Yellow-naped or Yellow-nape Amazon 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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The Yellow-naped Parrot or Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) is an Amazon parrot that is now considered to be a subspecies of the Yellow-crowned Parrot.
Yellow-napes are endangered in their natural habitat which can be found along the Pacific Slope of Central America, in Southern Mexico and North-western Costa Rica. Deforestation is reducing the number of these parrots in the wild together with illegal removal of young for the pet trade.
Description:
- Size: 12-15 inches (~35 cm)
- Average weight: 480 to 680 grams
- Their noticeable features are the green forehead and crown and a yellow band across the lower nape and hind neck. Some birds develop more yellow than others. Others don't develop any yellow feathers at all. Yellow feathers may increase with maturity. Yellow feathers are also at the back of the neck (nape).
- Dark gray beak with the base of the upper beak being somewhat lighter
- Light gray feet
Breeding Data:
- Average Clutch Size: 2 - 3 eggs
- Incubation: 26 - 28 days
Personality / Pet Potential:
Yellow Napes are loved for their intelligence, clowny personality, and impressive talking and singing abilities, enhanced by their great sense of pitch. When talking, they display an amazingly human-sounding voice.
A healthy amazon parrot can live 50 to 60 years or even longer with good nutrition and care.
Some striking mutations of the Yellow Nape have occurred in aviaries, please refer to the below photos of beautiful Blue Mutation Yellow Napes.
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 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
- Bird Nutrition - Their natural diet consists of nuts, berries, seeds, and fruit. Please click here for information on what to feed your pet amazon.
- Procuring your Parrot:
Yellow napes cost between $500 and $1,500 (depending on location and source - mutation colors more). - Click here for Breeders of Amazon Parrots
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- Click here for Breeders of Amazon Parrots
- The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Housing Your Bird
- Parrot Products
Photos provided by: Top: Jane Beasley;; Bottom photo: R&B Aviary - Breeder & Parrot Connoisseur ... Blue Mutation Photos by: Lien Luu Birds New York - who has a private aviary located in New York City.
Taxonomy:
Species: Scientific: Amazona auropalliata aka Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata ...English: Yellow-naped Amazon, Golden-naped Amazon ... Dutch: Geelnekamazone, Goudnekamazone ... German: Gelbnackenamazone ... French: Amazone à nuque jaune
Sub-species:
Honduras Yellow-naped Amazons:
Distribution: Bay Islands, Honduras, North-eastern Nicaragua
Species: Scientific: Amazona ochrocephala parvipes ... English: Honduras Yellow-naped Amazon ... Dutch: Honduras Amazone ... German: Rotbug Gelbnackenamazone ... French: Amazone de Parvipes
CITES II - Endangered Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 6 - click on link to view photo.)
Distribution: Islands of Roatán, Barbareta and Guajana, North Honduras
Species: Scientific: Amazona ochrocephala caribae ... English: Roatán Yellow-naped Amazon ... Dutch: Roatán Geelnekamazone ... German: Roatán Gelbnackenamazone ... French: Roatán amazone à jaune nuque
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 7 - click on link to view photo.)
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!
