These interesting and popular pets are originally from the coastal area of Mexico.

Yellow headed Amazons have striking markings, with mostly green bodies, a bright yellow head and a red patch on both wings.

Their range includes parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize, and they tend to prefer habitats in tropical and subtropical forests.

They also live in savannas, mangrove swamps and cultivated land that still retains trees

Unfortunately, these parrots are now on the endangered species list.

Deforestation has destroyed their habitat, illegal pet trading has reduced their numbers in the wild, and poaching is responsible for the deaths of many birds.

Captive bred birds are available as pets, but like most other parrots, they are quite expensive.

This is due to the effort required to raise one.

Considered perhaps the second best talker in the parrot world (after the African Grey), these parrots are popular because of their vocal abilities.

Remember, however, that not every parrot will talk.

The amount your pet will talk will depend on its preferences and surroundings.

Some birds chatter right away, while others won’t talk at all.

That doesn’t mean there’s not a lot more than talking there, however.

Even a nontalking parrot is smart, active, and entertaining.

These birds love attention, and can be playful and very vocal.

In fact, they’re generally called the loudest of the Amazon parrots, and may need some training to quiet them down a little.

The activity level of the yellow headed Amazon parrot means that it needs an environment that’ll allow it to fly.

For many, this means an aviary or parrot room.

Indoor cages are still a possibility, however.

You just need to offer enough daily exercise to keep your bird happy.

These parrots are easy to tame and train, but be sure to supervise them when they’re out.

Like most large parrots, yellow headed Amazons are quite destructive.

Be sure to provide lots of branches and toys to chew on, as well as perches, ropes and ladders for climbing.

Don’t be surprised if your bird tends to explore and climb with its beak as well as its feet.

You may find your pet eating all kinds of foods and trying out new things on a regular basis.

Feed a good, balanced diet, and offer plenty of toys and interaction to keep your pet happy and healthy. You’ll get years of entertainment and companionship as your reward.