Yellow-naped Amazon

Amazona auropalliata

Also called Yellow-naped parrot, Golden-naped amazon

Yellow-naped Amazons are famous for clear, plentiful speech and are often ranked among the very best talking Amazons.

Size	Medium
Length	35 cm (14 in)1
Lifespan	30 to 60 years1 2
Coat	Feathered; medium-large, short-tailed parrot
Origin	The Pacific slope of Central America, from Oaxaca in southern Mexico to north-western Costa Rica, plus the Bay Islands and the Mosquito Coast of Honduras and Nicaragua. It lives in dry and evergreen forest, woodland, gallery forest and semi-arid country.1 3
Last checked	2026-09-30

SpeciesShort profile

One of the finest talkers among Amazons

Playful and sociable

Loves interacting with its people

2 3

Personality what they are like

Yellow-naped Amazons are famous for clear, plentiful speech and are often ranked among the very best talking Amazons. They are social, playful birds that enjoy lots of interaction. They are not constantly noisy, but when they call they are loud. Calm handling, plenty of chewing outlets and consistent routines suit them well.2 3

The care rhythm a typical week and year

A typical home-care rhythm for a Yellow-naped Amazon. A starting point, not a vet's advice.

Fresh food and waterevery day
Cage linerevery day
Full cleanevery week
Bath offerevery 3 days
Nails checkevery month
Beak checkevery month
EnrichmentPuzzles and foraging every dayevery day
Out-of-cage timeAbout 3 hours a dayevery day
Vet check-upevery year

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; medium-large, short-tailed parrot

A mainly green Amazon with a green forehead and crown and a bright yellow band across the back of the neck, which is the feature that gives it its name. The size of the yellow patch varies between subspecies and individuals. The beak and feet are dark grey, the eyes are orange, and the tail has a reddish to dark green band. Young birds have no yellow on the head or neck.1 3 2

ColoursGreen bodyYellow patch on the napeDark grey beakOrange eyes1 3 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. Needs lots of playtime and exercise outside the cage every day, plus bird-safe chewing toys and activities.2 3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide a steady supply of safe chew toys and handle the bird when it is calm and relaxed.3

Home where they are happiest

A large, sturdy cage with a play area; World Parrot Trust suggests aviaries of at least 3 m in length.1 2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A balanced formulated diet (pellets or similar) with plenty of vegetables and fruit, keeping fatty foods as treats. Wild birds eat seeds, figs and other fruits, and on the Bay Islands they feed on pine cones.2 1

Company who they like around

Very social and needs daily time with its people. Wild pairs stay together through the breeding season and call in coordinated duets.2 3

The story where it all began

Lesson described the species in 1842, and it has long been one of the most sought-after Amazons for its speaking ability. In the wild its numbers have fallen sharply, so it is now protected under CITES Appendix I.3 1

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Wild yellow-naped Amazons have regional 'dialects': their calls change at clear geographic boundaries, and birds respond less to calls from another dialect.3
2
Mated pairs perform duets, precisely timed call sequences that follow their own rules of order.3
3
Birds on the Bay Islands of Honduras feed on pine cones.1
4
A rare blue colour mutation exists in captivity, with a white nape patch instead of yellow.2

Recognised by the official bits

Taxonomy: Described by Lesson in 1842. Sometimes treated as a subspecies of the yellow-crowned amazon (A. ochrocephala). Three subspecies: A. a. auropalliata, A. a. parvipes and A. a. caribaea.3
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.1
CITES: Appendix I.1
Aviculture: Described as fairly common in captivity and prized for its talking ability.1

Treats they will love homemade and simple

Parrot Salad

A quick, fresh mix of safe fruits and vegetables that provides essential vitamins and moisture. Perfect for a single serving to avoid spoilage.

You need

4 types of safe vegetables (e.g., carrot, broccoli, peas, kale)
2 types of safe fruit (e.g., apple, blueberry, pomegranate)
Handful of sprouted mustard or cress (or chopped dandelion leaves)
Handful of parrot seed mix

How

Wash all fruit and vegetables thoroughly.
Chop the vegetables and fruit into small, bird-safe pieces.
Mix the chopped produce with the sprouted greens in a bowl.
Stir in the seed mix until everything is lightly coated.
Serve immediately and remove any uneaten salad after a few hours.

How much: One serving per parrot, offered as part of their fresh food allowance.

Recipe from Omlet UK

Not veterinary advice. Check with your vet first if your pet has allergies, a health condition, is on a special diet or is pregnant. Treats should stay a small part of the daily food. Cut to a safe size and supervise. Terms of use

Owner questions the things everyone asks

How often should I feed my Yellow-naped Amazon?

Feed your Yellow-naped Amazon fresh food and water every day. Pet Wiki's starting plan suggests daily fresh food and water, plus a balanced formulated diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit. For exact amounts, check the food label and ask your vet.2 1 Pet Wiki plan

What does a Yellow-naped Amazon eat, and what should it never eat?

A balanced formulated diet (pellets or similar) with plenty of vegetables and fruit is best, keeping fatty foods as treats. Wild birds eat seeds, figs, and pine cones. Never give avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or high-salt foods, ask your vet for a full list.2 1

How much space does a Yellow-naped Amazon need?

A large, sturdy cage with a play area is essential. The World Parrot Trust suggests aviaries at least 3 meters in length. Provide daily out-of-cage time, Pet Wiki's plan recommends about 3 hours a day for exercise and play.2 1 Pet Wiki plan

What temperature, light or water does a Yellow-naped Amazon need?

Keep your bird in a warm, draft-free room with natural daylight or full-spectrum lighting. Fresh water should be available daily. Specific temperature and humidity needs vary, ask your exotic-pet vet for guidance. Pet Wiki plan

How often should I clean a Yellow-naped Amazon's home?

Pet Wiki's plan suggests changing the cage liner daily and doing a full cage clean every 7 days. Offer a bath every 3 days to help with feather care. Regular cleaning keeps your bird healthy. Pet Wiki plan

Can a Yellow-naped Amazon live with others?

Yellow-naped Amazons are very social and need daily time with their people. In the wild, pairs stay together through breeding season. They can live with other birds if introduced carefully, but always supervise and ask a good breeder for advice.2 3

How long does a Yellow-naped Amazon live?

Yellow-naped Amazons can live between 30 and 60 years with proper care. This is a long-term commitment, so be prepared for a lifelong companion.2 1

Can I handle a Yellow-naped Amazon?

Yes, they enjoy calm handling and lots of interaction. They are social, playful birds that thrive on daily out-of-cage time and gentle handling when relaxed. Consistent routines help build trust.2 3

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Pet Wiki's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

Double Yellow-headed Amazon

Blue-fronted Amazon

Where this comes from

Every fact on this page has a numbered source. Spotted an error? support@petwiki.app.

Yellow-naped Amazon - World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia parrots.orgused for names, subspecies, size, weight, range, habitat, plumage, wild diet, lifespan, conservation, aviculture
Yellow-Naped Amazon - Lafeber lafeber.comused for talking ability, temperament, noise, exercise, diet, lifespan, colour mutation
Yellow-naped amazon - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for taxonomy, subspecies, behaviour, vocal dialects, duetting, care notes

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.