Hello from Western Michigan

I have been owned by Amazons for nearly my entire adult life, ever more a reality as I approach the classification of 'older than dirt'. I have experienced the true joy of new arrivals, the warm comfort of years, and the deep loss of those loved ones now departed.

I am jokingly referred to as an Amazon Snob resulting from our long and steadfast love of Amazons, and our singular attraction to them. Not that other parrots have not make their way though our home, commonly while friends are traveling. Each visit only confirms our joy of Amazons. I have long ago determined that the more I live with, learn from and about Amazons only confirms how little I really know. To that end, I have only three sharp edges:

I am a strong believer in regular Vet visits targeting quarterly with every third visit a full blood screen. This will naturally rotate blood samples at difference times of the year. Also, DNA sexing with all new arrivals.

I also believe in rotating between the three Vets at our local clinic to assure that when I bring in a sick Amazon they and their Vet Techs all know (and love) our Amazon(s) and the clinic has a solid record history to work from. I truly believe in including the new Vet, Vet Tech and front desk staff that join the clinic to assure that we will have Vets and staff that will want to work with parrots and not just dogs and cats. I have been in that very cold position of rushing a very sick Amazon to our Vet's clinic and feeling the warmth of seeing that thick records file as we enter the room filled with Vets and Techs all wanting to help. Without fail, the newest Vet will always be one of them! Build the bonds early!

I am a strong believer in fully fighted Amazons. This due to the early loss of two of our Amazons due to heart/lung failure. And, the rapid increase in heard/lung problems being seen in North American born parrots. Yes, great care must be taken in the training and home rules regarding doors, windows, etc... But, no difference than a home with very young humans. Please Vet check prior to fight training a non-fighted parrot - make sure their heart/lungs are strong enough!

Looking forward to listening and being part of this group.

Steven,

PS: We are currently owned by a rehomed 17 year old DYH Amazon. He came to us just 18 months ago, so we are again newbees.

Hello Steven, I'm glad you joined us! We have a fantastic group of Amazon enthusiasts, I think you've come to the right place to share information. I enjoyed reading your introduction.

Hey Steven,
From Grand Rapids myself, Moved over towards Frankenmuth. Amazons, a you mentioned " own you", or so they think. Least my BFA thinks so. She's the boss, and I'm her pet.

Hi there Steven, and welcome to the forums.

I agree with you: Amazons ROCK! I'm owned by 2 of them (or I should say "we" are, as they are family companions).

Hi Steven and welcome!
I am owned by 4 Amazons, just can't get enough, it seems
I'm glad you joined us and I loved your introduction!

Thank-you! Our Yellow Winged Amazon was much the same. Lost him to heart/lung failure in early Feb 2014. He came to us as a BFA and that never made any sense to me. After a review of the two descriptions, we were able to determine that he was a YWA. Found that some breeders had over-breed their BFA and were pushing smaller and smaller babies with weaker and weaker coloration. Some had started crossbreeding with YWA to build back in both size and color. Sometimes it worked, most of the time it didn't so they started passing the YWA as BFA. glad those days are behind us.

Steven,

Steven, would you happen to know the scientific name for the Yellow Winged Amazon? I've never heard of those. I'm familiar with Orange Winged and Yellow-Shouldered Amazons, but not the Yellow Winged.

JerseyWendy said:

Steven, would you happen to know the scientific name for the Yellow Winged Amazon? I've never heard of those. I'm familiar with Orange Winged and Yellow-Shouldered Amazons, but not the Yellow Winged.

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I believe they're hybrids. BFA + YSA = YWA (But according to this I'm wrong, they're a BFA sub-species and/or mutation.

Blue-fronted Yellow-winged Amazon program Utopia Birds

I hear you on the love for zons, but I couldn't live without my macs... I NEED BOTH! Love the goofball birds.

Hey Steven. Welcome to the forum. I've had Amazon's my whole life and am also old as dirt. As of this am i think there's 9 in the house. I've also had most of the old world parrots but now only zons. Hope to see you around in the amazon section.

JerseyWendy said:

Steven, would you happen to know the scientific name for the Yellow Winged Amazon? I've never heard of those. I'm familiar with Orange Winged and Yellow-Shouldered Amazons, but not the Yellow Winged.

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I was going to ask the same question.

Common Name: Blue-Fronted Amazon (Genus Amazona)
Sub-species: Amazona aestiva xantopteryx (Yellow-Wing)
Full Common Name: Blue-Fronted, Yellow-Wing Amazon (Genus Amazona aetiva xantopteryx)
Know Common Name: Yellow-Wing Amazon

Color: Deeper grass green with darker (black) scolloping at the end. Common (red & deep blue to purple) display (flash) feathers on tail and wings

Breast: Yellow-green with slight (black) scalloping at the end

Forehead: Slight line (1/8 - 1/4" with splashes) of turquoise along the top and sides of the Cere (nostril area)

Head Feathering: Behind turquoise frontal feathers, a sizable area of creamy-white yellow merges into green. Pale yellow continues around both eyes and onto the cheeks, extending to the base of the lower beck. Under the beak (bib area) there is a slight line of turquoise-green, which quickly transfers into the yellow-green of the Breast. Green head feathers are scalloped with black and carry down the back of the neck and both sides. Tiny splashes of turquoise occur within and border the creamy-white yellow feathering.

Cere, Nostrils & Beak: Dark gray to black Mouth & Tongue: Black

Bend of Wing: Solid bright red wing edge with streamers (as if applied by an air brush) from body to bend of wing with bright buttercup yellow (with tiny splashes of red) on the bend extending onto wing (approximately the size of a quarter).

Carpal Edge: Yellow-green

Legs & Feet: Longer legs than common, gray to dark black toenails and yellow-green feathers on upper leg with yellow 'leg-lets' at feather base and inside .

General shape: Longer, slimmer, larger than common with greater wingspan and long tail.

Character, Expression & Vocalization: Not so strong willed as common, can appear with an aloof/surprised expression. Generally quiet calls and speech, but will produce very loud calls

NOTE #1: BFA are more common in Northern South America whereas YWA are more central/southern South America beyond where the jungle transitions into more open rain forested areas. Areas that longer body and larger wings and tail work in the open rain forests and plains. Yellow-wing Amazons evolved from Blue Front Amazons to better meet the needs of this more open area.

NOTE #2: The cover page of Sally Blanchard's Companion Amazon Handbook features her drawing of 'Darby' our Yellow-Wing Amazon.

Steven,

AHA! Thank you for your excerpt.

I did some digging myself, including in some of my (ancient) books, Encyclopedia for Amazon Parrots by Klaus Bosch & Ursula Wedde (1981), and Parrots - Their Care and Breeding by Rosemary Low, Third (Revised) Edition (1992)

Indeed, this Blue Front sub-species is/was apparently also called "Yellow Wing Amazon".
Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx - Avibase

Another interesting read by Howard Voren:
Blue Front Plumage Color Differences | Voren's Aviaries Inc