Amazon Parrot
Species Overview
The Orange-winged Amazon (Amazona amazonica) is a mid-sized Amazon parrot from northern South America, recognisable by the orange patch in the wing and tail, blue and yellow facial markings and a horn-coloured beak with a dark tip. It is often confused with the Blue-fronted Amazon, which has red in the wing and a dark beak. Adults measure about 31-33 cm (12-13 in), weigh around 300-450 g (11-16 oz) and often live 35-50 years. Living with one means a capable talker with a shrill, far-carrying call, especially at dusk, a strong tendency to put on weight, and seasonal hormonal moods. It is listed on CITES Appendix II and EU Annex B.
Lowland Flocks from Trinidad to the Amazon Basin
The Orange-winged Amazon has one of the widest ranges of any Amazon, from Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago and the Guianas south through the Amazon basin to Peru, Bolivia and much of Brazil. It lives in lowland forest edges, gallery forest along rivers, mangroves, palm swamps and plantations, and adapts well to farmland. Outside the breeding season it forms large communal roosts, and the noisy evening flights to them are a familiar sight in parts of Trinidad and Venezuela. Pairs stay together within the flock. Because it raids fruit crops, it is treated as a pest in some areas. The species is still common overall and is assessed as Least Concern.
A Mid-Sized Amazon: Weight, Colours and Sexing
Adults measure about 31-33 cm (12-13 in) and usually weigh around 300-450 g (11-16 oz), noticeably lighter than Blue-fronted or Yellow-naped Amazons. Look for orange feathers in the wing speculum and at the base of the tail, a blue band over the eyes, yellow on the crown and cheeks, and a horn-coloured upper beak that darkens toward the tip. The amount of yellow and blue varies between individuals. The sexes look alike, so reliable sexing requires a DNA test or endoscopy. Juveniles have a darker iris than adults. A lifespan of 35-50 years is realistic with a good diet, and well-kept birds sometimes live longer.
Talkative, Loud at Dusk and Not for Flats
Orange-winged Amazons are lively, playful and usually good talkers, although most do not match the vocabulary or clarity of a Yellow-naped Amazon. Their natural calls are harsh and high-pitched, and a daily burst of calling around sunset is typical of the species, so describing them as quiet would be misleading. Many are affectionate with their people but can become nippy during the spring hormonal season, and some bond strongly to one person. They suit active households that tolerate noise and handle the bird consistently. They are a poor choice for flats with shared walls, people who work long hours, or anyone expecting a cuddly, silent companion. For a well-prepared newcomer they are more manageable than a large macaw or cockatoo.
Cage Size and Setup for a Medium Amazon
A single Orange-winged Amazon needs a cage of at least 90 x 60 x 120 cm (35 x 24 x 47 in, W x D x H) with bar spacing of 1.9-2.5 cm. For this lighter Amazon, wire of about 2-3 mm is adequate, ideally stainless steel or quality powder coating rather than galvanised mesh. Horizontal bars on at least two sides make climbing easier. Fit natural branches of different diameters, not only smooth dowels. A play stand outside the cage gives a second base during free time. Keep the cage out of the kitchen, where fumes from overheated non-stick cookware can kill birds, and out of draughts. A regular day-night rhythm helps reduce hormonal behaviour.
Diet: Palm Fruits in the Wild, Vegetables at Home
In the wild Orange-winged Amazons eat fruits, seeds and flowers, including palm fruits, and fly long distances each day between feeding sites. Kept indoors they burn far less energy, so a seed mix quickly leads to obesity and vitamin A deficiency. Base the diet on a quality pellet, roughly 60-70 percent, with plenty of vegetables such as carrot, red pepper, broccoli, cooked sweet potato and leafy greens. Offer fruit sparingly because of its sugar load, and count seeds and nuts as training rewards. Cooked pulses or whole grains add variety. Never feed avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty food. Weigh weekly, since a gain of even 20-30 g matters in a bird this size.
