Many different Amazon parrots are available, which come in many different color combinations. Even if you’re familiar with the common species or types of Amazon parrots, there are probably still some that you haven’t heard of before!
Furthermore, this article will look at some of the most popular Amazon parrot types. Also, we’ll talk about some others you might not have thought about before, and we’ll go through the possibilities in the US and abroad.
Table of Contents
- Red-headed Amazon
- Yellow Naped Amazon
- Double Yellow Head Amazon
- Blue Crown Conure
- Orange Winged Amazon
- Lutino Macaw
- Panama Amazons
- Lilac-Crowned Amazon Parrots
- Blue Fronted Amazon Parrots
- Southern Mealy Amazon Parrots
- White-Fronted (Spectacled) Amazon Parrots
- Green Cheeked Amazon Parrots
- Yellow-Billed Amazon Parrot
- Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrot
- Lilacine Amazon Parrot
- Black-Billed Amazon Parrot
- Festive Amazon
- Cuban Amazon
- Puerto Rican Amazon
- Tucuman Parrot
- Hispaniolan
- Imperial Amazon
- Lucia Amazon
- Red-browed Amazon
- Red-spectacled Amazon
Red-headed Amazon
Also known as a red-crowned amazon or an orange-winged amazon, depending on where you live. These beautiful birds, among types of Amazon parrots, are also known for their intelligence. Also, they can live as old as 80 years in captivity.
Furthermore, a stunning parrot, with colors ranging from green to blue, is known for its loud calls. The calls could potentially damage your ears if you’re not careful! If you want one, it might cost you quite a bit; these parrots can sell for up to $2,000 each!
Yellow Naped Amazon
This is one of about two dozen types of Amazon parrots native to northern South America. However, it’s been widely bred and sometimes released in warmer regions worldwide. The yellow-naped amazon has a loud call and energy, often flying off without warning.
Also, it can live for up to 45 years if well cared for. It may also bond more closely with its handler than some other breeds. However, it’s still not ideal for novice owners.
If you think you want an amazon, talk to a breeder who raises several different species, especially before deciding on which bird might be best suited to your personality.
Double Yellow Head Amazon
The double yellow head parrot (Amazona ochrocephala xanthopteryx) is a beautiful, small amazon parrot. It can be either green or yellow, as its name suggests. Among different types of Amazon parrots, they are considered one of the best talkers in their species.
Also, they have excellent hand-taming skills. Keep in mind that it is essential to keep these birds confined to smaller cages.
Moreover, they tend to be escape artists and often chew on wires, ropes, or cords. Especially the ones that they find within their cages.
Lastly, be careful about singing along with your bird. Some will attempt to mimic you for hours on end if given half a chance!
Blue Crown Conure
This beautiful little conure is exceptionally hardy and loves to play. It’s quiet but can be very chatty when it gets used to people.
Furthermore, they are the most popular type of Amazon parrots in North America. You probably don’t need us to tell you that blue crown conures are affectionate and love attention. If you want a talking parrot, you might consider an amazon conure.
Also, they have some of the best speaking abilities. They enjoy learning tricks, making them fun to keep around as pets. But they can also talk well and come in many colors and patterns that aren’t always found with other species.
Orange Winged Amazon
Though it’s also known as a blue-fronted amazon, it’s not related to that bird and is more closely associated with macaws—hence its larger size and longer wings.
The orange-winged amazon comes from crossing an orange-winged parrot with a scarlet macaw (hence its name).
Furthermore, the resulting bird will have gorgeous red feathers on its head. The feathers later fall out in favor of brighter red highlights, and the effect is spectacular!
Also, among different types of Amazon parrots, they are unusual. They don’t develop blues until around five years old and don’t turn as bright or dark as many other blue parrots.
Lutino Macaw
With a blue body and yellow wings, lutinos are strikingly beautiful—just like their greenwing counterparts. However, their size is much smaller, whereas green branches can reach up to 4 feet in length.
Lutinos top out at just 2.5 feet when fully grown. Furthermore, this is due to a mutation in their genes that affects pigment production, leading to a lack of coloring on their beaks, toes, and eyes. Like green wings, they aren’t frequently bred in captivity (making them more difficult to find).
However, unlike green wings—and most other types of amazon parrots—lutinos are primarily kept as companion birds. Their small size makes them better suited for smaller homes or apartments than other amazon species.
Panama Amazons
The Panama Amazon is a subspecies of parrots that you probably don’t know much about. However, among different types of Amazon parrots, it’s widespread. These birds are used extensively in aviculture and frequently bred in captivity.
Also, The Panama Amazons come from several areas of South America and are considered one of three subspecies that make up a group known as Lilacine amazons.
This breed has beautiful pink-purple-colored feathers with unique markings on its head and chest feathers. Moreover, if you like Amazon, it should be on your list! These birds have been in existence for centuries, and many bird keepers will tell you that they have yet to see another breed quite like them.
Lilac-Crowned Amazon Parrots
These brightly colored parrots hail from South America, among the different types of Amazon parrots. They are known for their lilac-colored crown feathers. They’re brilliant birds who love to play and interact with their owners.
