Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots – More Like Kids Than Pets

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a parrot enthusiast, but I probably know more about parrots (Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots, in particular) than the average person. Until recently we hadn’t had any bird owners show interest in the pet sitting services we provide. In the past couple of weeks, though, we’ve had calls from two pet parents with parrots – one of whom has 4 in total! The differences between having a parrot and being a stranger caring for a parrot in “his house” are vast. It’s made me remember some fond memories of Joey (the Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot I had growing up), as well as illustrating just how different one parrot is from the next. Just like people, every parrot has his/her own unique personality.

I grew up in a very pet-friendly household – exotic birds were no exception. My mom worked in a vet’s office and later a pet store. I’m not sure what made her decide that was a good idea. Between the pets we adopted and inherited as a result of those two jobs and the expenses associated with them, I’m guessing she may have spent far more than she made working both jobs! Had there been online sources like the Bird Cage Portal we’d have had access to better quality products at more competitive prices, but shopping on the Internet was a thing of the future back then…ah, how things have changed! Nonetheless, I loved animals, so it worked out well for me…that is, until Joey.

Yellow-Naped Amazons – Not Like Other Parrots

Joey came to stay with us temporarily…and then temporarily became permanently. We’d previously had a long line of parakeets, 2 Quakers and a Cockatoo, so this wasn’t my first experience with a bird in my home…but it was my first experience with a Yellow-Naped Amazon. Yeah, it may not have been the first parrot in my house, but he was certainly the most memorable!

This parrot was like a person…seriously. Any ignorant souls out there who believe birds don’t really know what they’re saying or when they’re saying it have simply never had the pleasure of spending time with a parrot like Joey. He speaks very clearly and really seems to enjoy interacting with people verbally…talking to him seemed more like a conversation than just random outbursts, as the words were specific to the situation. For instance, when the phone would ring, he would say, “Hello”. When the door would close, he would say “Goodbye”. I find it hard to believe that was accidental, as some people who claim to be “bird experts” claim.

Sibling Rivalry – with a PARROT??

Joey had a great personality and, as anyone who knows anything about Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots will tell you, he was VERY strong willed. I was an only child growing up, so I never really had to share my mom’s affection with anyone…except our pets. I’m pretty sure Joey identified me as his rival…always competing for my mom’s attention. Seriously…it was like having a little brother. A pampered, spoiled rotten, loud, feathered, little-parrot-brother. The biggest difference is that I couldn’t do the normal things a big sister could do…like smack him in the head. I won’t say I never considered it. Just like a little brother, there were days I hated him and days I loved him. Some stories I’d rather forget (like the times he bit me)…and some stories I continue to share with some of my pet sitting clients to this day…okay, I still share the stories about him biting me, too. Most of the time, I probably deserved it.

Psychological Experiments…by a Parrot?

He really was hysterical. My friends got a big kick out of him. They always seemed flabbergasted at how accurately that parrot could impersonate my Mom’s voice. Yellow-Naped Amazons are known for their very clear speech, but this was ridiculous! He even fooled ME…on a regular basis. Oh, and let’s not forget his impersonation of our phone ringing. I lost track of the number of times I answered the phone only to hear a dialtone. Each time I did, I’d slam down the phone, turn toward the corner where his 6 foot bird cage stood and just stare angrily at him – he would respond with hysterical laughter. No kidding…the parrot was laughing AT me. Did I mention there were days I hated that parrot?

Parrots really enjoy games…particularly games they know they can’t lose. Joey had his favorite games as well…one in particular involved tormenting our cats. You think I’m kidding? Let me paint the picture for you: his cage went all the way to the floor, so he’d often sit high above the bottom on his perch saying, “Here, kitty-kitty…here kitty, kitty…”. As soon as one of our cats would walk over to the cage, he’d slide down the bars to take a couple of shots at them. I don’t know that Yellow-Naped Amazons are known for being particularly mean-spirited, but he sure seemed to harbor an animosity toward our cats.

Perhaps that was his way of getting back at cats for the centuries of torture they have bestowed upon unsuspecting birds around the world. I know…it’s hard to believe, but I assure you – our cats eventually wouldn’t respond to “Here, kitty-kitty…” at all…not even when we said it. You’ve heard of “Pavlov’s Dogs”? Well…these were “Joey’s Cats”. A case study in operant conditioning…conducted by a Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot!