Double Yellow-headed Amazon
Amazona oratrix
Also called Yellow-headed amazon, Yellow-headed parrot, Levaillant's amazon, Mexican yellow-headed amazon
From Mexico (Pacific and Caribbean slopes and the Tres Marías Islands), Belize, Guatemala and north-western Honduras. It prefers riverside and deciduous forest, mangroves, savanna woodland and areas near water.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Feathered; large, stocky Amazon with a short tail
A big, deep green Amazon with a yellow head and neck, yellow thighs and an orange-red patch at the bend of the wing. It has a white ring of bare skin around the eye, orange eyes and a pale horn-coloured beak. How far the yellow reaches depends on the subspecies, from just the crown to the whole head and upper chest. Young birds show yellow only on the crown and lores, and the full yellow head develops over about three to five years.123
Personality what they are like
A confident, gregarious and very entertaining parrot. Double yellow-heads are among the best talking parrots of all, and many learn songs and even snatches of opera. They are quick to learn and often bond most strongly with one person as they mature. Loud calling sessions at dawn and dusk are normal for the species.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. Needs plenty of out-of-cage time, a play gym and a steady supply of toys to chew and destroy.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Offer soft woods and paper to shred plus sturdier toys of hardwood, leather or lava stone, and rotate them regularly.3
Home where they are happiest
A spacious, strong cage (powder-coated or stainless steel) plus a play gym. For aviaries, a flight of at least 3 m and temperatures above 10 °C are recommended.32
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A balanced pellet diet with fresh vegetables and fruit, including foods rich in vitamin A and calcium; keep portions sensible and exercise regular. Wild birds eat palm fruits, seeds, buds, flowers, figs and mango.31
Company who they like around
Very social and does not do well alone for long. Plan for daily attention and stimulation.3
The story where it all began
Ridgway described the yellow-headed Amazon in 1887, and it has been treasured by bird keepers for generations for its exceptional voice. Wild numbers have dropped greatly, and it is now protected under CITES Appendix I, so pet birds today come from captive breeding.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Double yellow-heads are known for learning whole songs, including opera pieces.3
- 2
Males perform a showy strut with the tail fanned out while calling loudly.3
- 3
Unlike many parrots, they often fly silently.2
- 4
The full yellow head takes several years to appear; young birds have yellow only on the crown.3
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy
- Described by Ridgway in 1887. Sometimes treated as a subspecies of the yellow-crowned amazon. Four subspecies usually recognised: oratrix, tresmariae, belizensis and hondurensis.2
- IUCN Red List
- Endangered.1
- CITES
- Appendix I; only captive-bred birds may be legally kept.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Double Yellow-headed Amazon. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterevery day
- Cage linerevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bath offerevery 3 days
- Nails checkevery month
- Beak checkevery month
- EnrichmentPuzzles and foraging every dayevery day
- Out-of-cage timeAbout 3 hours a dayevery day
- Vet check-upevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Yellow-headed Amazon - World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia parrots.orgused for names, subspecies, size, weight, range, habitat, plumage, wild diet, lifespan, conservation
- Yellow-headed amazon - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for taxonomy, size, subspecies, behaviour, legal status, aviary guidance, talking
- Double Yellow-Headed Amazon - Lafeber lafeber.comused for temperament, talking, noise, enrichment, cage, diet, social needs, lifespan, fun facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.