Amazon mating season...?

[cindiandgeorge]

About 5 weeks ago, we adopted an 11 year old Amazon Blue Front into our home in Florida. He is generally well behaved, not aggressive, and steps up to both of us readily. However, he is very clingy with us--doesn't want to ever be out of our sight, while at the same time, when with us, he is almost constantly agitated--stretching his neck, going 'skinny' and emitting a constant anxious, but not loud, squawk.

About a week after we brought him home, he also started mating behaviors (a squatting, cooing dance and a couple of times he has regurgitated). He also has a single-minded focus on finding dark places. We are trying to teach him to forage and play, but he is agitated so much of the time, it is difficult. He does love chewing up cardboard boxes.

Our question is: Is there a mating season for Blue Fronts, does it occur at regular yearly intervals, and if so, how long does it last? Also, could any of his anxiety and clingy-ness be related or elevated because of it?

We appreciate any insights or suggestions you might have.

[Wolf]

Yes, indeed, they have a yearly mating season, the good news is that it should probably be over by about August, I think. Pajarita will need to step in and correct me on that if I am wrong about when the season will end. I have a 15 year old Yellow Naped Amazon, but this will be the first year that we could tell anything about her breeding cycle, lo-o-ong story.
Are you really certain that he is not a she? The behaviors that you are describing sound a lot more like the actions of a female than a male, to me. And at the end of the mating season comes the time of molting. All of the behaviors that you have given are definitely related to the hormone levels and will lessen over time with the passing of the breeding season.
I would just relax and concentrate on improving my relationship with the bird through talking, singing, dancing and generally hanging out with it. I would give the bird plenty of time out of the cage and encourage it to fly as this will strengthen its muscles and help to dissipate the hormones that are in the bloodstream. You can try short, say 10 minute training session, but don't be too surprised if the bird is focused on something else instead of training.

[liz]

No sh.t it's Amazon breeding season. It was bad enough with Rambo. Myrtle is about 5 and has come into her first season. The noise is so pitiful.

[Pajarita]

Oh, yeah, it is indeed breeding season for amazons (other species, too). I haven't been able to clean the walls, floor or anything in the corner where mine made a nest out of a cardboard box. I can't even get two feet from it without Blue Grinch (also a blue fronted) flying over to perch right in front, fanning his tail and whipping his head at me with flashing eyes! I even had to lock the two old ladies (a blue front and a yellow crown female in their cage which usually stays open all the time) because Pedro (yellow nape) was getting too aggressive with them.

[cindiandgeorge]

Thanks for all the information. It is comforting to know that it is just a 'season' (although we are hoping it ends a lot sooner than August!). We agree that 'he' might very well be a 'she'; we have not had her tested for gender. The previous owner just decided it was a he and we went with it. We consider ourselves lucky in that she is not at all aggressive either with her cage or her various cardboard nests, and goes to both of us readily. She does not bite--just screams a lot when she can't be on us or in our sight.

Another question: When she goes into her squatty, pigeon-cooing, mating dance while on us, should we just let her see it though, or try to snap her out of her trance?

Thanks again for your support!

[Pajarita]

Breeding season will be over around the end of June, actually, and they go into molt mid-July or so although, lately, with this global warming thing, they've been doing it earlier and earlier. But this is ONLY if you keep your bird to a strict solar schedule with full exposure to dawn and dusk because, if you don't, the bird will continue to produce sexual hormones indefinitely causing it discomfort and even chronic pain.

Don't encourage it (caressing the back, the abdomen, under the wings, etc, providing high protein food and 'cavities' for nesting, etc) but don't try to 'snap her out of it', either, just ignore it. It's a completely normal behavior.

[Wolf]

I believe that Pajarita is correct, she know a lot more than I do about birds.