How to Care for a Double Yellow Headed Amazon

Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.

The double yellow headed amazon is one of the largest and most talented amazon parrots, famous for its bright yellow head and an incredible ability to talk and sing. These birds are very intelligent and affectionate, and like all amazons, they love to be the centre of attention. They also test boundaries, especially with inexperienced handlers, so they’re best suited to owners who have kept parrots before. This guide covers how to care for a double yellow headed amazon, from diet and cage setup to training, hormonal behaviour and health.

Juvenile double yellow headed amazon with a small yellow forehead patch — Young double yellow headed amazons have less yellow and brown eyes.

H2: Double Yellow Headed Amazon Quick Facts

Scientific name: Amazona oratrix
Also known as: Yellow-headed Amazon, Yellow-headed Parrot
Native range: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras
Wild status: endangered
Adult length: around 36 to 38 cm
Adult weight: around 500 grams
Lifespan: commonly 40 to 60 years
Diet: quality seed and pellets, vegetables, fruit, a few nuts
Minimum cage: 91 cm wide x 61 cm deep x 122 cm high
Sexing: DNA test only, males and females look the same
Talking ability: excellent
Noise level: loud
Experience level: experienced owners

Double Yellow Headed Amazons as Pets
Essential Supplies
Housing
Toys & Enrichment
Diet & Feeding
Providing Water
Calcium and Vitamins
Behaviour & Handling
Hormonal Behaviour
Training
Common Health Issues
Parasite Control
Health, Hygiene & Safety
Toxic & Dangerous Hazards
Sexing and Ageing
Record Keeping
Holiday Care
Transportation
Compatibility with Other Birds
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Vets and Links

Double Yellow Headed Amazons as Pets

A double yellow headed amazon makes a clever, affectionate and endlessly entertaining pet for an experienced owner. They have an incredible capacity for speech, and many learn to sing, laugh and hold simple “conversations”. They bond strongly with their family and want to be involved in everything.

In the wild they live in Mexico and northern Central America, in open woodland, tropical forest, mangroves and savannah. The World Parrot Trust lists them as endangered, mainly because of habitat loss and illegal trapping for the pet trade (https://parrots.org/encyclopedia/yellow-headed-amazon). Every double yellow headed amazon in Australia is aviary bred.

Because they’re so intelligent, these amazons will test the rules, especially with inexperienced handlers. Consistent, calm handling makes all the difference.

Essential Supplies for Double Yellow Headed Amazons

Housing

A large, strong steel cage, at least 91 x 61 x 122 cm
A metal grate above the tray
Perches of different thicknesses, including natural wood
Separate dishes for seed, pellets, fresh food and water

Housing

A double yellow headed amazon needs a cage at least 91 cm wide, 61 cm deep and 122 cm high, and bigger is always better. It’s one of the largest amazons, and a very active bird that needs room to move around and stretch its wings, with space left over for toys, food and water bowls, perches and swings.

Choose a strong cage, because amazons have powerful beaks. It should have a metal grate above the tray, so your bird can’t reach old food and droppings.

Use perches of different thicknesses and move them around from time to time. That stops your bird standing on the same spot all day, which puts repetitive stress on its feet.

Sydney seasonal tip: In summer, keep the cage out of direct sun, give your amazon a gentle misting or a bath on hot days, and remove fresh food before it spoils in the heat. In winter, keep the cage away from cold windows and draughts.

Toys & Enrichment

Double yellow headed amazons are very active, intelligent birds, so they need plenty of toys to keep their minds busy and prevent boredom. Choose swings and rope, wood, acrylic and leather toys, plus foraging toys that make your bird work for its food. Before taking over Birdsville, Ash worked as a zoo keeper, where daily enrichment for every animal was essential, and an amazon needs the same. See our Natural Bird Toys page (https://birdsville.net.au/natural-toys/) for more ideas, and rotate toys every week or two.

Diet & Feeding

A double yellow headed amazon needs a varied diet of quality seed, pellets, fresh vegetables, fruit, soaked or sprouted seed and the odd nut. Variety keeps your bird healthy and its plumage vibrant. You can change the mix from day to day to keep your amazon interested.

Here’s a tip from our team. Like all amazons, double yellow headeds are on a “see food” diet. They see food and they eat it, so watch your bird’s weight, and feed nuts and sunflower seed sparingly.

Seed

Our top seed pick is Birdsville Blends Tropical Large Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-tropical-large-parrot-1kg), a fresh, varied blend made for amazons and other large parrots. Birdsville Blends are bagged fresh on site with a high turnover, so the seed never sits on a shelf, and buying from the people who mix it means better value. Avoid many chain store mixes. Their low quality grains and filler seed affect the health and vitality of your bird.

