Yellow-billed Amazon Parrots aka Yamaican Yellow-billed Parrots

Useful Webpages: General Information about Amazon Parrots ... Amazon Species ... Amazon Photo Gallery .... The Diseases of the Amazon Parrots ... Amazon Nutrition / Diet ... Amazon Parrot Incubation Data

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Listing of Amazon Breeders

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The Yellow-lored Amazons (Amazona xantholorais) is native to the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico, British Honduras, Roatán Bay Islands and Honduras, preferring deciduous forest areas and open rain forests, and heavily degraded former forest. They are common in their natural habitat yet rare in aviculture.

They can be seen in groups of 4 to 6 birds or large flocks outside the breeding season. They are quiet when perched in the trees, but noisy during flight. They gather around in the evenings in roosting trees in large flocks of several thousand birds. At daybreak, they leave the roosting trees to forage.

They may live 50 years or longer.

Description:

The average length is 9.2 inches or 23 cm including the tail.

The general plumage is green. Feathers are distinctly edged with black. The forehead and forecrowns are white or, in some birds, cream. The lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head) are yellow. Primary coverts are red. The crown is dull blue with blackish edging to feathers. ear coverts (feathers covering the ears) are blackish. Primaries and outer webs of secondaries are blue, upper and under tail-coverts yellowish green. Upside of the tail is green with greenish-yellow tips. The base to outer tail feathers is red. The bill is yellowish-brown and their feet are brown.

Immatures: Young birds that have not gone through their first molt have a dull blue forehead. Red present in wings of young males, but mostly interspersed with green in young females. The iris is dark.

Sexing: Males and females look alike, except the white on the female's forehead and crown are usually not so extensive. The primary coverts are usually green, in some females several or all primary-coverts are red.

Caring for the Yellow-lored Amazon Parrot:

These amazons are usually peaceful and can usually be kept with other species. They are very active and should be provided the largest flight or cage possible. They have a tendency to get obese in small aviary or cage settings and require a lean diet. Their taking ability is very good.

A planted aviary is always preferable; however, if this is not possible provide the most spacious cage or flight that space and budget allows. They need enough space to be able to fly on a daily basis. The recommended dimensions for an aviary would be 9 x 5 x 6 ft with adjoining shelter (5 x 3 x 6 ft); metal construction is advised, as they like to chew and could easily, over time, destroy an aviary made of wood.

For parrots that are generally kept indoors, it would be ideal to provide them with an outdoor space would be provided for enrichment, exercise and sunlight.

Minimum outside temperature they can tolerate is 65 Degree Fahrenheit (or 18 degree Celsius) during the acclimatization period. They are hardy once acclimatized. If temperatures go below that, heated areas need to be provided.

These parrots crave privacy and security and a "retreat" / secure area should be provided to protect against fear responses.

Durable cage construction is not as critical as it is for macaws and cockatoos, although metal aviaries are preferred to wooden ones. It may be recommended to use escape proof latches on cages / aviaries.

Amazons should always be provided with toys, blocks of wood or branches that they can chew.

• Breeding The Yellow-lored Amazon Parrots

Personality:

This amazon loves to fly and the ability to do so will prevent it from growing obese. They can be very noisy in the morning and in the evening. They are easily tamed and usually get along with other bird species outside the breeding season. During breeding season, they should be isolated from other birds. They are inquisitive and become easily confiding.

They enjoy bathing or being sprayed. A shallow pan of cool water should always be available for bathing and drinking. There are multiple reasons both for their health and well-being to provide them with daily bathing opportunities. Adding a few drops of GSE or hydrogen peroxide in its bathing water will help in preventing infections. As an additional benefit, GSE also has good anti-parasitic properties

• Click here for information on the benefits of bathing and recommendations.

They are very hard chewers and regularly providing them with fresh wood is recommended.

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Amazon ownership generally presents multiple challenges, such as excessive chewing, biting or voicing - especially at certain stages in their life.

Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation.

Behavioral challenges that amazon present may include:

• Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined parrots will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach an amazon parrot what is fine to chew on and what is "off-limits."



• Biting & Hormonal Behavior:
  
  Dominant Behavior: Amazon Parrots, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established.
  • Training is vital to stop this aggressive behavior.

