Have you ever seen one of those talent shows on TV that showcases animals with extraordinary abilities? If you have, you are already familiar with the amazing talking and singing abilities of the amazon parrot.
The budgie might hold the record for the largest vocabulary- yes, you read that right!- and the African grey might have the most developed usage of language, but the amazing amazon holds the title for speech clarity! You will never hear, “What did your bird say?” when an amazon enters the spotlight; it is always as clear as human speech.
Furthermore, they are better singers than many human vocalists out there with platinum records. They never fail to entertain.
However, the amazon parrot requires specific care in order to thrive in captivity. A common mistake that amazon owners make is underestimating the intelligence of their bird. Science has recently put parrot intelligence in line with that of the small primates. This means the only animals they consider smarter are dolphins, great apes and humans.
Think about that for a moment. Consider what it would be like to be that intelligent being and to be locked in a cage with no means to make use of that brain power. It would be frustrating, boring and depressing.
If you are doing things properly with your bird, then you are providing lots of toys for entertainment and foraging opportunities to satisfy their instinct to search for food. If you are doing this, hats off to you for providing as natural a life as you can for a bird in captivity. But we can’t stop there.
We can do better!
Wild parrots spend most of their time problem solving. Take these for example: finding ample and adequate food sources, attracting the perfect mate and how to turn that old tree trunk into a suitable nest for future young. As you can imagine, things do not always go as planned in the wild. There are storms, droughts and deforestation that all stand in the way of the perfect hearth and home for wild parrots bringing the need for creative solutions to problems.
They have amazing mental capabilities that go untapped in captivity. They need and want daily mental stimulation We, at BirdTricks, recommend training to fill the void.
We understand that you may not be interested in training your birds. You may not care if your bird can perform the perfect wave or spin. You may be satisfied with the relationship you share with your bird: the status quo. But is your amazon satisfied? Can it possibly live a fulfilling life presented with the same things day after day? Probably not. Training opens the doors to a world of learning for your bird. It is much less about WHAT you are training your bird to do and more about the fact that you ARE training.
Your bird will get to use its natural ability to problem solve while trying to determine what needs to come next to earn that treat. Every training experience is a little different from the day before and new opportunities for learning and growing are constantly presented.
Guess what? While your bird is learning about all the new possibilities in life, you will be learning about your bird! You will have as many AHA! moments as your amazon when you realize the amazing things it is capable of.
Don’t underestimate your bird!
38 comments
Ordered your training series only a month ago. In just this short period of time, my YNA can now wave, turn around, and will come off my shoulder without a problem. I just wanted a well behaved bird. Not necessarily a “trick” bird, but found that trick training teaches them to think in all other areas, and has made my bird a lot more fun to interact with for everyone. The cost of your total package training series was less than 1/6th the cost of my bird, but If I could put a dollar amount on the stress this has saved, it would be in the millions! Thank you so much for offering this much needed course!!
I wanted to say thank you for all of your educational content. I just got a Blue Fronted Amazon about a week ago. I was told she is 8 months old. She came with her wings clipped and on a mostly seed mixed diet with some fruit. The food they sent her with looks like the basic parrot seed mix found at the local grocery store full of mostly sunflower seeds. I just purchased the cookbooks from Bird Tricks, so I can ensure she is eating healthy. I have been watching a lot of your clicker and target training videos and I started click training today. It is absolutely amazing how intelligent and perceptive creatures parrots are. So, again, thank you for all of your videos and blog posts spreading education about caring for and training birds.
How am I able to train my parrot to allow me to “scratch her head”, and be more. She is two years old, says only hello. She steps up wonderfully, and sits on the shoulder splendidly. I would like to touch her feathers. She yells at me whenever I try. Sometimes she is better and when I touch her I give a treat. But how do I know I’m not reenforcing the “avoiding being touched” vs. “I’m touching you and here is a treat?”.
I see the sample I bought from you is made in my home town. Amazing. My amazon is just starting to eat this and I only wanted a small bag again but I guess I can’t get it. I have watched you from the beginning and have Chet’s videos. Love the videos you make. I watch everytime you post one. I have watched Capri grow up from a baby.
Hello. I have a 31 year old female named Mork. She lives in our living room and mostly stays in or on her cage. It wasn’t until I started watching your videos that I started to think about doing more for her. I was taught that with parrots that if you have them used to a lot of human activity & then they lose it, that is worse than not having it in the 1st place. I now am starting to want more for her but worry that her heart muscle is too weak to learn to fly. Any suggestions? Also we have a small house & no room for her cage & a bird stand…what about having a large stand and a small cage for night time?
Hello, I just got 2 YNA parrots ( a male and female) I have no experience in Bird training/ handling but I got them as pets for my girls. Need tips on how to train them as amazing pets . Thank you
My double yellow head Amazon (10) refuses to play, he only wants to walk around the floor of the apartment, and shew on things, I need to watch him constantly. I adopted him lately 6 months ago. If I restrict him in the cage if he does not see me he yells like a mad man. So he does not want toys, I bought. I sent him away a few months I was sick, he just returned worse, of course, he very nervous, he has calmed down a bit since his return, but this bird is really nice when he is calm, when there is no noise in the house…. I’m confused. If I try to train on the table, the floor, he likes for 1 minute and walks away, not interested… so what should I do?
Blue fronted Amazon
Hello, I watched a video on youtube.com and it said that I could write and ask for some training material. I have a 5 month old blue front amazon. She will step up for a treat but as soon as I try to keep her up or walk away from her cage she jumps off and flies back to her perch on her cage. Also I would like some info on training her to talk. Thank you so much.
My YNA is very aggressive and will bite if given a chance. He also screams fairly often, even when he’s out of his cage. He isn’t interested in toys, either. I need help. He is a rescue and I have had him for over 2 years. The age estimate is mid- to late-20s.
I have a yellow naped amazon that hates all men. He is 17 so am wondering if it is hormones, or if I could get some tips on training him to like people besides me and my son who he grow up with. I read the section on letting others do things for him, but if they can not get near him without him biting how do I do that?
Hello i m Romeo and i have a yellow naped-amazon her name is Poly and i want to train her that she comes to my hand.
Hi my name is Sue. I think your website is great and your videos spectacular! How do you get your parrots to fly and guarantee or know that they will return to you? I am a new Parrot owner, of a double yellow-headed Amazon. He is so intelligent and such a joy! However, he’s 3 years old and he’s exhibiting sexual behavior and slight aggression towards my son. As well as being a bit territorial. He, I’m guessing thinks I’m his mate (which I’m not trying to enable this Behavior because I know it’s just frustrating to him even more, which is why I try to only pet him on his head and neck area) and is fine with me but, definitely gets frustrated with and jealous, of my son. I’m also curious about Flight Training. The woman I got him from clipped his wings so improperly, she clipped all of his feathers on his wings not just the flight ones and luckily, didn’t cut his actual wings! I thought she knew what she was doing but, she didn’t. She also, almost took off his toe clipping his nails, as well :-( So, he’s still growing his feathers back but, I would like to know how to start training him soon because they are growing back. I’m also wondering about stress marks in his feathers, he has them and any advice that you may have for me, on how to help this and all of the above, would be greatly appreciated! Lastly, do you have any tips on how to make a perfect parrot stand, play area and did you make storms new cage set up? If you did, please tell me how!? I love it and think it’s beautiful! Thanks and stay flocktacular!:)
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