Keeping a Social Flock Bird Busy Every Day
This is a flock species that calls constantly to stay in contact, so a bird left alone for most of the day tends to scream or develop problem behaviours. Plan at least three hours out of the cage daily, and keep it company for much of the rest. Let it fly in a bird-safe room, and provide ladders, ropes and swings for climbing. Orange-winged Amazons enjoy chewing: balsa, pine, cardboard and untreated willow are easy to replace. Foraging toys, food wrapped in paper and whole vegetables to dismantle turn feeding into work. Most love a shower two or three times a week. A companion of the same species can help if you are often out, but introduce the birds gradually.
CITES Appendix II and Proof of Legal Origin
The Orange-winged Amazon is listed on CITES Appendix II and in Annex B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation (EC) 338/97. Unlike Annex A species, it does not need an Article 10 certificate for sale within the EU, but the seller must be able to show that the bird was obtained legally, for example through breeding records, an earlier purchase document or import papers. Keep all paperwork and note the ring or microchip number on it. Since 2007 the EU has not permitted imports of wild-caught birds for the pet trade. In Germany, keeping protected species generally has to be reported to the local nature conservation authority; check the current rules there.
Training & Enrichment
Orange-winged Amazons respond well to positive reinforcement and are often described as more forgiving of handler mistakes than an African Grey or a cockatoo. Build step-up, station and target behaviours early, keep sessions short, and use a small measured portion of the daily nut allowance as the reinforcer. Their loud dusk calling is normal, but screaming for attention is learned: reward quiet talking or whistling and avoid rushing back when the bird screams. Restrict petting to head and neck only. Learn the escalation signals - pinned pupils, fanned tail, raised nape - and stop before the bird bites.
Health Considerations
Obesity and fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) are the commonest preventable problems in this species, as in the whole genus, followed by vitamin A deficiency on seed-based diets, which often shows first as sneezing, nasal discharge or dull plumage. Older Orange-winged Amazons on high-fat rations are prone to atherosclerosis. Aspergillosis is associated with damp bedding and poor ventilation. Weigh weekly on a gram scale, arrange an annual avian veterinary examination with periodic bloodwork, and quarantine new arrivals for 30-45 days in a separate airspace with veterinary screening for psittacine beak and feather disease, avian bornavirus and Chlamydia psittaci. Any illness needs an avian vet, not home treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a pellet-based diet, plenty of vegetables, weekly weighing and annual avian vet checks, 35-50 years is a realistic expectation, and some birds live longer. Seed-fed birds often die much earlier from fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis or infections linked to vitamin A deficiency. Anyone buying one should plan for the bird to be cared for over several decades.
Yes to both. Most learn a reasonable number of words and phrases and imitate household sounds, though individual ability varies. Their contact calls are shrill and carry a long way, and a loud calling session around dusk is normal for the species. This is not a quiet Amazon, and neighbours in terraced or semi-detached housing will hear it.
It can work for a well-prepared first-time owner who has researched Amazons, lives where noise is acceptable and has several hours a day to give. It is more forgiving than a macaw, cockatoo or African Grey, but it still bites hard during hormonal phases, needs careful diet control and lives for decades. If any of that is in doubt, choose a smaller species.
At least 90 x 60 x 120 cm (35 x 24 x 47 in, W x D x H) with 1.9-2.5 cm bar spacing, made of stainless steel or quality powder-coated steel rather than galvanised wire. Add natural branches of varied thickness, a separate play stand and secure latches. The cage is a base for the bird, not a substitute for its daily time outside.
Spread the wing: the Orange-winged has orange feathers in the wing speculum, while the Blue-fronted has red, often with red or yellow at the bend of the wing as well. The Orange-winged's beak is horn-coloured with a dark tip; the Blue-fronted's is dark grey to black. The Orange-winged is also smaller and lighter. Check that the paperwork names Amazona amazonica.
