New Amazon Parrot Owner – Meet Mango!

[Abm Pvt Ltd]

Hi everyone!


I'm new to the forum and very excited to be part of the Amazon parrot community here. I’ve been reading a lot of helpful threads already, and I thought it was time to introduce myself and my feathered companion!

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About My Amazon​

Name: Mango
Species: Blue-Fronted Amazon
Age: 3 years old
Gender: Unknown (though I think male based on behavior)
Gotcha Day: June 10, 2025


I’ve had Mango for just over two months now, and it's been such a rewarding (and sometimes chaotic!) experience. He’s my first Amazon, and I’m learning a lot every day.

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Personality & Behavior​

Mango is:

• Extremely vocal (starts chatting before sunrise!)
• Loves to mimic laughter, say “What’s up?”, and make beeping noises
• Still a bit hand-shy but improving each week
• A master of tossing toys out of the cage like a rockstar

He’s incredibly curious and seems to enjoy watching me do dishes or cook. He also has a habit of trying to “sing along” to the radio.

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Home Setup​

Mango lives in a large flight-style cage (36" wide, 48" tall) with:

• Natural wood perches and rope swings
• Shreddable toys, puzzle feeders, and hanging bells
• A fresh daily mix of pellets, chop (veggies/grains), and the occasional almond
• 3–4 hours of out-of-cage time every evening
• A cozy corner with a playstand and bird-safe branches

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Questions for Fellow Amazon Owners​

1. What toys do your Amazons go crazy for? I need rotation ideas!
2. Is it normal for them to have loud “talking sessions” late at night?
3. What are your Amazons’ favorite treats or training rewards?
4. Any tips for reading body language better? I’m still learning when to back off vs. engage.

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Looking Forward to Learning from You All​

Thanks so much for reading! I really appreciate any advice, tips, or just fun Amazon stories from more experienced members.


Looking forward to sharing Mango’s progress and learning from all of you!


Warm regards,
FeatheredFriend23

 

[IlexCassine]

Hey, that's awesome! It sounds like Mango is settling in great for you.

We've had Midori about eight months now, since he fell in our laps rather unexpectedly, and we've been flying by the seat of our pants! He's still unwilling to step onto a hand, but he'll get up on my forearm for a bribe. He'll also put a foot on my finger when prompted, like holding hands, but there's a 50/50 chance he'll go in for a love bite.

He goes nuts for nuts and seeds as training treats. We've eliminated them from his regular diet to compensate, but he honestly probably gets way too much anyway, since we train and play every day. I've heard of offering spoonfulls of cooked berries, or room-temperature plain oatmeal, or sweet potato puree as a treat instead... I think he might mutiny if I tried it.

He's out like a light minutes after the blankie goes over his cage, with no talking unless we stumble past him in the dark to let the geriatric dog out in the middle of the night. Then we might get a "hello?" and a feather ruffle before he goes back to sleep.

As far as reading body language -- if you haven't already, this guide by another forum member was INCREDIBLY helpful when we first brought Midori home! Mango might behave a little differently than the guide, as variation is natural among individuals, but this is a great crash course to get you started.

 

[onamom]

Welcome! We’d love to see some pictures of Mango!

 

[rheashard2]

Welcome. Sounds like you and Mango have a good start. Parrots enjoy watching their human, any pets etc. I find myself telling my CAG everything I am doing. It let's her know where I am. Which kinda reassurance that I haven't forgotten about her. Birds are verbal at dawn and dusk. There's lots of tips here about toys. I've noticed that toys rejected today may be loved tomorrow. The reverse is also true. Rotation of toys is a good idea. I have a container with toys. I rotate them as needed. Keep a variety of textures, colors, styles and materials. You want easy and harder to destroy items. There might be one toy(s) that he won't do without. My CAG has a bell that's been with her for 2 decades. There's several threads here about toys. Both homemade and purchase.

 

[nkrbkr]

Hi there! I brought my Amazon, Ava, home in June as well. To answer your questions:

What toys do your Amazons go crazy for? I need rotation ideas!

Ava’s favorite materials seem to be balsa, yucca, & thin pieces of pine. She’s not a fan of very hard materials, so even thick pine is ignored. Since balsa & yucca are so soft, I’ve been making large toys with bigger chunks of each so it’ll last a bit longer.

Is it normal for them to have loud “talking sessions” late at night?

I keep my birds in a bird room at night with a blackout blind. Once the lights are off, they’re quiet all night. That said, in the evening, they’re both very vocal before bed.

What are your Amazons’ favorite treats or training rewards?

Ava’s favorite treats are tiny chunks of almonds & cashews for training. I usually reserve a “jackpot” treat for rewarding something really big, or to get ourselves out of tricky situations that require a little more treat motivation. For Ava, that’s a slice of banana. For my lovebird, it’s a chunk of millet.

Any tips for reading body language better? I’m still learning when to back off vs. engage.

The thread mentioned before about body language is a very helpful guide. I think giving some space when they’re showing excitement/heightened behavior is super important. Closely observing and learning the nuances of your Amazon’s body language is also key. They all have different personalities. Ava is a very forgiving and gentle bird where many others would not be in the same situation.

I look forward to seeing some pictures of Mango!