Bad Temper

Question
I own a 3 1/2 year old green naped amazon parrot named Gabby. For a while now he has became aggressive toward away one or any thing that comes near me, why is he acting like this, and will he get over it?

Answer
Brittany,

It sounds like whom ever sold you your amazon didn't give you enough information to prepare you for all aspects of amazon care and behavior. Unfortunately, this is very common... because not telling a customer what their cute, cuddley baby Amazon will turn into as s/he matures will help encourage the sale. Once amazons reach sexual maturity (3 to 5 years of age), they can get very aggressive sometimes (particularly males).

Amazons (again, particularly males) get extremely aggressive during breeding season (usually spring). Their hormones are in overdrive and they have hot, firey tempers as a result. Usually this lasts for 3 months (give or take a month) and then most amazons settle down for the rest of the year. It sounds like Gabby has chosen you as his/her mate and is trying to fight off anyone/thing that he thinks might impose on your relationship.  Amazons can get extremely territorial/possessive of their person or any site that they deem as their "nesting site".

I would highly, highly recommend you read the book: The Parrot that Owns Me. It is a story about one woman's relationship with her amazon. It is a terrific insight to amazon behavior (particularly hormone-driven behavior). You can see it at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375760253/103-6196768-7916637?v=g...

Sally Blanchard, a world renowned parrot behavioralist is also coming out with a book specifically on amazons in the near future. You can see her website (with additional information) at: www.companionparrot.com

Here are some online articles that you can read through right now to help you get started with understanding Gabby's behavior:

http://www.companionparrot.com/articles/overload.html

http://www.parrothouse.com/wrongwithamazons.html

http://www.parrothouse.com/handlingyouramazon.html

http://www.companionparrot.com/articles/shoulder.html

I hope this helps.

-Maggie