BFA vs DYH

Hello all. First timer here trying to do my research and be thorough!

What are the differences between double yellow heads and blue fronted amazons? I know they're considered the more social of the zons, and also larger than the others. Any species specific personality differences or tendancies?

Any and all help is appreciated, even stories and personal experience!!

Thanks!
CK

Hi there, CK, and welcome to the forums.

Let's start with some links for each Amazon you are interested in, for the visual differences.

Blue Fronted Amazon: Blue-Fronted Amazon Birds
Blue Front Amazon Parrot
The 'blue' varies greatly on BFA. Some sport more than others. It depends on species.

Double Yellow Headed Amazons: Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Birds
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/doubleyellowheadedamazonparrots.html

I'm owned by a nearly 4 year old Magna DYH, and must say that I love my Sam death.

Yes, he can be challenging at times, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

We have many wonderful Amazon guardians, and I'm sure you'll get some awesome feedback.

Personality over parentage. Get the one that likes you best.

Welcome to the forum CK.

Having been "owned" by Amy now,for just about 30 yrs, < I got her when she was just 16 weeks old> I might be a little partial to BF's

I really don't have a bad thing to say about her. She talks,and sings,and plays,loves lovies...scratch me please daddy..eats just about anything..doesn't SCREAM!!


Jim

Coloration, as JerseyWendy said. And I think DYHs are a bit larger on average.

Both are big personality.

I have no empirical data on it, but I'd guess you'd find more differences between individuals of these two species than between the species...

Even amongst my BFA and her three clutchmates of the same species, the amount of blue on their heads ran the gamut from just a little to... Ginny, who basically just wears yellow eye-goggles. Their personalities even as babies were also quite different.

I love them both. I actually started out feeling like the DYH is a little more beautiful in coloration. It's just that a BFA called dibs on me first... now I might be biased the other direction from seeing her beautiful face every day.

I agree, let one choose you... But here is my ultra-biased opinion : DYHA!, DYHA! Can you tell I love mine? He is incredible. I have heard good and horror stories on both sides, all comes down to the individual and who you click with though.
But... DYHA! Sorry, I just love them.

Been owned by both and truly love both. The DYH can be 100g heavier and therefore is bigger. But both have equally as big personalities. This is a true Win / Win either way.

To play a little European drama here: Either let the Blonde Swed carry you away or the Darker French sweep you off your feet (i.e. the color of the beak).

I fully agree with Henpecked, go with the one that choose's you.

You can't lose with the right bird of either variety, if you've decided a 'zon is for you. Have also met a nice orange wing, and a nice red naped, too.

Though I'm kind of fond of the DYH myself.

Please don't take this wrong if your fid isn't, a YNA. I had a freind who breed Amazon. He had hundreds of zons of many species. He also had many color mutations of several species. When I'd ask about a mutation he'd reply "yeah. But its still a BFA ". Napes rule but DYH run a close second.
Disclaimer. .. my closest freind of 45 yrs is a hen nape.

I grew up with a wonderful wild-caught DYH and am owned by a wonderful rescue BFA. I couldn't say I really have a preference The DYH and BFA in my life have had VERY different life experiences, and have very different personalities because of their experiences (as does the other amazon I grew up with, a hand fed baby GCA). All the amazons I have been around are friendly, intelligent and well behaved birds. My BFA was a bit of a monster when we adopted him, but with love, attention and care, he's a very nice bird.

A *HUGE* amount of a parrots personality, behavior and general attitude comes from their life experiences, not their species. I honestly think that provided you offer a loving home, lots of attention and proper care to a baby bird who came from a good breeder that you would be hard pressed to find much of a difference beyond small quarks that are unique to the bird as an individual. DYH, YNA and BFAs are very similar personality wise, and that is why they are "grouped together" so frequently when talking about amazon behavior/personality. There are numerous other amazon species, but these specific 3 are very similar.

Ginnybird said:

Coloration, as JerseyWendy said. And I think DYHs are a bit larger on average.

Both are big personality.

I have no empirical data on it, but I'd guess you'd find more differences between individuals of these two species than between the species...

Even amongst my BFA and her three clutchmates of the same species, the amount of blue on their heads ran the gamut from just a little to... Ginny, who basically just wears yellow eye-goggles. Their personalities even as babies were also quite different.

I love them both. I actually started out feeling like the DYH is a little more beautiful in coloration. It's just that a BFA called dibs on me first... now I might be biased the other direction from seeing her beautiful face every day.

Click to expand...

" Seeing her beautiful face everyday", Kay you hit the nail squarely on the head! Just look my Amys' aviatar pic! who could not/would not love lookin' at that??


Jim

SailBoat said:

Been owned by both and truly love both. The DYH can be 100g heavier and therefore is bigger. But both have equally as big personalities. This is a true Win / Win either way.

