Amazon parrot Facts for Kids

"Amazona" redirects here. For the Roxy Music song, see Amazona (song).

Quick facts for kids Amazon parrots

Orange-winged amazon (Amazona amazonica)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Tribe:	Androglossini
Genus:	*Amazona* Lesson, 1830
Diversity
c. 30 species

Festive amazon (Amazona festiva), illustration by Keulemans, 1891

Amazon parrots are a group of colorful birds. They are a type of parrot found in the New World. This means they live in places like South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They are known for their medium size and short tails.

Most Amazon parrots are mostly green. But they also have bright patches of other colors. These colors can be very vivid and depend on the specific type of parrot. They mainly eat seeds, nuts, and fruits. They also munch on leafy plants.

Many Amazon parrots are amazing at copying human speech. They can also mimic other sounds they hear. Because of this, they are very popular as pets. Some people even breed them to sell as pets. This popularity has caused a problem. Many parrots were taken from the wild. This has made some species endangered. To help protect them, there's a rule called CITES. This rule makes it illegal to catch wild parrots for the pet trade.

What are Amazon Parrots?
- Different Kinds of Amazon Parrots
  - Parrots That Are No Longer Amazon Parrots
  - Amazon Parrots That Might Be Extinct
Amazon Parrots as Pets
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

What are Amazon Parrots?

The group of birds called Amazona was first named in 1830. This was done by a French scientist named René Lesson. The name Amazona comes from the idea that these birds lived in the Amazon jungles. This idea was from the 1700s.

Different Kinds of Amazon Parrots

There are about 30 different kinds of Amazon parrots. Here are some of them:

Festive amazon, Amazona festiva
Vinaceous-breasted amazon, Amazona vinacea
Tucumán amazon, Amazona tucumana
Red-spectacled amazon, Amazona pretrei
Black-billed amazon, Amazona agilis
White-fronted amazon, Amazona albifrons
Yellow-billed amazon, Amazona collaria
Cuban amazon, Amazona leucocephala
Hispaniolan amazon, Amazona ventralis
Puerto Rican amazon, Amazona vittata
Lilac-crowned amazon, Amazona finschi
Red-lored amazon, Amazona autumnalis
- Lilacine amazon, Amazona autumnalis lilacina
Diademed amazon, Amazona diadema
Red-crowned amazon, Amazona viridigenalis
Yucatan amazon, Amazona xantholora
Blue-cheeked amazon, Amazona dufresniana
Red-browed amazon, Amazona rhodocorytha
Red-necked amazon, Amazona arausiaca
St. Lucia amazon, Amazona versicolor
Yellow-headed amazon, Amazona oratrix
Tres Marías amazon, Amazona tresmariae
Yellow-naped amazon, Amazona auropalliata
Yellow-crowned amazon, Amazona ochrocephala
- Panama amazon, Amazona ochrocephala panamensis
Yellow-shouldered amazon, Amazona barbadensis
Turquoise-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva
Scaly-naped amazon, Amazona mercenarius
Northern mealy amazon, Amazona guatemalae
Southern mealy amazon, Amazona farinosa
Kawall's amazon, Amazona kawalli
Imperial amazon, Amazona imperialis
Red-tailed amazon, Amazona brasiliensis
Orange-winged amazon, Amazona amazonica
St. Vincent amazon, Amazona guildingii

Scientists sometimes disagree on how to group the yellow-crowned amazon. Some think it's one species. Others split it into three different species. They look at how much yellow is on the bird and the color of its beak and legs. But studies of their DNA don't fully support these splits.

In 2017, some bird experts suggested a new species. They called it the blue-winged amazon. It was found in Mexico. However, later studies questioned if it was a truly new species. They thought it might be a mix of other parrots.

Parrots That Are No Longer Amazon Parrots

The yellow-faced parrot used to be considered an Amazon parrot. But new research shows it's actually more closely related to other types of parrots. So, it was moved to its own group.

Amazon Parrots That Might Be Extinct

An unidentified Jamaican parrot from 1764. It might have been an Amazon parrot.

Some Amazon parrots that lived on the Caribbean islands are now gone. These include parrots from Martinique and Guadeloupe. We don't know if they were unique species or just types of parrots brought to the islands by people. Because of this, they are called "hypothetically extinct species." We don't have any proof of them left.

Martinique amazon, Amazona martinica (might be extinct).
Guadeloupe amazon, Amazona violacea (might be extinct).

Amazon Parrots as Pets

Many Amazon parrots are kept as pets. Some popular ones include the yellow-headed amazon and the orange-winged amazon. Amazon parrots are known for being very good at talking. They are also playful and can use their feet well.

A well-trained parrot can be a very loyal friend. They can live for 50 years or even longer when cared for by humans. But some Amazon parrots can become aggressive. This might happen during mating season.

Pet parrots need a lot of training. They need more than dogs or cats. They need to be understood. They also need toys they can chew on safely. If they don't get enough attention and training, they can become aggressive. They love to chew, so they need toys that are safe to destroy.

Amazon parrots also eat a lot. They can get too heavy if they don't get enough exercise.