Anyone here have an older Amazon?

[Geslina]

My Double-Headed Amazon (Willy) is 60+ years old, and I’ve had him for just over a year. He doesn’t fly and only rarely stretches or opens his wings. He did try to fly once, but he fell straight to the ground. I’m wondering if there’s still a chance he could learn (or re-learn) to fly at his age. Recently he’s been leaning forward as if he wants to take off, which made me curious.
I know Amazons can live well into their 80s, so I’m also wondering: what are the usual signs of slowing down or aging—aside from sleeping more?
Would love to hear others’ experiences with senior Amazons.

I have a Blue Front who is around 38, give or take a year or two. He might be older, who knows? He doesn’t fly anymore, and even when he did, it was just around the living room, to get from one place to another. He just had orthopedic surgery last fall to fix a fractured femur, and did very well, we are still in the recovery stage. But other than that, I don’t really notice anything different compared to the past 31 years I have had him. He does have a heart murmur, is on medication for cardiac disease (and is on a healthier diet for it) and minor cataracts.

Yes, Amazons can live a long time, into their 80s, even, but according to my vet, most do not. She told me they just don’t see a lot of birds that age, that they really don’t see a lot that make it even to my bird’s age. My bird was wild caught, and wild caught birds tend to have good genes, and to be stronger and healthier than domestic bred birds - possibly your parrot is wild caught as well, since they were still doing that back then. Life span definitely depends on care/diet as well. Have you had your bird to the vet yet?

 

[tassanil]

I have a Blue Front who is around 38, give or take a year or two. He might be older, who knows? He doesn’t fly anymore, and even when he did, it was just around the living room, to get from one place to another. He just had orthopedic surgery last fall to fix a fractured femur, and did very well, we are still in the recovery stage. But other than that, I don’t really notice anything different compared to the past 31 years I have had him. He does have a heart murmur, is on medication for cardiac disease (and is on a healthier diet for it) and minor cataracts.

Yes, Amazons can live a long time, into their 80s, even, but according to my vet, most do not. She told me they just don’t see a lot of birds that age, that they really don’t see a lot that make it even to my bird’s age. My bird was wild caught, and wild caught birds tend to have good genes, and to be stronger and healthier than domestic bred birds - possibly your parrot is wild caught as well, since they were still doing that back then. Life span definitely depends on care/diet as well. Have you had your bird to the vet yet?

Wow Geslina, thanks for sharing. it’s impressive to hear that your Blue Front doing so well into his late 30s, especially after orthopedic surgery!!

Willy has been to the vet regularly. When I first got him , I did blood work and DNA sexing, and then not long after that he required emergency surgery for a bone that became lodged in his throat. Most recently, in September 2025, he vomited water, so I brought him in again and they ran a full comprehensive blood panel along with a fecal test, and everything came back looking quite good.

Willy is 100% most likely wild-caught. …His previous owner had him for 51 years and they got him when he was between 8–10 years old. I do think the point you raised about wild-caught birds potentially having strong genetics is relevant in his case as well.

 

[cracin]

get a large dish--add warm water and a small piece of corn on the cob --it may gently get into dish to get food she likes try with differant--mine love corn,i have raised hundreds of birds in my 73 yrs,,hand raised all fro rosella,scharlotte chested keets,blue front,ddyh amazons,african greys as well as a dozen or so small pairs---just find what it likes to get it to try and get into the water--very shallow at first

 

[tassanil]

get a large dish--add warm water and a small piece of corn on the cob --it may gently get into dish to get food she likes try with differant--mine love corn,i have raised hundreds of birds in my 73 yrs,,hand raised all fro rosella,scharlotte chested keets,blue front,ddyh amazons,african greys as well as a dozen or so small pairs---just find what it likes to get it to try and get into the water--very shallow at first

For sure and Willy loves corn too!

 

[Geslina]

Wow Geslina, thanks for sharing. it’s impressive to hear that your Blue Front doing so well into his late 30s, especially after orthopedic surgery!!

Willy has been to the vet regularly. When I first got him , I did blood work and DNA sexing, and then not long after that he required emergency surgery for a bone that became lodged in his throat. Most recently, in September 2025, he vomited water, so I brought him in again and they ran a full comprehensive blood panel along with a fecal test, and everything came back looking quite good.

Willy is 100% most likely wild-caught. …His previous owner had him for 51 years and they got him when he was between 8–10 years old. I do think the point you raised about wild-caught birds potentially having strong genetics is relevant in his case as well.

I read that if a chick is born in the wild, then it obviously had two healthy parents who survived to adulthood and were able to breed successfully. Then, consider the very stressful capture and import process, in which a lot of parrots die before they make it to their destination. If a chick survives that, then you know you have a tough little bird. My Max got through it, then was purchased by a pet store all the way up in the northeast…another long trip…. and then went thru two owners before myself. He had already been through a lot before me. Then, poor thing, he spent 31 years dealing with me and my crazy life. He is tough, alright!!

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

My avian vet has confirmed this theory. She says that, in her experience, the birds with the fewest health issues are wild-caught birds. Survival of the fittest and all that.