Pellets

Vetafarm South American Pellets (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-south-american-mix-350g) are made for South American and Central American parrots like amazons. Vetafarm Macaw Nuts (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-macaw-nuts-2kg) are a larger pellet option. Feed pellets in a separate dish from the seed, and don’t refill either dish until both are finished.

H3: Fruits & Veggie Guide

Vegetables

Broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, capsicum, spinach, beetroot, peas, sweet potato and corn. Wash everything thoroughly first.

Fruits

Melon, orange, banana, grapes, passionfruit, star fruit, apple and pomegranate. Remove any leftovers after serving, so bacteria can’t grow in the cage.

Treats

Soaked or sprouted seed, and small amounts of Birdsville Blends Nut Magic (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-nut-magic-400g) as training rewards.

Avoid Entirely

Avocado, onion, garlic, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and salty, sugary or fatty human food.

Providing Water to Your Amazon

Fresh, clean water must be available to your amazon at all times. Change it daily and scrub the dish whenever you refill it. Aviclens (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-aviclens-water-cleanser-100ml) helps keep water clean between changes. Many amazons also love a bath or a gentle misting.

Calcium and Vitamins

Keep a calcium perch (https://petsville.com.au/products/avian-care-trimming-calcium-perch-140mm-small) in the cage. If your amazon lives indoors without direct sunlight, add Vetafarm Soluvite D (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-soluvite-d-25g) to its water, because window glass blocks the UV birds need to make vitamin D. Amazons are prone to vitamin A deficiency, so feed plenty of orange and dark green vegetables, such as carrot, sweet potato and broccoli.

Behaviour & Handling

Handle your double yellow headed amazon calmly and confidently every day. Let a new bird settle for a few days first. After that, short, relaxed sessions build trust fastest. Never react to a bite by yelling or pulling away sharply, as amazons quickly learn that biting gets a reaction. See our Parrot Biting page (https://birdsville.net.au/parrot-biting/) for more help.

Hormonal Behaviour in Amazons

Many double yellow headed amazons, especially males, become nippy, loud or aggressive during breeding season, usually spring. It’s normal hormonal behaviour, not a change in personality. To keep it manageable, avoid letting your bird ride on your shoulder during this time, limit long days with an early bedtime, remove dark, nest-like spaces, and keep handling calm and short. The behaviour usually eases once the season ends.

Training Your Double Yellow Headed Amazon

Amazons are smart and learn quickly with short, positive sessions. Reward good behaviour with a treat or praise, ignore unwanted behaviour, and never punish your bird. Step up is the most important command to teach first. Our How to Train Your Parrot page (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-bird-advice-and-training/bird-training-clicker-training-parrot-body-language/) covers step up, tricks and talking.

Common Health Issues in Amazons

Obesity and Fatty Liver

Amazons gain weight easily, and a diet heavy in sunflower seed and nuts can lead to obesity and fatty liver disease. Signs include a heavy body, an overgrown beak and less energy. For an amazon that’s overweight or has been diagnosed with fatty liver, we often recommend Birdsville Blends Healthy Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-healthy-parrot-500g) or Birdsville Blends Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-parrot-4kg), mixed with our Basic Budgie Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-budgie-blue-2kg). Have an avian vet confirm fatty liver first.

Vitamin A Deficiency

A seed heavy diet low in vegetables can cause vitamin A deficiency in amazons. Signs include breathing problems, white spots in the mouth and poor feathers. Feed plenty of orange and dark green vegetables, and see an avian vet if you notice these signs.

Feather Plucking

Boredom, stress and poor diet can lead to plucking. See our Feather Plucking page (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-bird-advice-and-training/feather-plucking/), and Common Bird Illnesses (https://birdsville.net.au/common-bird-illnesses/) for other conditions.

Parasite Control for Amazons

Worm your double yellow headed amazon every 6 months. A newly bought bird should be wormed a few weeks to two months after it comes home, so check with our team when you buy your bird. Vetafarm Wormout Gel (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-wormout-gel-50ml) goes in the drinking water, with the dose on the label.

For lice and mites, spray your bird, the whole cage, perches and toys with Avitrol Mite & Lice Spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml). Remove food and water first and avoid the eyes and mouth.

Keep any new bird in a separate cage for 4 to 6 weeks before it meets your other birds.

Health, Hygiene & Safety

Daily: change water, remove uneaten fresh food, and wipe feeders.
Weekly: wash dishes and perches, and rotate toys and perches.
Monthly: clean and disinfect the whole cage with Vetafarm Avicare (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-avicare-rtu-500ml).

