Lilac crown or Mexican redhead

[texsize]

This bird is listed as a red fronted amazon and I take that to mean Mexican redhead.
But.
The red band looks too dark and more maroon (lilac if you like) than my Mexican redhead parrots.

Keep in mind the hatch date is 5/2024 so it’s a young bird.

 

[texsize]

In person it looks darker than the photo.

He was very active and hard to get a good photo.
Soooo friendly he steps up and let me scratch him.

Really screamed when I walked away

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Is he your new baby?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Looks like a Lilac Crowned to me, too. When are you taking him home?

 

[texsize]

I’m trying NOT to take him home.

I can’t see it working out.

I don’t want to break up the Twins relationship.
2 is company and 3 is a crowd.

He (don’t know gender) is a superb screamer.
I already have two of those whose screaming is mostly under control. This guy is young and really wants attention.

Because he’s so young and I’m not so young it’s another good reason to go with a rescue.

He’s just so friendly the only thing keeping him in the store is the price.
And really for this store the price is high but not what I would call outrageous.
$2,200.00 (but you got to tack on nearly 11% sales tax.)
He already talks .
My Mexican redhead was $950. Back in 2017 but we all know how parrot prices when through the roof in 2020.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Don't try so hard. If you don't take him someone awful might and he'll have a miserable life. Put in earplugs if he's too noisy. I think I hear Bingo whispering in your ear . . .

 

[DonnaBudgie]

How would it break up the Twins?

 

[texsize]

How would it break up the Twins?

Well there was no chance of getting Bingo together with another parrot.
He identified as a human LOL.
Even though Merlin wanted to make friends it wasn’t in the cards.
But Merlin’s attention to Bingo clearly got Luna upset/jellious.

One big reason for buying Merlin was as a companion for Luna and it’s worked out as well as I could ask.
Luna is a rescue that, at least for a time (maybe) had a wild flock.

I think the most likely outcome would be.
Merlin wants to make friends with new bird.
New bird (being young) has good chance of wanting to make friends with Merlin.
Luna gets left out.

Keeping new bird separate from my other amazons will really get him screaming.

This is just my gut feeling.
My priority has to be to the two birds I already have.

There is a bird fair in December I plan to attend.
If I find a bronze wing Pionus ……. Sold.
I don’t think the Twins would be affected by something so different.

 

[kme3388]

Some of us on the parrot forum have MPS (multiple parrot syndrome). I have 4 parrots, and there are days I feel like I don’t have time to breathe. They want to be my only friend, and try to scare off guests. Anytime my phone rings they are screaming over the person on the other end of the phone. They NEVER leave me alone. Alone time is out the window. It’s very hard for me to go out, or take vacations. With the larger parrots that are more difficult most people have no experience with them. Not that they make it any easier but it for sure has changed my life. I don’t mind as I’m an introvert anyway. I am not one that thrives off social interactions. I would prefer to do projects in my garage. Just think all of this through before taking on another parrot. I don’t know you on a personal level but I know what it’s like to have parrots who think I don’t need any more friends.

 

[cnyguy]

To me the picture looks more like the Mexican red headed Amazon than a lilac crown. Of course he would be hard to resist, but you obviously are content with, and committed to, the Twins, and bringing in either kind of Amazon would certainly change the dynamics.

The price seems pretty reasonable to me. Either a MRHA or a LCA would be at least $4500 in central New York.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Where's the bird fair? I love those!

 

[Geslina]

Aw, he is so cute. That IS a high price. Sometimes I think it is good to have high prices, as you would think it would only attract serious, committed buyers…but judging by all the older parrots in need of homes out there, we know that isn’t true. There is an exotic bird store near me. You go inside, and the front part of the store is where all the adorable baby birds are, all for sale. It is almost always busy there, lots of people buying. I watched one lady once buy five baby parrots in a row, all on impulse. If you have the money, you can have the bird. Then, at the back of the store is the “used” bird room. Wall to wall cages, all types of parrots. Surprisingly quiet. Most of the birds frozen on their perches, like statues, or they climb to the side of the cage closest to where you are, trying to get your attention, saying all their best words. Saddest thing I ever saw, that room.

If you have that voice telling you no, then it probably is not a good idea. We can’t “save” them all.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

That's really sad. "Used parrots"? Wow.
I wonder if these "used parrots" would be better off if someone brought them to their natural range where the species is endemic and let them go to join a natural flock. It seems better than languishing in cages as unwanted "used parrots", or worse, euthanized.
In Southern California there are small flocks of parrots that some say started as runaway parrots or parrots people let go. I'd like to hear people's opinions on this. Assume that the captive parrots are vet checked and disease free.

 

[texsize]

Where's the bird fair? I love those!

Aw, he is so cute. That IS a high price. Sometimes I think it is good to have high prices, as you would think it would only attract serious, committed buyers…but judging by all the older parrots in need of homes out there, we know that isn’t true. There is an exotic bird store near me. You go inside, and the front part of the store is where all the adorable baby birds are, all for sale. It is almost always busy there, lots of people buying. I watched one lady once buy five baby parrots in a row, all on impulse. If you have the money, you can have the bird. Then, at the back of the store is the “used” bird room. Wall to wall cages, all types of parrots. Surprisingly quiet. Most of the birds frozen on their perches, like statues, or they climb to the side of the cage closest to where you are, trying to get your attention, saying all their best words. Saddest thing I ever saw, that room.

If you have that voice telling you no, then it probably is not a good idea. We can’t “save” them all.