To play a little European drama here: Either let the Blonde Swed carry you away or the Darker French sweep you off your feet (i.e. the color of the beak).

I fully agree with Henpecked, go with the one that choose's you.

Click to expand...

Same here. Either fostered or owned by both...

My all time baby of all the babies I ever owned, was a blue front named Pecker, who was actually being left by the dumpster at Lucky's to die...

One man's Trash...

She turned out to be the most bonded bird I've ever had, and the most loving creature I have ever encountered. HUGE personality bird! She died of a tumor at age 38.

I still miss her!

Jim,

Absolutely. :>

I actually realized as I posted that my initial mental image of the best-looking Amazon, a DYH with lots of yellow, had changed at some point to a mental picture of Ginny's face.

With ANY zon it's about the quality of the bond you have with your bird, and your ability to understand what you are dealing with, and train them.

FAR TOO MANY ZONS DON'T GET THE SOCIALIZATION THEY NEED, AND END UP CAGE BOUND. CAGE BOUND ZONS ARE TERRITORIALLY AGGRESSIVE AND BITE!

So, choose the bird who also chooses you, and then socialization, socialization, and more socialization if you want that showy, interactive zon, who loves people.

Get them out of the cage and interact and handle them!

And you might want to read my post on amazon body language.

Dug this up just to give you an idea of size difference. Lucy the DYH is probably pushing 600 grams, Kiwi the BFA is about 420 (both perfectly normal weights for their respective species). Even though Lucy is bigger, she not THAT much bigger. It's not the difference between a zon and a macaw when your talking about the difference in size between these 2 species. I've not been around a YNA, but if I'm not mistaken they can be a little larger than DYH's. BFA's are the "smallest" of the "hot 3" zons:



BTW, Lucy is at minimum 45 y/o, if not older, Kiwi is in his teens, thus the reason she is not quite as vibrantly colored as him Birds do tend to 'fade' a little as they start getting older.

One more thing- both of them are social birds who enjoy human companionship and seek out trusted humans because they want to be with you. Neither are terribly fond of being pet/snuggled (many zons aren't). Both would defend you to the death from any perceived "danger", as both are VERY LOYAL birds. Kiwi tends to be a bit more "silly" and boisterous, whereas Lucy is a very peaceful, calm bird. Those kind of things are the main differences between them and are really down to them being unique individuals, not so much a species thing. I love amazons. They may not be big snuggle birds, but boy are they the best companion you could ask for so long as you treat them right!

Thanks to all for your wonderful input!

My wife and I have actually been deliberating about a parrot since last November. We wanted to be patient and ensure we didn't do anything on a whim. She prefers the DYH appearance and I'm more for the BFA. We have looked at various websites and have a book on its way in the mail!

We have massive plans on socialization. I am very adamant about gaining our trust and getting comfortable with us first, then with a few friends, then we hope to be able to take him for walks and trips to the pet store so that he is used to strangers. But all in good time.

Actually, BirdMan, I printed the post you have and sat it on my wife's desk for her to read!! So now we YouTube parrot videos for education and entertainment

I suppose it depends on the bird itself and availability. I'm having the hardest time finding a breeder within driving distance, which is saying a lot since our search circumference is quite large!

If you wouldn't mind sharing your 'vicinity' with us, we could possibly help you locate a breeder. Our "henpecked" knows a whole lot of Amazon breeders nation-wide.

Aaaaand, since you're looking at YouTube videos, here are a few clips of my Sam. (They're unlisted on YouTube)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0k_4fQTR0k"]Sammy 01 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD9vkRoh3YQ"]Thanksgiving for the Amazons - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oVAT9lRdnU"]Sam playing wildly - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Te7EH1J2U"]Sam playing 2 - YouTube[/ame]

CKP said:

I suppose it depends on the bird itself and availability. I'm having the hardest time finding a breeder within driving distance, which is saying a lot since our search circumference is quite large!

Click to expand...

Another option besides a breeder is to adopt a bird. I wouldn't suggest a first time bird owner to attempt to adopt a 'difficult' bird with known issues, but there are plenty of very loving birds out there in need of a good home who don't have problems. Some have never been abused or mistreated in any way and were well socialized, friendly ext... just had their owner pass away or become to ill to care of them kind of thing and are just waiting for a loving new owner.

Of course, I am quite partial towards rescue birds myself, as Kiwi was a rescue

We did look at rescues, but we figured for our first time to go with a young bird and maybe consider the rescues once we have that experience under our belt. I'm open to the idea perhaps in a few years.

Any help would be fabulous! We live in Atlanta, Georgia. We would prefer somewhere close enough that we could visit once or twice to find the match for us rather than by choosing pictures alone.

And we will of course watch your videos of Sam!!