Also, they have great vocabularies, which can make them excellent talkers when they feel like it! Lilac-crowned Amazons tend to get along well with other types of birds, and they’re a good choice if you already have another bird or want to adopt two at once.
These parrots are generally gentle, affectionate creatures that enjoy companionship more than most others.
Blue Fronted Amazon Parrots
The Blue Fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) is native to Central America and northern South America. They are trendy pets because they have lovely dispositions and speak several words.
Their calls include ga, bi, and wee. Also, among the different types of Amazon parrots, some people prefer to call them Mexican Amazons. The Blue Fronted Parrot is 30 cm long with a 66 cm wingspan.
Southern Mealy Amazon Parrots
Southern Mealy Amazons are medium-sized, primarily green parrots with distinctive red facial markings. They live in South America and enjoy temperate climates with hot summers and mild winters. They mate for life and tend to be very social birds—meeting strangers is no problem.
However, they’re less likely to engage in play behavior than other parrot species. And what makes these parrots unique among the different types of Amazon parrots? They can talk!
Also, unlike most talking birds, these amazons can understand different words and phrases. Training one takes patience (these guys aren’t as pre-programmed as some other talking birds). However, your Mealy Amazon will learn quite a bit if you work at it.
White-Fronted (Spectacled) Amazon Parrots
White-Fronted parrots are known for being very vocal, even more so than many other parrots. The different types of Amazon parrots are known for their connection to humans and their need to spend as much time with their flock members (humans) as possible.
Moreover, they’re not always used in aviculture due to these behaviors, and it can be challenging to raise by hand in some cases. It’s important to consider how they might fit into your household before bringing one home with you.
Green Cheeked Amazon Parrots
These birds have vivid red feathers on their cheeks and a solid white underbelly as adults. The males (cocks) are more significant than females (hens), which correlates with redder cheek coloration.
Both sexes typically measure 18 inches in length and weigh between 20-26 ounces. Furthermore, in captivity, they are known to live between 30-45 years. The different Amazon parrots can be found in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Trinidad.
Yellow-Billed Amazon Parrot
You might want to consider adding a Yellow-Billed Amazon to your home. Especially if you’re looking for a bird that can handle loud noises. These birds are native to Mexico and Central America.
However, they have been captured and released in other countries, so they’re generally available around North America.
They don’t like quiet environments or being alone for long periods. But when they have other parrots or people around, they tend to be highly talkative and friendly.
Lastly, these parrots are relatively small (12 inches long). However, they make up for their size among the different types of Amazon parrots with personality!
Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrot
The Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrot is a large green and yellow parrot, commonly known as Yellow-crowned or Yc for short. It is one of two species in the genus Amazona that are native to South America.
Also, the Yellow-Crowned comes from tropical forests in eastern Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Among the different types of Amazon parrots, this parrot loves to swing on its large tail feathers. It often flies through trees, especially when it is excited or upset.
Lilacine Amazon Parrot
Among the different types of Amazon parrots, the Lilacine Amazon parrot is one of two types of hybrid amazons.
This type is bred from a Lilacine (an Intermediate) and a Blue Fronted parrot. With about 20% Blue Fronted DNA and 80% Lilacine DNA.
Also, they were once prized for their docile nature but are rare in captivity these days. Many LFA breeders are opting to produce BFs rather than LFAs.
This hybrid has also been successfully bred from an Amazona aestiva (aka Mexican Red-headed) with a Yellow Naped Amazon.
Black-Billed Amazon Parrot
The Black-billed Amazon (Amazona agilis) is a parrot species in the Psittacidae family. It is found in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests.
Also, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forests. The Black-billed amazon grows to about ten long and has a total length of about 12.
Lastly, among the different Amazon parrots, it is known for its high-pitched squawking noises. The noise can be pretty loud sometimes if it’s an older bird.
Festive Amazon
The Festive Amazon, a Red-tailed amazon or Blood parrot, is found in Brazil and western Bolivia. This is a medium-sized parrot with a long tail and brilliant green feathers on its head and body.
However, it gets its name from the striking red feathers on its tail. Although they are social birds, they are not often seen at bird sanctuaries and are rarely available for adoption.
Among the different types of Amazon parrots, they have an average lifespan of 30 years when properly cared for.
Cuban Amazon
Native to Cuba, Haiti, and the Cayman Islands, Cuban Amazons are a rare breed among the different types of Amazon parrots.
They are about as big as a cockatiel with a small beak and medium-sized body. Their feathers have shades of green, yellow, white, and red.
Also, they live up to 10 years in captivity and enjoy frequent baths during warm summer. These birds are not native to colder climates, and owners will need to provide adequate housing during the winter months.
For example, temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). They will require frost protection if they’re kept outside or outdoors during colder months.
Puerto Rican Amazon
Although they’re commonly known as Puerto Rican parrots, these birds are also called red-shouldered amazons. The Puerto Rican Amazon is native to forests and woodlands in Puerto Rico, where it lives in small groups of one male and several females.
