Editing Amazon parrot (section)

==Aviculture==
[[File:Amazona pretrei -bird cage-8c.jpg|thumb|247x247px|''[[Red-spectacled amazon|A. pretrei]]'' in a cage.]]
Low (2005) describes adaptability and joyfulness as the special positive attributes of the genus from an avicultural perspective.<ref name=low/>{{rp|11}} The [[yellow-headed amazon]], yellow-naped amazon, and [[turquoise-fronted amazon]] are some of the species which are commonly kept as pets.<ref name=mitchell/>{{rp|255}}  They can live for 30 to 50 years,<ref name="Teitler 1989"/>{{rp|8}} with one report of a yellow-crowned amazon living for 56 years in captivity.<ref name="anage">{{cite web |title=AnAge entry for Amazona ochrocephala |url=https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Amazona_ochrocephala |website=The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database |access-date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=20 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720141325/https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Amazona_ochrocephala |url-status=live }}</ref> However, some amazons can have hormonally-induced aggressiveness and attack their owners, which has led to owners seeking behavior modification for their parrots.<ref name=mitchell/>{{rp|255}} On the other hand, unlike many other amazon species, the [[lilacine amazon]] and [[mealy amazon]] are said to possess gentle, easy-going and affectionate temperaments.<ref name="beautyofbirds">{{cite web |title=Mealy Amazon Parrot |url=https://www.beautyofbirds.com/mealyparrots.html |website=Beauty of Birds |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="animalworld2">{{cite web |last1=Brough |first1=Clarice |last2=Galloway |first2=Cheryl |title=Mealy Amazon Mealy Parrot, Blue-crowned Mealy Amazon |url=https://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/amazons/mealyamazon.php |website=Animal World |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="Kalhagen">{{cite web |last1=Kalhagen |first1=Alyson |title=Mealy Amazon Parrot: Bird Species Profile |url=https://www.thesprucepets.com/mealy-amazon-parrots-390257 |website=The Spruce Pets |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="animalworld">{{cite web |last1=Brough |first1=Clarice |title=Lilacine Amazon Ecuadorian Red-lored Amazon |url=https://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/amazons/lilacineamazon.php |website=Animal World |access-date=25 July 2021 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725122440/https://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/amazons/lilacineamazon.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="abc">{{cite web |title=LILACINE AMAZON |url=https://abcbirds.org/bird/lilacine-amazon/ |website=American Bird Conservancy |access-date=25 July 2021 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515180208/https://abcbirds.org/bird/lilacine-amazon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> To maintain health and happiness, pet parrots require much more training than domesticated animals such as dogs or even cats. They require understanding, manipulative toys, and rewards for good pet-like behavior, or they can develop quite aggressive behaviors (particularly male birds), which can be clearly observed through the bird's body language - [[eye pinning|pinning the eyes]], flaring the tail, raising the head and neck feathers and engaging in a "macho strut". They have a strong, innate need to chew; thus, they require safe, destructible toys.<ref name=lafeber>{{Cite web|url=https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/species/amazon-parrot/|title=Amazon Parrot Personality, Food & Care|access-date=2021-07-15|archive-date=2021-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430061909/https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/species/amazon-parrot/|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the main problems amazon parrots face in captivity is obesity, which can be avoided with the correct diet and exercise.<ref name=mitchell/>{{rp|255}} Within captivity, it is recommended to feed amazon parrots a variety of food, mostly consisting of pelleted food. Seeds should never be used as a whole diet and should be used as part of a balanced diet, balanced with food such as fresh fruit (except [[avocado]], which is toxic to parrots) and vegetables, with nuts and seed provided only in moderation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/amazon-parrots-feeding |title=Amazon Parrots - Feeding |last1=Axelson |first1=Rick |last2=Hess |first2=Laurie |website=[[VCA Animal Hospitals]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723140020/https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/amazon-parrots-feeding |url-status=live }}</ref> Amazon parrots should also be given opportunities to forage for food instead of simply being given it, as they are motivated to forage even when an easier alternative is available.<ref name=speer>{{cite book|last=Speer|first=Brian|title=Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LKY_CwAAQBAJ|date=4 December 2015|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-1-4557-4671-2|access-date=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725112256/https://books.google.com/books?id=LKY_CwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|184}}

Amazon parrots should be given a dark and quiet sleeping area. It is recommended to give the bird either downtime and naps or to keep them in total darkness for 12 hours so they can rest. Parrots also need to be bathed or sprayed with water once every week to allow for bathing behaviors.<ref name=speer/>{{rp|185}}

===Trade===
Amazon parrots are traded and exploited as pets.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nilsson|first=Greta|title=The Bird Business: A Study of the Commercial Cage Bird Trade|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z2pjAAAAMAAJ|year=1981|publisher=Animal Welfare Institute|access-date=2021-07-16|archive-date=2021-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716113214/https://books.google.com/books?id=z2pjAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|69}} Archeological evidence shows that the parrot trade has existed in South America since pre-Columbian times, with mummified parrots (including amazon species) being found in the [[Atacama Desert]] region of [[Chile]].<ref name="messer">{{cite web |last1=Messer |first1=A'ndrea Elyse |title=Mummified parrots point to trade in the ancient Atacama desert |url=https://news.psu.edu/story/652392/2021/03/29/research/mummified-parrots-point-trade-ancient-atacama-desert |website=Penn State News |access-date=25 July 2021 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725124426/https://news.psu.edu/story/652392/2021/03/29/research/mummified-parrots-point-trade-ancient-atacama-desert |url-status=live }}</ref> The most traded species of amazons are blue-fronted amazons and yellow-crowned/yellow-headed amazons. A 1992 ban on wild bird trade by the US led to a sharp drop in the trade and a diversion of 66% of it to the European Union, and a further EU ban on the trade in 2005 led to another drop. Between 1980 and 2013, 372,988 amazon parrots were traded. Some illegal trade still occurs between Mexico and the United States.<ref name=mori/>{{rp|58}}<ref name=mitchell/>{{rp|255}}