Yellow-billed Amazon Parrots aka Yamaican Yellow-billed Parrots
Useful Webpages: General Information about Amazon Parrots ... Amazon Species ... Amazon Photo Gallery .... The Diseases of the Amazon Parrots
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The Yellow-billed Amazon Parrot (Amazona collaria) is native to the island of Jamaica and the West Indies inhabiting mid-level, wet limestone forests at elevations up to 1,200 m. They are known to fly considerable distances to feeding areas, including sea-level plantations.
This parrot is now rarely seen in the wild and listed as an endangered species due to habitat destruction and harvesting of the young chicks for the pet trade. They are usually seen in pairs or small flocks, and easiest located by call.
Description:
This chunky parrot averages 11 inches (28 cm) in length, from bill to tail. It's mostly green with white facial markings.
Primary coverts and primaries are blue. Secondary feathers are dull blue. Iris brown and feet are pinkish / flesh color.
Head / Neck: The forehead and eye area are whitish. The forecrown is a dull blue. Lores and upper cheeks are blue interspersed with white. The throat, lower cheeks and some feathers on the breast are rose-red, each feather being edged bluish-green. The ear coverts are blackish-blue.
Tail: Upperside green with greenish-yellow tips. Under tail coverts are yellowish-green. The base of the outer tail feathers is red.
Immatures: Young birds have little or no white to the forehead; they have less rose-red and their irises are dark.
Sexing: They are monomorphic (no visual difference between sexes). For accurate sexing, surgical or DNA sexing is recommended.
Caring for the Yellow-billed Amazon Parrot:
These amazons are rare both in their natural habitat as well as in captivity. As such, every captive specimen of this species should be placed into a well-managed breeding program, and not sold as pets.
These parrots very active and should be provided the largest flight or cage possible. They have a tendency to get obese in small aviary or cage settings and require a lean diet. Their taking ability is very good.
A planted aviary is always preferable; however, if this is not possible provide the most spacious cage or flight that space and budget allows. They need enough space to be able to fly on a daily basis. The recommended dimensions for an aviary would be 12 x 5 x 6 ft with adjoining shelter; metal construction is advised, as they like to chew and could easily, over time, destroy an aviary made of wood.
For parrots that are generally kept indoors, it would be ideal to provide them with an outdoor space for enrichment, exercise and sunlight.
Minimum outside temperature they can tolerate is 50 Degree Fahrenheit (or 10 degree Celcius). If temperatures go below that, heated areas need to be provided.
These parrots crave privacy and security and a "retreat" / secure area should be provided to protect against fear responses.
Durable cage construction is not as critical as it is for macaws and cockatoos, although metal aviaries are preferred to wooden ones. It may be recommended to use escape proof latches on cages / aviaries.
Amazons should always be provided with toys, blocks of wood or branches that they can chew.
Personality:
This amazon loves to fly and the ability to do so will help it from growing obese. They can be very noisy in the morning and in the evening. They are easily tamed and usually get along with other bird species outside the breeding season. During breeding season, they should be isolated from other birds.
Voice / Call:
They are medium-noisy to noisy parrots. Although noise levels are mostly high in the morning and evening, less so during the day. Their calls are raucous, rolling screeches.
Breeding
Their breeding season starts in March and goes on until August. In their natural habitat, they nest in hollow branches or tree cavities and, at times, build their nest in rock crevices.
In captivity, breeding pairs should be isolated and a nesting box of the following dimensions is recommended: 10 x 10 x 24 inches (25 x 25 x 60 cm), with an entrance hole of 3 ins (8 cm) in diameter.
The female lays 2 to 4 eggs measuring 1.42 x 1.25 ins (36.0 x 29.2 mm), which she incubates for 26 days. The young fledge after 8 weeks.
Diet during Breeding & Chick Raising: High-protein baby cereal and bread soaked in honey-water are essential during the breeding season; also necessary are sunflower seeds, monkey chow, fruits (banana, apple, tomato) and greens.
Lifespan:
They may live 50 years or longer.
Diet:
In the wild, they eat fruits, berries and seeds. They are occasionally seen foraging in gardens and fruit plantations, occasionally causing damage to grain fields.
In captivity, a good quality fortified seed mix in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables should be provided, especially apples, carrots, bananas and citrus fruits, as well as rose-hips, elderberries, rowanberries, half-ripe maize and green food.. They also enjoy sprouted seeds and pine-nuts. Because of their tendency to obesity, these amazons should given small amounts of sunflower or safflower seeds as treats, except when they are in breeding mode. Willow twigs should be provided throughout the year.
In breeding season, a good quality mineral supplement and bread and biscuits for rearing should be provided.
Procurement & Care:
For information on purchasing this bird, please consider the following resources:
- What Bird Fits Into My Lifestyle?
- Procuring Birds
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here for info.
- NOTE: Aviculturists and breeders of Protected Species that take part in the preservation and conservation of critically endangered birds are encouraged to list their group information at no cost to them. Please e-mail me the information.
Please refer to the following websites for information:
- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird
- The 3 Key Elements to Your Pet Bird's Happiness and Health
- Caring for your companion bird
Species: Scientific: Amazona collaria ... English: Yellow-billed Amazon ... Dutch: Geelsnavelamazone, Roodkeelamazone ... German: Jamaika Amazone ... French: Amazone à gorge rouge 
CITES II - Endangered Species
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
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