Orange Winged Amazons

[captwest]

Miss Mandy G asked if OWA were screamers , screechers or what ever you want to call it. My OWAs are definitely more of the screecher than any of the other species i have, but in all fairness they are wild caught breeders and have taught their offspring their calls ( i have 2 immature hens) I have never really tried to teach them human speech , although they have picked up a few words from the other birds.When ever i'm feeding any of their babies, the babies quickly learn their parents "wild calls" but it seems that they lose the screeching when placed in their new homes away from their parents, at least they don't screech as often as the parents, this screeching seems to be a OWA thing because the other amazons and their babies don't seem to pick up on this. I know that wild YNs ,DYHs and Panamas make a very similar screech in the wild when in flocks but don't seem bad about it in captivity as single pets. I think that a single pet OWA would not be a problem because none of my customers have ever complained but i have only kept multiple OWAs and yes they are alot more of the screeching type than any of the other Amazons. Just my 2 cents worth,Richard PS Miss Mandy i have Panamas on eggs if you really want a great amazon, 2 are spoken for and 1 is not if you don't believe in that old adage about counting your chicks before they hatch.

[GlassOnion]

I have a question captwest, I thought birds couldnt be imported into Canada from the states?
And why do you say that the panama amazons are the nicest?

[captwest]

Yes your right, i was confused and thought Mandy was from Texas, you have to have patience with us older feeble minded folks. Anyway Panamas are the best, well, because they are the best.The Panamas are a sub-species of the Yellow Crowns and good talkers with out the louder calling traits and aggressive hormonal issues that many of the hot three are known for. Personally i've never meet a pet Panama that wasn't sweet as pie , and have never seen one that i would call a biter.Even the breeders are only aggressive when on eggs.

[GlassOnion]

Thanks captwest! It sure is very nice having an amazon expert around. You must be a great breeder to have cuddly pet amazons, everywhere I research says amazons are usually off limits to the mushy cuddling. I've become to really like the amazons and would love to own one day, now only if they were quieter for apartment living.

[captwest]

i don't think that being a breeder has that much to do with it,Being able to spend a lot of time with them ,is probably the biggest help.

[tim west]

My Amazon wasnt so keen on me when i adopted him as Richard will probably recall as he helped out alot , but with a change of diet and spending alot of time with him when he wanted me to, he is now my best buddy. I take him to work everyday where he has the office to fly about , and if im out in the car he comes along to. If i go to the other side of the office he will fly over and land on my shoulder and loves being scratched and stroked. But i must admit anyone else gets a chunk taken out of them if they try to handle him.

[captwest]

Thanks Tim, it means a lot to know you helped some one and their companion.

[tim west]

Hi Richard , as you mentioned Panama Amazons earlier i thought i would look them up, are they the same as the yellow crown Amazon? Bill looks identical to them.

[captwest]

Hey Tim, no they're a sub-species,it's very hard to tell the difference, in fact many YCs are sold as Panamas and i think alot are hybrids as along time ago most people didn't realize that they were a sub-species.My birds are wild caught so i'm pretty sure of the genes, but they can hybridize in the wild too.I think the lines have become blurred between Yellow Front,Panamas and Yellow Crowns.If there's something too look for to ID a Panama i'd say, bone colored beak and feet, smaller size, and a few yellow or orange feathers on their legs. That being said i know of true Pans with some black on their beaks, so no real absolutes here.Backing up a bit, yellow front and pans are subspecies of the yellow crown, which has a bit more yellow on the head than the subs and is sometimes known as a single yellow head.By the way, double yellow head,yellow napes,natterer's,magnas,Tres Marias are all sub-species of the Yellow Crown also.In very general terms the further north in their range the more yellow on their head.I hope this is some what clearer than mud, Richard

[tim west]

yep , all makes perfect sense. I will stick with Bill being a yellow crown.
Thanks Richard