Choosing a pet parrot - Amazon or Alexandrina?

Choosing a pet parrot - Amazon or Alexandrine?

Hello,
I am in the research phase of choosing a pet. I've done lots of internet trawling and have owned smaller birds in the past. We also spend time feeding the local rainbow lorikeets and kookaburras in the yard, which we hand feed.
I am after a comparison of extra attention required for a Amazon as compared to an Alexandrine? I understand the cage will need to be larger, and we do plan on having the parrot out of its cage for 3 - 4 hours minimum per day.
Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum! Hope you have a wonderful time here! You must be an Aussie! Kookaburras and rainbow lorikeets! Lol

Anyways, it all depends on you Which parrot you like, I've never had an amazon before, but I can tell you all about alexandrines since I have one!

If you prefer a more independent parrot, then go for the alexandrines. They are known to be more independent then some other species of parrot, and they will be happy if you give them lots of toys to play with, and can be left alone for a bit longer. But it does not mean that they doesn't like to spend time with you! Although they are not as cuddly as cockatoos, but they still love people! Ozzie (my alex) is actually a very cuddly bird! Especially before bedtime, he loves to be on my arm and get his head rubs!

If you get an alexandrine, they might need a taller/bigger cage than an amazon, since they have a very long tail! A male alexandrine's tail can be more than 30cm!

And alexandrines are big chewers! Ozzie can finish a toy made for macaw or African grey within a week or two! It goes to every parrot but, make sure to birdie proof your house if you does get one of the bigger parrots, Ozzie has destroyed a lot things! Which includes the wall! He helped my dog to chew on the wall!


Are you experienced in parrot behavior problem? Amazons are prone to aggressive problems. Some alexandrine can be a little nippy too, but they are known as gentle giants (I know, they are medium parrots, not they are very big in parakeets).

Also, not too sure about amazons but alexandrine can be loud. Some people think that their flock call is too loud, but comparing them to the cockatoos that is around my house Ozzie is nothing! Lol Both can be excellent talker, and both are on the top talking parrot list.

Hope this helped

Ive only had my Amazon for about a week now, but I already love him!

Just based off my zon, he can be loud. Loud enough to bother my husband at least. Though I think its mostly cries for attention and things being loud around him (the vacuum, my daughter crying, etc.)

However he is very affectionate, or he wants to be but is still unsure of us. Like I said he cries for attention, even if he wont let me hold him hes just as happy if I simply sit by his cage.
So I suppose you might need to spend a little more time with a zon to help prevent excessive loud squaking.

Not sure if that helps, lol.
And welcome to the forum

The advice I give everyone on choosing a bird is to handle as many birds as possible. The bird I've always wanted is an African Grey, followed by a Sun Conure. Instead I've owned two Indian Ringnecks and an Alexandrine Ringneck. You just never know what bird is gonna steal your heart.

I can't comment on amazons, but I love my Alexandrine. One annoying thing that I run into constantly though is that nothing is built for an Alex. Everything is too short/small to accommodate their long tail. This includes playstands, cages, and travel cages. Things that can fit their tail are built for a macaw, so either have too wide of bar spacing or too thick of a perch.

i can tell you about amazons. They are verry curious and inquisitive (probebly spelt wrong) They are also verry loud in the morning, and late afternoon(normally around sunset/sunrise) With their curiousity they never want to sit still, keiko alwas wants to explore the house and look for stuff to play with. Amazons need to well entertained to prevent self-plucking. keiko gets bored with a toy after 1 week(exept her pink toothbrush)so you probebly will have to replace/cycle through your toys.

Now to the good things They are big cuddle bugs and will bond with you, and will tolerate other people. keiko loves to sit on my shoulder and preen my hair. They are funny birds and will keep you amused for the rest of your life. They are also well none for their talking ability, keiko is very young and has already started talking (hello, and phone noise)

Also cause you live in australia like me, amazons are verry hard to find over here. It may involve a long drive to get to your breader.

Hope this helped, if you need any thing else contact me

The most importans think is that you love your perrot, othervice you can cope with them, and they can not cope with you lol. So when you have read and heard facts about Amazon and Alexandrine and considerd you social situation then use your hard

Thanks for the great advice, the more the merrier. We got to handle both of them at a bird shop in Sydney, along with a few others. I guess
My concern with the Amazon is that it needs a lot more time than an Alex due to its intelligence, would that be correct?

I think in general that you get double back than what you give but perrots is a sociall animal and is depeng on their "family" so it is a big responsibility taking care of them and if you think you dont have enough time then dont get a perrot

Hi oled, thanks for your advice. I am not suggesting that we do not have time for a parrot but would like comparison between these types.