As bird lovers, we don’t just want to know how to take care of our birds in our homes.
We want to know their history, where they come from, and how it impacts their behaviors.
Recently I was thinking about the background of the Amazon parrot.
I was curious about their bright colors, their high energy, and their outgoing personalities.
I also wanted to know if their natural habitat had an impact on their domestic care.
After much research, here are my results and the answer to our question, where are Amazon parrots from?
Amazon parrots originate in South and Central America and can even be found in Mexico and the Caribbean. There are 30 species of Amazon parrot, though they received the classification Amazon by an 18th century naturalist who believed they were found only in the Amazon jungles.
Because their distribution range is quite broad Amazon parrots have been found in a wide variety of habitats.
Wild Amazons can live in the rainforest, in scrub forest, palm groves, and even the savanna.
While many species of Amazon parrots have gone extinct due to poaching, there are still wild Amazons to be found.
Examining their life in the wild can explain a lot about Amazon behavior and is worth examining as well.
What is the history of the Amazon parrot we know today?
Amazon parrots have a long and interesting history!
They can be found in South and Central America, as far north as the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
There are 30 species of Amazon spread over that broad geographic range.
Amazon parrots were first listed by French naturalists in 1830.
The name Amazon comes from a mistaken belief that the birds only lived in the Amazon Jungle.
In fact, many species of Amazon are found in a variety of habitats.
There are also species of Amazon that have gone extinct, including the Guadalupe Amazon and Martinique Amazon.
Poaching has long presented a risk to Amazons in the wild.
What is an Amazon parrot’s natural habitat like?
Amazon parrots are native to regions closer to the equator, and thus thrive in warmer, humid conditions.
However, Amazons are native to a variety of habitats, including the rainforest, palm groves, scrub forest, and savannas.
Amazons travel in large flocks, a fact that could contribute to their noisy shouting.
When living in the rainforest, Amazons live in the high canopy.
Other species live in sub-tropical mountainous areas.
Natural light is very important to Amazon health and breeding cycles.
Day to day light cycles are critical for Amazons to get healthy sleep and maintain good mental health.
Amazons most often breed in the spring, and the length of day and night is a major indicator for them.
They truly live with the rhythms of their natural ecosystem.
Does the Amazon’s natural habitat impact their behaviors?
Absolutely!
Even though our Amazons are domesticated, we cannot lose sight of their natural habits and behaviors.
This will help us better understand our feathered friends and will make us better trainers.
One major behavior to be aware of is noise.
Amazons live in flocks in the wild and must yell and chatter to communicate.
They’re loud because they need to keep track with their community, calling to one another to assemble.
Amazon parrots are also known for being extremely high energy.
This is because in the wild they must travel very long distances in search of food.
They must be very active to survive, and we must recognize that our domestic Amazons need lots of exercise and activity for this reason.
Wild amazons operate on a daily schedule that we will see reflected in their domestic behavior.
They are very active in the morning and will call to one another to gather and travel to find food.
Then they will take a nap in the afternoon and re-assemble in the evening or afternoon.
This is why your bird will likely be the loudest in the mornings and evenings, this is when they’d be calling to their friends in the wild!
Amazons sleep in roosts of hundreds of birds, so it is important to them to assemble and gather in the evenings.
Wild mating behavior will also show up domestic birds.
The length of the day and the seasons will determine mating season for wild parrots.
This usually occurs in spring, triggered by the spring rains.
When mating season comes along your parrot may be more hormonal and territorial.
Males in particular may become more aggressive.
Don’t worry, this is natural and can be managed with training.
It does help to understand why your parrot goes through these phases.
These natural behaviors also mean that you can manipulate your parrot’s environment to a certain extent.
This is especially useful if you are interested in mating Amazons.
In this case you can create “spring conditions” through light and climate to encourage mating.
What are the implications for Amazon owners?
Given how much natural environment shapes our bird’s behavior, it follows naturally that we should build an environment that will make our Amazons as comfortable as possible.
Most Amazons are from the rainforests of South and Central America.
This environment is close to the equator, meaning it is warm and humid.
While we can’t always control the climate, we can ensure that our birds have a warm living space and that we provide them with plenty of moisture via misting and baths.
A humidifier can also be beneficial.
Amazons fly great distances each day.
This is why cage size and exercise are so important to your bird’s mental and physical health.
First, ensuring that you have a large cage, or even an aviary, will allow your bird plenty of space to stretch out.
Second, they should have plenty of opportunities to play and fly outside of the cage (when it is safe of course).
They more exercise and play your Amazon gets, the better they will behave.
Be patient with your bird’s natural rhythms.
Expect them to be more active in the morning and evenings and make sure they have a quiet chance to nap during the day.
Try to give your bird as much natural light as possible.
When this isn’t possible, make sure that you are using well balanced artificial lighting and timing it so they can stay on a healthy sleep schedule.
It’s so interesting to know where our birds are from and how it impacts their lives with us.
The more we know as parrot lovers, the better equipped we will be to make sure our Amazons have the healthiest and happiest lives possible.