The red-lored amazon is a robust, intelligent green parrot with a red forehead and lores, kept as a long-lived companion. Like most amazons, it can be loud and seasonally hormonal, requiring an experienced owner committed to decades of care.
ℹ️
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Medium-large parrot, about 32-35 cm (13-14 in) long, weighing 310-490 g.
Lifespan
40–80 years
Social needs
pair
Native region
Tropical Central and northern South America (eastern Mexico to Ecuador and the western Amazon)
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Psittacidae
Genus
Amazona
Part of the Amazon Parrots
Amazon parrots (genus Amazona) are robust, intelligent New World parrots known for their talking and singing ability, bold personalities, and seasonal hormonal behavior; they are long-lived companions best suited to experienced keepers.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Single-bird flight cage
36 × 28 × 48 in, bar spacing 3/4–1 in
A medium Amazon — at least a 36 × 28 in flight cage with thick, varied natural perches, foraging puzzles, destructible wood toys, and several hours of daily interaction. Amazons are prone to obesity and 'Amazon overload' behavioural meltdowns when under-stimulated.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Large flight cage + foraging
48 × 36 × 60 in flight cage
Larger flight cage with rotating foraging toys, bathing access, and several hours of supervised out-of-cage time on a sturdy playstand. Provide low-fat fresh-food diet (Amazons fatten easily on seed) and natural sunlight or UVB.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Walk-in aviary or bird room
8 × 4 × 7 ft+ aviary or dedicated bird room
A walk-in aviary or bird-safe room with natural branches, foraging substrate, bathing pool, and a compatible mate. Best for psychological health and prevents the screaming and biting that come from cramped solo cage life.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.
Photo coming soon
Hatchling / Chick
Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile / Fledgling
Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.
Adult
Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.
(c) Maria Janeiro, some rights reserved (CC BY) via iNaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/342976725
Habitat & enclosure
Provide a large, sturdy cage at least 36 x 28 x 48 in (90 x 70 x 120 cm), with bigger or aviary housing preferred; offer extensive daily out-of-cage time and play stands. Keep at room temperatures 18-29 C (65-85 F), away from drafts and fumes. PTFE/Teflon off-gassing is fatal, so keep birds far from the kitchen.
Substrate
Line the cage tray with plain paper or newspaper for easy cleaning and daily droppings checks. Avoid dusty, scented, or loose litters that mask soiling and can harbor mold.
Equipment & setup
Indoor lighting suffices, though natural sunlight or a full-spectrum bird lamp supports vitamin D. Provide stainless-steel dishes, heavy-duty foraging and chew toys, varied natural perches, a bathing dish or misting option, and a powder-coated or stainless cage with secure locks, since amazons are strong and clever.
Diet
Base the diet on quality formulated pellets with fresh vegetables, leafy greens, and limited fruit. Amazons are highly prone to obesity and fatty liver disease, so strictly limit high-fat seeds and nuts to occasional treats. Avoid avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and salty or fatty human foods.
Behavior & temperament
Red-lored amazons are confident, playful, and capable talkers and singers. They form strong bonds and can be affectionate but are prone to loud vocalizing, especially at dawn and dusk, and to hormonal aggression during breeding season, when males may become territorial and bite. They thrive on routine, training, and social interaction; understanding amazon body language (pinned eyes, fanned tail, raised nape) helps prevent bites.
Health
Long-lived but susceptible to obesity and hepatic lipidosis from rich diets, vitamin A deficiency on seed-only diets, aspergillosis, feather-destructive behavior, and psittacosis (zoonotic). Amazons can develop atherosclerosis with age. Annual avian-vet exams, weight monitoring, and a balanced low-fat diet are essential.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Establish consistent daily routines and reward-based training to keep an amazon balanced and confident. Provide abundant foraging and shredding toys, and be prepared to manage seasonal hormonal behavior with extra space, limited cuddling of the back/under-wings, and adjusted light cycles. Plan for this bird's multi-decade lifespan, including provisions for its future care.