Hormonal Aggression: Amazon parrots are also known for their "hormonal" aggression phase. This phase usually appears between the ages of 5 to 12 years. During this time there will be one to two years in which they are likely to be very aggressive. Fortunately, once they go through this, they generally settle down with little or no aggression shown outside the breeding season - with some aggression, but to a lesser degree, when they are in breeding condition.

Amazons going through that stage are difficult to handle for many but the most experienced amazon owners. Species such as Lilac Crowns and Mealies are less excitable than other amazon species during the breeding season. Females tend to be calmer than males during this phase. An attack by a hormonal male can be vicious and will not be limited to one bite.

Many bird owners are bewildered by the fact that their previously so cuddly pet suddenly turns on them - their primary caretakers. To add insult to injury, their pet may pick another family member as their favorite. Dr. Jill Patt describes this being similar to a wild bird leaving its parents and choosing a mate. She suggests the following ways of dealing with it:

1. Understand that this is a natural behavior.



2. Have the family member the bird has picked limit their interaction with your bird, spend time with the bird when that family member is absent, and ensure that only you are the one to provide all favorite treats and activities.



3. The environment can also be altered somewhat to attempt to reduce breeding behavior. Limiting the daylight hours to mimic a winter sun will often help.



4. In some instances, the vet may prescribe drugs that balance out a pet's hormones.



5. Click here for more information on reducing hormonal behavior in birds.

• Voicing / Screaming: Yellow-lored Amazons are medium-noisy to noisy parrots. Although noise levels are mostly high in the morning and evening, less so during the day. Their calls are similar to those of the White-fronted Amazon Parrot. Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of an amazon, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching. Amazon parrots are excellent talkers though, and their natural loud call can be replaced with human speech with a little bit of training. Fortunately, they are quick learners.
  

Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...

• AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.


• If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
  
  • the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
    • Stop Biting
    • Perform Tricks &
    • Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
  • and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.

If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:

• Amazon General Information



• What Bird Fits Into My Lifestyle



• Procuring your Parrot
  • BREEDERS:
    • NY City: Birds New York - a private aviary located in New York City.
    • Recommended Breeders
    • Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
    
    
• The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy



• Housing Your Bird ... Grooming



• Bird Nutrition ... In the wild, Yellow-lored Amazons eat fruits, berries and seeds. They are occasionally seen foraging in gardens and fruit plantations, occasionally causing damage to grain fields.

  In captivity, a good quality unfortified / organic seed & nut mix (human grade) in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables should be provided, especially apples, carrots, bananas and citrus fruits, as well as rose-hips, elderberries, rowanberries, half-ripe maize and green food, such as chickweed and dandelions. They also enjoy pine-nuts. Because of their tendency to obesity, these amazons should given small amounts of sunflower or safflower seeds as treats, except when they are in breeding mode.

• Sprouted or germinated seeds are usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits and vegetables.

  • Sprouted seeds are healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
  • Sprouted seeds will help balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
  • Soaked and germinated "oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
  • It is in invaluable food at all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting birds. Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the texture of seeds.

  Willow twigs should be provided throughout the year.

  In breeding season, a good quality mineral supplement and bread and biscuits for rearing should be provided.

  To learn more about the diet of the captive Amazon Parrot, please visit this webpage.



• Parrot Products

Breeding The Yellow-lored Amazon Parrots:

Their breeding season starts in March and goes on until August. In their natural habitat, they nest in hollow branches or tree cavities. Breeding in captivity is rare due to lack of availability of eligible birds. Breeding pairs should be isolated and high humidity levels should be ensured.

The minimum flight dimensions are: 9 x 3 x 6 ft (3 x 1 x 2 m) with adjoining shelter 5 x 3 x 6 ft (1.5 x 1 x 2m). Metal construction is recommended. The nest box should be 10 x 10 x 20 inches (25 x 25 x 50 cm), with an entrance hole of 2 ins (6 cm) in diameter.

The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which she incubates for 26 days. The young fledge after 7 weeks.

Diet during Breeding & Chick Raising: High-protein baby cereal and bread soaked in honey-water are essential during the breeding season; also necessary are sunflower seeds, monkey chow, fruits (banana, apple, tomato) and greens.

Taxonomy:

Species: Scientific: Amazona xantholora ... English: Yellow-lored Amazon ... Dutch: Geelteugelamazone, Goudteugelamazone ... German: Goldzügelamazone ... French: Amazone xantholora, Amazone à lores jaunes ... CITES II - Endangered Species

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