, however, is impossible to understand. I know that he is talking some about airports, but I can't really understand anything else. Anyway, I love Darwin and I've promised him that he will live with our family the rest of his life. Lisa Haake 2009-08-05
I got my OW at a bird show in Orlando, Florida from a breeder of many different species. All her birds were sweet & gentle & friendly. Lolita was just finished being weaned & she is now 6 1/2 years old. She is the sweetest girl! She has never bitten anyone but me, once, when I made her do something she didnt want to do. She talks fairly well. Her favorite thing in the world to do is chew & destroy wood. I usually get her wooden bird houses from the craft dept. at Walmart & they are gone in 2 days. She loves being with me & will scream if she doesn't get out here fast enough. She was an awesome cuddling bud with my female Nanday Conure, Keiffer.(who was suppsoed to be my boy named after Keiffer Sutherland from The Lost Boys) But after 11 years of having him... she layed an egg. Keiffer was caged with my male Indian Ringneck & got along well with him too. But the OW was her favorite. Keiffer passed to the Rainbow Bridge on the 25th & both birds are not up to par yet. It's kind of quiet in the bird room. Quiet in our hearts too. She was 19 & was hatched with a deformed foot & 2 toes. Lolita loved grooming her. Lolita's appetite is not quite as much as it was. I am hoping this will pass & she will perk up. She's my girl!!! A perfect little Amazon. shirley 2009-07-27
I rescued an OW amazon from a terrible place. He was living in a cockroach filled cage and fed nothing but garbage. He lost an eye from getting into a fight with a ferret in their home. His nails had not been trimmed in years,they were corkscrew down to his toes. He is elderly and imported, he has an open band. I cried all the way home because he looked so sad and sick when I met him, it's hard to believe he was living that way for so long. I got him home, bought him a new cage, gave him a bath, some good PROPER food and made a vet appointment. The vet told me I got him in the nick of time and that he was lucky I found him. He was VERY WILD. I have 10 other pet birds, most were rescued from bad situations, and I had never seen a bird as fearful of humans as he was. With veterinary care, proper diet and A LOT of patience and love he is turning out to be the SWEETEST little man. Almost as cuddly as a cockatoo, he can't wait to be with his momma and get a kiss. He loves watching HIS TV and chewing up wood when he is not in my lap. I mounted a tv with cable in the bird room (near his good eye so he can see it)because he loves it. He lets me know what he wants to watch. The only thing I can say that is sometimes a hindrance is his screaming, which I am working with him on. Unfortunately he spent most of his life locked in a tiny cage so screaming is the only way he knows how to communicate. I understand this so I am doing my best to be patient even though my hearing is probably permanently damaged. Since I got him I find myself saying "what" a lot, lol. His scream makes my cockatoo sound like she is whispering. OW Amazons can be VERY LOUD. OW are unique from the other Amazons. I love how he smells like daisies and his neck feathers "puff up" when he is happy. Overall I've found that in spite of his fear of humans he is a gentle bird who doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he just wants love and to be understood. I love him with all of my heart and I encourage all to rescue parrots instead of buying babies, there are plenty more out there just like mine who need someone to love them. Shannon 2009-07-24
I rescued a ow from a family that smoked really bad.. Nicky was over weight and could hardly get around without panting. I thought she was going to have a heart attack, when she flew a short distance she was out of breath and was panting really bad. I swear I could smell smoke on her breath. I have her on a diet and she has lost some of her weight and is able to get around her cage a lot better. She no longer pants and she seems to be happy just to breath fresh air. We have a conure but don't trust them together. I believe she enjoys the company. Nicky still doesn't like to be held but she does let us scratch her head. I just wish people wouldn't get birds without studying up on them first and if they didn't have time to spend with them don't bring them home, they deserve better. Karen Beard 2009-04-08
I received a displaced OW Amazon when his owners had to move out of the country. He had been raised beautifully and is a happy boy. It took about 3-4 weeks for him to feel comfortable in the new environment, but once he was he just jumped in. The most interesting thing about him is that he has a specific scent that doesn't seem to be connected to anything outside or in his environment. He smells like flowers, and if he gets excited the smell gets stronger. I haven't found any reason for it, but it sure is nice, the dogs should learn something from him. The sounds and words he knows are many and varied, its been 5 months and he still comes up with new phrases and sounds every week and he has me laughing at something he does at least once a day. CJB 2008-12-05
Some of the coolest comments:
My OWA did not turn out to be a good situation. The seller said he was tame and talking, but turned out he was NOT tame OR talking, a biter, and had a serious screaming issue. I had him for a year and did try hard to make him pet quality but he never really came around, and everyone in my home had enough of his brainshaking screams. I was forced to rehome him and he is now in a breeding program and is doing fine. I encourage potential buyers to have a lengthy visit with the bird they plan to purchase, and if you can't handle it, find another! Keep in mind there is no rush in getting a bird, and they live as long as hummans so the right selection is very important. Bobbi 2008-09-25
I have owned several parrots over the past 20 years, and after the death of my precious Cockatoo several months ago I just didn't think I would ever be ready for another bird. I had a chance to get an OW that needed a home, although it was so much sooner than I had counted on. At first I was so overwhelmed by this energetic, laughing ball of green feathers that I didn't realize she was showing me how much she liked being in her new place (even under the watchful eyes of 2 cats). It took very little time to establish a small household routine that she seems to like, and a little adjustment with her food. I knew from a past parrot that Amazons can be moody, so she has certain toys that she can beat up on, and she will even chase me to get them out of my hand. I can also tell her happy and content times by her movements and sounds. She is always watching my expressions and words like she wants to talk, but only manages to 'squawk' out the sound. These pets are just like children, so you need to remember to monitor everything they are doing outside of that cage! Life is never dull with a Parrot. Angela Kate Brown 2007-11-03
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
Hi. I have had an amazon parrot now for about 6 months. He came from a home with no love, toys, etc! He used to be shut in a room all on his own. Now I have him taking food from me and I can stroke his head all the time. He is still scared of some of his toys I have bought him...LOL... But I feel that I'm getting there. He spends most of his day out of his cage. I wish he would be more sociable with others, but I guess that will come in time. ps. What a great site this is! Deb 2005-10-18

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