cuban amazon

I am looking into getting a cuban amazon. Does anybody have any experience with them? I've tried looking online but majority of the things I found are just their behavior in the wild and breeding. I'm not looking to breed I just want pet information. So I want to know how they are as pet. I've read that they are noisy in the wild but how are they in a home. I understand that all parrot are noisy but what is the level of noise. Are they constant screamers or just occasionly. Are their attitude like some other amazon that i can study or are they totally different. Are they a one person bird and a family bird. Thanks Amy advice will help.

I think you need a special permit for a Cuban Amazon, not sure which post but I think someone posted a link to a breeder who said that a permit was required.

Yea I have read something about that. Now do I need a permit in order to buy one or was it just the seller who needs a permit to sell it. I'm confused because I've research about it but it never says or no one ever says where one can acquire this permit. I've been talking with a shop owner who has one for sale, when I asked about the permit they said that they had one and for me not to worry. I don't question them on the legitimate of actually having the bird because I asked for a video and ask that they used a specific name so it wasn't like they got it off the Internet. Everything looks legit but again it's just the permit issue that I'm confuse on. Im hoping the shop owner knows if it's legal or not because their shop will be on the line if they were to sell it across state line. Also I'm still interested in their behavior or amazon behavior in general.

Yes I had a Cuban Amazon. Her name is Terry. I had her a few years, and I still hear about her now and then.

Terry was a gentle, reserved, and sweet Amazon. Not noisy at all, but it could be she was depressed in my home which was very quiet at the time. I had 2 other quiet species, and lived alone at the time. She LOVED commotion, and would literally 'come alive' when she went to visit a bird store. Maybe it was because she lived at a bird store for the first years of her life, and that noisy, busy atmosphere with lots of other birds and people around was what she craved and loved so much. Of course I'm not saying all Cubans are like that, it was what this specific bird was conditioned to.

When I would hear Terry, it would sound like a little fast barking noise. Not a super loud noise. But then "loud" is relative. If you've heard a Macaw, Cockatoo, even an Eclectus at full blast, you won't consider a Cuban Amazon loud at all in volume LOL. Maybe others make noise more frequently than her? I don't have another to compare to, but I'm sure how frequently they scream varies from bird to bird.

They're a very small Amazon. One of the smallest I believe. Terry was even smaller than some Pionus. She was only 220 grams and mature. Maybe she was a really small one, I don't know. I'm sure some males are larger.

Like a typical Amazon, Terry didn't like petting on her body, but when she wanted scritches, she'd bend down her neck for you.

I didn't need a USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Service) permit to own one. The breeder needs the permit. Also for crossing state lines. Good luck

Perfect that's what I wanted to hear. I would assume the shop owner knows what he's doing for posting up the Cuban on a public site offering to ship. I was told they were in business for 23 years so reputation and store will be on the line. I doubt they would risk it if they didn't know what they were doing.

Lots of scams out there too Not saying that this is. What is the shop that is selling it?

Finding out the store would be good, maybe someone here had a bad experience with them?
Could we know which state or country your'e in? It also could be harder depending on where you live/which state your'e in.

I have a Cuban and he is a nice little birdie. Not too noisy, quite friendly and easy to deal with.
Cubans are CITIES listed, which means you can not cross state lines with them without a federal permit. In the case of a breeder, both the buyer and the seller need the permit to ship across state lines. If you are buying from a shop within your state, you do not need a permit. But, consider whether you will be moving down the line - legally you would need a permit to move your bird across state lines.

Ohhhh... a Cuban amazon No experience, but they are such beauties! I think they are considered one of the "smaller" zons and smaller zons tend to have better temperament and lower voices than the bigger "hot 3" zons do.

Let us know if/when you get him/her. Lot of pics too!

The shop is in Florida. I requested a video from them and asking them to mention my name in the video that's they only way I know that it'll be real. Plus in the video she also shows the sign for her shop I think it's brenda's birds. Anybody have any experience with them from florida? I'm located in minnesota

You MUST have a Federal permit to get him if the shop is in FL and you are in MN.

Yea that's what I thought. I think I will look for a different bird. Thanks for all the information

sonja said:

I have a Cuban and he is a nice little birdie. Not too noisy, quite friendly and easy to deal with.
Cubans are CITIES listed, which means you can not cross state lines with them without a federal permit. In the case of a breeder, both the buyer and the seller need the permit to ship across state lines. If you are buying from a shop within your state, you do not need a permit. But, consider whether you will be moving down the line - legally you would need a permit to move your bird across state lines.

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You are correct that both parties would need a permit for an interstate sale. However, there are no restrictions on traveling anywhere within the US with an Appendix I species that is a personal pet. Taken directly from the FWS site in response to the new status of the BTM (and thus also pertaining to all Appendix I species):

Personal Pets: The Endangered Species Act places no restrictions on traveling with or transporting legally obtained endangered species within the United States for your own personal use. Under the new rule, no permit is required for you to travel or transport your pet macaw(s)within the United States, provided you are not selling or otherwise engaging in commercial activity with the bird(s).

Once again, and just for further clarification, there are no restrictions or permits required for traveling or moving within the US with a personal pet of an Appendix I species. You are free to do and go and live as you wish with your pet Appendix I parrot as long as any interstate travel is not for commercial purposes.

Also, ALL psittaciforms are CITES listed, but only some of them are listed as Appendix I which places such severe restrictions on sales and trade.

So if I were to fly down to Florida and purchase it there then I'm legally able to bring it back to Minnesota? I am going down to Georgia in a few weeks and my cousin down there loves to go to Florida so I can make a road trip from georgia. If I understand correctly then that will be legal? If not I can live without one but if that's possible then I don't want to miss the opportunity. If only you guys can see the video the owner sent me you would fall in love instantly.

lefty13 said:

So if I were to fly down to Florida and purchase it there then I'm legally able to bring it back to Minnesota? I am going down to Georgia in a few weeks and my cousin down there loves to go to Florida so I can make a road trip from georgia. If I understand correctly then that will be legal? If not I can live without one but if that's possible then I don't want to miss the opportunity. If only you guys can see the video the owner sent me you would fall in love instantly.

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That sale is also illegal, you are not a resident of Florida and thus the sale is still interstate. The two parties must be legal residents of the same state for the sale to be considered legal.

Having said that, there still are perfectly legal ways to buy Appendix I species across state lines. My advice, talk to the shop owner about these rules and regulations and see what he or she may be able to help you with.

The shop owner may not be the best person to talk to if she's already told the OP not to worry about a permit.

Cuban amazons are tough to come by legally. They are very rare.

Birdman666 said:

Cuban amazons are tough to come by legally. They are very rare.

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Rare, but not "very" rare. I've had one, and I've come across a few people who have one out here. Then again in Southern California we're lucky - you can find just about any rare species out here.