For nail and wing care, see our Wing Clipping and Nail Clipping page (https://birdsville.net.au/wing-clipping-nail-clipping/).

Toxic & Dangerous Hazards

For foods to avoid, see the Avoid Entirely list in the Fruits & Veggie Guide above.

Around the home, keep your amazon away from fumes from non stick (Teflon) cookware, aerosol sprays, scented candles and air fresheners. Also watch for electrical cords, lead or zinc objects, toxic plants, ceiling fans, open doors and windows, hot stovetops, and cats and dogs. Always supervise time out of the cage. A bird harness, used with training, is a safe way to take your amazon outdoors.

Sexing and Ageing Double Yellow Headed Amazons

Male and female double yellow headed amazons look identical, so the only reliable way to sex one is a DNA test through an avian vet. Young birds are easy to tell from adults, though. Juveniles have a smaller yellow patch on the forehead and brown eyes. Adults have orange eyes, and the yellow spreads further down the head and neck as the bird gets older. Adults also have red and yellow on the bend of the wing and a pale horn coloured beak.

Record Keeping

Keep a simple diary for your amazon: worming and mite treatment dates, vet visits, weight checks and any changes in droppings, feathers or behaviour. Regular weighing is especially useful for amazons, because it shows weight gain early.

Holiday Care

An amazon needs fresh food, water and company every day, so arrange for someone to visit at least once daily while you’re away. For longer trips, see Bird Boarding in Sydney (https://birdsville.net.au/parrot-bird-boarding-sydney/).

Transportation

Always move an amazon in a secure, ventilated carrier. Keep trips short and the car at a comfortable temperature, and never leave your bird in a parked car. See our Carry Cages page (https://birdsville.net.au/carry-cages/) for options.

Compatibility with Other Birds

Double yellow headed amazons can be bossy, especially in breeding season, so they’re usually best kept in their own cage. Never house them with much smaller birds. If you introduce a new bird, quarantine it for 4 to 6 weeks, then place the cages side by side so the birds can get used to each other before any time together.

Juvenile and adult double yellow headed amazons side by side — The yellow spreads further down the head as the bird matures.

Double Yellow Headed Amazon Frequently Asked Questions

Do double yellow headed amazons talk?

Yes, they’re among the best talkers of all parrots. Double yellow headed amazons can learn many words and phrases, speak clearly, and are famous for singing songs and copying laughter. Most start talking within their first year. Talking with your bird every day and repeating words in context helps it learn fastest.

Are double yellow headed amazons good pets?

For an experienced owner, yes. Double yellow headed amazons are intelligent, affectionate and entertaining, and they love being the centre of attention. They test boundaries, can be loud, and males may get nippy in breeding season, so they suit owners who have kept parrots before and can give them daily time and training.

How long do double yellow headed amazons live?

Double yellow headed amazons commonly live 40 to 60 years with good care, and some live longer. That means your bird may well outlive you, so plan ahead for its future. A healthy, low fat diet and regular vet checks are the best things you can do for a long life.

Are double yellow headed amazons loud?

Yes. Like all amazons, double yellow headed amazons can be very loud, especially around dawn and dusk, when they call and sing. A bored or ignored amazon gets louder, so daily attention, toys and foraging help. They suit houses better than apartments with close neighbours.

Why is my amazon parrot aggressive?

Most often it’s hormones. Many double yellow headed amazons, especially males, become nippy or aggressive during breeding season, usually spring. Keep handling calm, avoid shoulder riding, limit long days and dark nest-like spaces, and don’t reward biting with a reaction. The behaviour usually eases once the season ends.

How can you tell a male double yellow headed amazon from a female?

Not by looking. Male and female double yellow headed amazons look the same, so the only reliable way to sex one is a DNA test by an avian vet. Young birds can be told from adults, though. They have less yellow on the head and brown eyes in place of orange.

Visit Birdsville for Amazon Supplies

Cages, toys, seed and everything your double yellow headed amazon needs are available in-store at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. If you’re interested in owning one of these beautiful birds, call us or drop in for a chat. Visit us or call (02) 9669 1766. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) for live updates.

About Birdsville

Birdsville has been trading in Sydney since 1985, and we believe we’re now the oldest bricks and mortar bird shop still open in Australia. Owner Ash brings experience from vet clinics and from zoo keeping at the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, now Wildlife Habitat. We’re a small business that does things in a big way. Nobody tells us how to run things, so we keep our products the best of the best.

Sources

Range, size, weight and conservation status: World Parrot Trust (parrots.org)
Diet, housing, enrichment, worming, handling and hormonal behaviour advice: Ash and the Birdsville team
Product details: Petsville product listings