Panama AmazonPanama Yellow-headed Amazon

Scientific Name: Amazona panamensis
(previously: Amazona ochrocephala panamensis)

Distribution:      The Panama Amazon or Panama Yellow-fronted Amazon is found in western Panama, and northwest Columbia. They inhabit open woodlands and tropical zones

Description:       The Panama Amazon has an overall green coloring with red on the bend of the wing. The forehead and forecrown are yellow, making a triangular shaped patch. Above the eyes and bordering the yellow patch is bluish green.The beak is more of a bone coloring with gray on the upper part of the top mandible and the feet are light colored.     

Size - Weight:      A smaller amazon, mature birds are about 13 inches (33 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 possibly 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 either in pairs or flocks, from small groups to groups of several 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 can be bred in captivity. At the onset of warm weather (April to early May) courtship will begin. The hen will then lay up to three eggs which incubate for about 29 days. The young will leave the nest at 8-12 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. 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: The Panama Amazons are harder to find than some of the other amazons, but are well worth the time and effort searching for them.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS.