Red-tailed Amazon Parrots
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The Red-tailed Amazon Parrot (Amazona ) is endemic to South-eastern Brazil. Nowadays they are only found in a few coastal areas in states of Sao Paulo and Parana. Previously, its range extended from southeast Sao Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul. Its natural habit includes atlantic forests and mangrove areas. Habitat destruction, hunting and trapping for the pet trade has caused this parrot to join the long list of critically endangered parrots. There are currently less than 3,000 birds remaining in the wild.
Description:
The Red-tailed Amazon measures 14.5 ins (37 cm) in length (including tail) and has generally a green plumage except for the following:
- The forehead and lores are dull red and the crown, and the nape is rose-red edged bluish-lilac.
- The chin and cheeks pinkish-blue.
- The ear-coverts dull violet-blue and the edge of wing is red.
- The secondaries green becoming dark blue towards tips and the outer webs to outer tail-feathers are blue.
- The tail green with greenish-yellow tips and they have a broad red band across the tail.
- The bill is horn-colored with grey tips, the irises are orange red and their feet grey.
Immatures have less red to the forehead and have a duller plumage. Their irises are dark.
Aviculture:
These parrots can be very noisy – especially so during the early morning hours and late afternoons / evenings. They enjoy bathing and are very enthusiastic chewers. Providing them with fresh branches regularly is therefore recommended. They may get aggressive towards other birds and may even show aggression towards their care takers.
Breeding in aviculture is seldom achieved and little is known of their breeding habits. It has been recommended to isolate pairs during the breeding season, which usually begins in the winter. Proper warmth and humidity needs to be assured.
The hen usually lays 2 to 4 eggs, which she incubates for 26 days. The young fletch when they are about 8 weeks old.
A suitable nesting box would have these dimensions: 12 x 12 x 24 ins (30 x 30 x 60 cm) with entrance hole 3 ins (8 cm) in diameter.
An outside aviary with an indoor shelter should be provided: outside flight 12 x 6 x 6 ft (4 x 2 x 2 m); adjacent shelter 6 x 3 x 6 ft (2 x 1 x 2 m). Metal construction is recommended as these parrots are heavy chewers. For this reason alone, a constant supply of fresh branches should be provided to satisfy their need to chew.
Recommended temperature / conditions: These amazons are susceptible during the acclimatization period and proper environmental conditions need to be provided, including sufficient humidity and heated areas to protect them during cold spells. During the acclimatization period they should not be exposed to temperatures below 72°F (22°C). Later on, they should tolerate temperatures as low as 59°F (15°C).
Diet: They should be provided with a good quality seed mix of safflower, wheat, hemp, oats, paddy rice, buckwheat and mungo beans; sprouted sunflower; and a variety of fruit (oranges, bananas, peaches, apples, rowanberries, elderberry, rose-hips, half-ripe maize, etc.) and vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, greenfood, such as dandelions, etc). Some pine-nuts are also appreciated. As is always the case with captive birds, a regular vitamin and mineral supplements should also be given. During breeding season, bread and biscuits are recommended rearing foods.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Amazon ownership generally presents multiple challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Aggressive behavior is especially common in "hormonal" amazons. Undisciplined amazons will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable.
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:
- Understand that this is a natural behavior.
- 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.
- 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.
- In some instances, the vet may prescribe drugs that balance out a pet's hormones.
- Click here for more information on reducing hormonal behavior in birds.
- Calling / Voicing / Screaming: 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.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
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:
- Recommended Breeders
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- BREEDERS:
- The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Housing Your Bird ... Grooming
- Bird Nutrition ... In the wild, its natural diet consists of seeds, nuts, fruits and plant material. To learn more about the diet of the captive Amazon Parrot, please visit this webpage.
- Parrot Products
Taxonomy:
Species: Scientific: Amazona brasiliensis ... English: Red-tailed Amazon ... Dutch: Roodstaartamazone ... German: Rotschwanzamazone ... French: Amazone du Brésil, Amazone à queue rouge
CITES I - Protected Species
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