11 Top Amazon Parrot Species to Keep as Pets

Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots

Active and comical, blue-fronted Amazons are natural performers. They love to be around their owners and will "ham it up" for extra attention. Prolific talkers and singers, they vocalize often and can be very loud. Thus, they are not suited to living in close quarters like apartment buildings. Also, the males are often more aggressive than females. These birds can cost $500 to $3,000.

Red-Lored Amazon Parrots

Red-lored Amazons are charismatic birds who bond quickly to human family members. Some have a tendency to pick their favorite people and be one-person birds. Red-lored Amazons are talented talkers and singers, but potential owners should be aware that all Amazons can, and do, scream and are often loud. These parrots are expensive, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots

Yellow-naped Amazon parrots are quick-witted creatures that make wonderful pets for active owners who really want to form a great bond with their bird. Their obvious intelligence and remarkable speech abilities put them among the most popular and recognizable species of Amazon parrot. And, like other Amazon parrots, with proper socialization and handling, these birds can enjoy being petted, especially on the head. Typically, males are more aggressive. They generally cost $2,000 to $3,000.

Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrots

Double yellow-headed Amazons make wonderful, affectionate pets when hand fed and raised in captivity from a young age. Highly gifted and possessing impressive speech abilities, this is a charming bird that loves being the center of attention. Just be sure you have four to six hours per day to devote to care, social play, and out-of-cage time before adopting one. Males tend to be more aggressive. Also, these birds cost, on average, $2,000 to $3,000.

Panama Amazons

A good family bird, the Panama Amazon is a subspecies of the yellow-crowned Amazon. This is a friendly pet that loves interacting with people, so you could pet them with proper handling. Their social nature helps them be gentle and affectionate companions.

While they are loving, they are also a very active species, so they need an owner that can keep up with them. They must be provided with a safe space to climb and play outside of the cage each and every day. And, like other Amazon parrots, these can cost over $1,000.  

Lilac-Crowned Amazon Parrots

Lilac-crowned Amazons are curious and active birds by nature. Like all parrots, they need plenty of mental stimulation to keep them healthy and happy. These birds form strong bonds with their owners and must be provided with an adequate amount of daily social interaction to thrive. They typically cost around $1,800.   

Southern Mealy Amazon Parrots

Southern mealy Amazons are known to be the most gentle and docile of the Amazon parrots. They are affectionate when kept as pets, and they form strong bonds with their owners. Due to their gentle nature, they are a good choice for bird owners who want a large parrot but would prefer a bird with a more laid-back attitude. Prices for these birds are similar to other Amazons, with some breeders selling them for over $1,000.

Green-Cheeked Amazon Parrots

Playful and sweet, hand-fed green-cheeked Amazon parrots are good family pets that enjoy interacting with their human "flock." While they are known as good-natured birds, they have a streak of curiosity that some owners say makes them more prone to mischief-making than some others of the Amazon species. These birds can also cost hundreds or thousands from reputable breeders.  

White-Fronted (Spectacled) Amazon Parrots

Beautiful and intelligent, white-fronted Amazon parrots can be delightful pets, with a tendency to bond strongly to one person. Although these are the smallest of all of the Amazon parrots, their screams, barks, and trilling can sound quite harsh. Their price might be around $800 to $1,000.

Orange-Winged Amazon Parrots

Orange-winged Amazons make sweet and affectionate pets and bond closely with their owners, so they’re another bird that can enjoy being petted. They have excellent speech abilities and charming personalities.

But like many Amazon parrots, orange-winged Amazons go through a hormonal "bluffing" stage as they reach sexual maturity. The nipping, hissing, and lunging of the "fake attacks" in this irritable phase mean you must carefully consider whether this bird (or any Amazon parrot) is suitable for you or your family. Also, they can cost upwards of $3,000.

Black-Billed Amazon Parrots

Black-billed Amazon parrots get along great with their owners, and they’re described as intelligent, calm, and humorous. They’re also smaller than other Amazon species, so they’re a good choice if you want a more petite parrot. Just bear in mind that, like other parrots, they are loud. And you can expect to pay hundreds or more for this bird.