July 28, 2024, 7:27 am | Read time: 4 minutes
The blue-fronted Amazon is a bird parrot from South America. There, it has a very large area of distribution with a wide variety of habitats. Due to its adaptability, it is also suitable to be kept as a pet, and can even become tame and learn to speak.
Appearance
The appearance of the blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) is reflected in its name. Due to their colorful plumage, they are one of the most popular birds to keep as pets, alongside the gray parrot. In addition to the blue feathers on their forehead, other areas of their body differ from their basic green tone. Their wings are edged in dark blue, with yellow and red spots of color underneath when spread. Their tail feathers, on the other hand, often show yellow and blue accents. The feathers around their eyes up to the back of the head are usually yellow – how much varies depending on the breed. The eye color of the bird ranges from a dark shade of red to orange.
The parrots reach a size of 12.5 to 15.7 inches and weigh 14.1 to 22.9 ounces. Males and females are visually not very different from each other. Sometimes the only way to find out their sex is through a DNA test at the vet. There are no special requirements for keeping these South American birds in accordance with species protection laws, as they are not considered endangered. Nevertheless, they should, of course, not be purchased from the wild but from a captive-bred stock with proof of origin.
Behavior
The blue-fronted Amazon is known for its lively behavior. Although it does not fly particularly well or much, it should definitely be allowed a daily free flight. However, it climbs much better, which is why it needs lots of different opportunities to do so in its aviary. With its strong beak, it can hold its entire body weight and dangles from branches as often as it does from a swing. Their feet are also strong, so you can sometimes spot them upside down in their aviary. With plenty of climbing opportunities, they not only keep themselves occupied but also exercise their foot muscles. Natural wood of different thicknesses with different barks is suitable for this.
This parrot from South America lives in social groups in the wild and should always be kept at least in pairs, or better yet, within a larger group of six to eight birds. Birds living in isolation are more prone to illness and become lonely. Although they can socialize well with humans and even imitate our voices, this is no substitute for members of their own species. When kept as pets, they are amusing and often exhibit mischievous behavior when seeking attention. They can also become very loud.
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Correct keeping & care
The aviary for two blue-fronted Amazons should have minimum dimensions of approximately 10 × 3.3 × 6.6 feet. For each pair that is added, the floor space must be increased by half. As blue-fronted Amazons are actually native to warmer climates, they are used to different climatic conditions than in Germany. It is therefore not easy to provide them with at least 60 percent humidity, as this is almost too humid for human living spaces. They also need an average temperature of 64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. In winter, 59 degrees Fahrenheit is enough for them, but then they are much less active and definitely need warm places to hide.
In the wild, they are generally dependent on tree hollows for sleeping and hiding. For this reason, there should also be a number of cavities in their home that can accommodate at least two birds. The birds also need a place to bathe and fresh drinking water, both of which should be changed every day. These intelligent birds also like to be kept busy. However, as they gnaw on their toys, they should not be made of plastic. Products made of natural wood, cardboard, or rope that are only painted with saliva-proof paints are more suitable.
Blue-fronted Amazons are food generalists, which means that they are not particularly choosy when it comes to their food. Parrot and parakeet food is suitable as a basic food, which should make up less than 50 percent of their diet – care should be taken to ensure that it does not contain peanuts. Alternatively, you can, of course, put together suitable seeds yourself. The blue-fronted Amazon will peel these with its beak before eating them.
Once or twice a week, you should also offer them protein-rich sprouted food or chicken eggs with their shell as well as vitamins, minerals, and grit. You should also feed them fresh food in the form of fruit and vegetables. With proper care, blue-fronted Amazons can live up to 90 years in captivity.