When in the pet shop whenever someone stops and pays attention to him I go into protective mode.
I want to start interrogation (do you have experience with birds etc etc).
On the other hand rescue and adoption centers make you jump through hoops to adopt a bird.
I understand the reasoning but I myself won’t put up with it.

I have had 4 rescue birds.
Bella and Pacho both bought at pet shops as (previously owned).
Luna I adopted through the forum.
And Lucky I just found (or he found me) when taking a break at work.

If I see the right bird I don’t think I’ll have to think about it overlong I knew right away with Bella and Pacho.

 

[texsize]

That's really sad. "Used parrots"? Wow.
I wonder if these "used parrots" would be better off if someone brought them to their natural range where the species is endemic and let them go to join a natural flock. It seems better than languishing in cages as unwanted "used parrots", or worse, euthanized.
In Southern California there are small flocks of parrots that some say started as runaway parrots or parrots people let go. I'd like to hear people's opinions on this. Assume that the captive parrots are vet checked and disease free.

I suspect that is Luna’s history.
Someone owned her cuz she learned two words in English.
But I think her screaming was too much for the original owner and “let her loose “ to join the local flock.
Not having the stamina to fly with the flock got left behind and did not know where/how to forage.

That’s why it was so important to me (despite the general rule about never buy a bird for another bird) to get her a flock mate.

Instead of one bird screaming for 3 hours I have 2 birds scream for 1 hour.

 

[Geslina]

That's really sad. "Used parrots"? Wow.
I wonder if these "used parrots" would be better off if someone brought them to their natural range where the species is endemic and let them go to join a natural flock. It seems better than languishing in cages as unwanted "used parrots", or worse, euthanized.
In Southern California there are small flocks of parrots that some say started as runaway parrots or parrots people let go. I'd like to hear people's opinions on this. Assume that the captive parrots are vet checked and disease free.

While it is possible that some captive birds who escape can join other flocks of birds and survive, I don’t think it is the norm. For one, it would only be possible in warmer climates…but captive birds would be an easy target for hawks and other predators. One summer we saw a budgie hanging out with a bunch of sparrows. The all seemed to be getting along fine. Sad to think when the fall came, he would die from the cold. If his bright colors didn’t make him a target for a bird of prey first.

 

[nkrbkr]

I paid $2k CAD for Ava as a rehome off of a classified ad. Seemed expensive, but I did appreciate that they were trying to find a good home for her. There was someone offering cash and to “pick her up right now” to the guy I bought her from. I’m happy he waited patiently for us, and he did want her to go to a good home. I fear she would have been purchased and “flipped” for more money, or used as a breeder otherwise. Amazons can be more expensive than $2k here, if you buy them from a breeder. Even most of the rescues charge $1k+ for them.

 

[Geslina]

When in the pet shop whenever someone stops and pays attention to him I go into protective mode.
I want to start interrogation (do you have experience with birds etc etc).
On the other hand rescue and adoption centers make you jump through hoops to adopt a bird.
I understand the reasoning but I myself won’t put up with it.

I have had 4 rescue birds.
Bella and Pacho both bought at pet shops as (previously owned).
Luna I adopted through the forum.
And Lucky I just found (or he found me) when taking a break at work.

If I see the right bird I don’t think I’ll have to think about it overlong I knew right away with Bella and Pacho.

I keep videos in my phone of my bird being very loud, and photos of things he has destroyed around my house. Whenever I hear someone talking about getting a parrot, they get to see them. I also tell them about the vet bills, the time spent cleaning up after them, the time spent preparing food. The amount of attention they need. And, the possibility that not every bird will entertain you with endless talking. I have a blue front Amazon, I think they are #5 on the list of best talkers - and yet, he hardly talks at all, so there are no guarantees. My grandpa had parrots, so I already knew what I was getting into when I got Max. I talked to another bird person right before, and he said to keep my expectations in check, and that if I could accept Max and love him for who he was, instead of what I thought a pet bird should be, that we would be just fine together. And he was right.

 

[Geslina]

I paid $2k CAD for Ava as a rehome off of a classified ad. Seemed expensive, but I did appreciate that they were trying to find a good home for her. There was someone offering cash and to “pick her up right now” to the guy I bought her from. I’m happy he waited patiently for us, and he did want her to go to a good home. I fear she would have been purchased and “flipped” for more money, or used as a breeder otherwise. Amazons can be more expensive than $2k here, if you buy them from a breeder. Even most of the rescues charge $1k+ for them.

I had to rehome a Nanday Conure once, and you would not believe the number of breeders who responded to my ad. He eventually went to a family, which is what I wanted.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

While it is possible that some captive birds who escape can join other flocks of birds and survive, I don’t think it is the norm. For one, it would only be possible in warmer climates…but captive birds would be an easy target for hawks and other predators. One summer we saw a budgie hanging out with a bunch of sparrows. The all seemed to be getting along fine. Sad to think when the fall came, he would die from the cold. If his bright colors didn’t make him a target for a bird of prey first.

I mentioned releasing them in their natural range, not to climate they couldn't survive in and I didn't mean just opening the cage door and
letting them go. Any released parrot could be a target for predators but so are all wild birds.
I just feel like trying to reintroduce unwanted "used parrots" seems like a better option than the captive misery in which they merely exist. Maybe it can be done after a period in a rehab facility where their flight skills are allowed to develop in large aviaries and are introduced to conspecifics to see how they interact. This idea could be developed into an organized release program by trained wildlife experts.