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THE PARROT SPECIES FIELD GUIDE · Psittacidae

Yellow-headed Amazon

Amazona oratrix

Meet the yellow-headed amazon: its taxonomic place, natural range and conservation record.

Yellow-headed Amazon — Amazona oratrix
Yellow-headed Amazon
SPECIES NOTES

A closer look.

Scientific names follow AviList v2025b. Read the taxonomy and source notes for changes in classification.

About this species

The yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix), also known as the yellow-headed parrot and double yellow-headed amazon, is an endangered amazon parrot of Mexico and northern Central America. Measuring 38–43 centimetres (15–17 in) in length, it is a stocky short-tailed green parrot with a yellow head. It prefers to live in mangrove forests or forests near rivers or other bodies of water. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the yellow-crowned amazon (Amazona ochrocephala). It is a popular pet and an excellent talker. Poaching for the international pet trade has driven the species to near-extinction in the wild; around half of all wild-caught birds are thought to die in the process.

Conservation record

AviList v2025b records this species as endangered. Assessments and taxonomy can change; follow the source checklist for updates.

Sources & image credit

Names, family, range and conservation record: AviList Core Team (2026), AviList v2025b, CC BY 4.0. Species summary: Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0. Length, weight and longevity when listed: World Parrot Trust species account.

Image: Amazona_oratrix_-Vancouver_Aquarium-8a.jpg : Lizzy Foulkes derivative work: Snowmanradio ( talk ). Original file and full credit · CC BY-SA 2.0. Display size and encoding adjusted.