Furthermore, as one of the different types of Amazon parrots, they’re a subspecies of green-cheeked amazons.
However, they tend to be less social than other members of their species. They have dark grey feathers with white underbellies and chest feathers.
Also, the feathers can be red or yellow on males but yellow or orange on females. Their lower breast, belly, and thighs are covered with red feathers that resemble straps across their chests and rumps. Their upper parts are primarily greenish-blue plumage with a long blue tail.
Tucuman Parrot
Native to South America, Tucuman parrots are large, long-tailed parrots with powerful legs. These birds typically grow to be around 16 inches in length, and they don’t make good pets.
However, they do make excellent watchdogs, and this is due to their loud voices and tendency to alert people to strangers lurking near their territory. Among the different types of Amazon parrots, these birds live for around 50 years in captivity.
Hispaniolan
The Hispaniolan is a medium-sized green parrot with an orange tail and chest. It has a yellow ring around its eyes and a red patch on its head.
However, the bird, which can live up to 60 years, is partially considered endangered, and this is because deforestation threatens its habitat in Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. The Hispaniolan parrot can grow to be 24 inches long and weigh between 500 to 700 grams (1 pound).
Also, it eats mangoes, papayas, walnuts, apples, and pears. They’re known for their mimicry skills and loud screeches that are often mistaken for talking, despite being called a parrot (which means it cannot speak).
Lastly, they are also very friendly toward people, and they are pretty popular among the different types of Amazon parrots.
Imperial Amazon
The Imperial Amazon is a delightful, colorful parrot that can reach up to 17 inches long. They love chewing and ripping apart anything they can get their beaks on, including wood.
If you have rough perches for your bird, it will enjoy shredding them down to nothing. Also, these birds are social and very friendly with humans and other pets in their homes.
Don’t expect too much from them when mimicking words or whistles; they’re more likely to learn how to open doors than say hello! However, among the different Amazon parrots, they love having fun with other toys. Also, they will reward you with lots of playtime if you keep it interesting!
Lucia Amazon
Among the different types of Amazon parrots, the St. Lucia amazon parrot is a bird with a lot going for it. This includes its unusually long lifespan and beautiful appearance. But even that doesn’t compare to its most prized quality.
Firstly, there’s no other parrot that loves humans more than St. Lucias does. Knowing that these birds love being around people almost as much as some dogs do is worth it! Even if you’re not planning on getting one, they are pretty expensive.
Red-browed Amazon
Native to Southeast Asia, Red-browed amazons are social and enjoy time with their humans. They’re knowledgeable and curious, meaning they often show a clear desire to learn things. Red-browed amazons can be cuddly and affectionate.
Moreover, they tend to be loud, demanding birds known for mimicking their owners’ speech patterns. Red-browed amazons could be a good option. Especially if you’re looking for an amazon parrot that you can talk to.
However, they’re not always as easygoing as people think. Despite everything, among the different types of Amazon parrots, Red-browed amazons are pretty famous.
Red-spectacled Amazon
Among the different types of Amazon parrots, these birds are about 13 inches long and weigh about three pounds. They have a brown body, red markings on their head, yellow legs and beak, and blue eyes. These parrots eat mainly seeds.
Furthermore, the females lay three eggs simultaneously, incubating for 21 days. They raise their chicks for five months until they’re ready to fly. The name of these parrots can also vary based on where you live or what language you speak.
In fact, in Brazil, their native country, they’re called nandayus or nandayos brasiliensis. Elsewhere in South America, some people refer to them as red-winged Amazons or Amazona autumnalis.
Lastly, you may know them by their other names: maroon-winged or Orange-winged Amazon, especially if you live in Central America and North America.
Conclusion
These are just some of the more obscure types of Amazon parrots that live in South America. They are small, colorful, and will sing for you all day long if you let them.
Lastly, research your options before making a final decision, especially if you want to own a parrot or have one as a pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
The number of different Amazon parrots in captivity varies depending on whom you ask. Some sources list as many as 30-40, others 17. However, in truth, only seven distinct types are commonly encountered. They are Orange-winged Amazon (Amazona amazonica), Green-winged Amazon (A. delicata), and Double yellow-headed Amazon (A. oratrix). Also, Military macaw(Ara militaris), blue-fronted parrot(Ara ararauna), red lored amazon(Ara rubrogenys). Lastly, the yellow-crowned(Amazona ochrocephala).
The friendliest amongst types of Amazon parrots is probably a toss-up between Blue-crowned and Yellow-headed Amazons. In general, though, I would say Yellow-naped Amazons are known for being somewhat aloof, and they can also be territorial with other birds in their environment.
They are the Lutino amazon parrots. Furthermore, they have been available to purchase on occasion. However, they are generally challenging to find and often cost significantly more than other varieties.
The yellow-naped amazon parrot (Amazona auropalliata) is among them—but then again, so is their close cousin, Amazona xantholora.
Although it can be hard to say precisely how long an individual parrot will live. However, some pet parrot species have life expectancies over 40 years.
