Should I get an Amazon?

[debbielabella]

yellow shouldered amazons are smaller, very nice. I have a panama amazon, he's very cuddly in the morning and evening, a handful though, very loud, extremely active, naughty and mischievous. Not sure I'd recommend as a first large bird. Eckies are really nice birds, I think a male would be easier than amazons. It's worth a trip if he can meet them, they are all such individuals, and researching will only get you so far. You could meet an amazon who is a doll and very easy going or an Eckie that can be a real handful. Pionus are very nice birds too, he may want to look into them.

[Ringneckmom]

I have a male Yellow Nape ammie and he is by far one of my least aggressive birds in the house. Even the ringnecks can bully him LOL.

He is still young but he is a great bird. He has a real zest for life and oves to play with toys and take baths. As far as noise - even during his phases of yelling which is not often - he is not too bad.

I also have ringnecks - 11 of them - they are not what you read in most things online. Everyone gives them the reputation of not liking to be rubbed but this is not true at all. Most of my birds love some good neck ruffling and like to just hang out as well.
Sure some don't care for it as much as others but they can be very nice birds.
Their voice can be a bit piercing if they do the alarm call but overall are not too bad.

As everyone said, it will depend on each individual birds' personality, even in the same species they will all be different. If you can get out and meet birds and handle then then it will make a big difference in your decision of the bird to get. Try to go to different places and handle different birds of even the same species.

It could be that during these meet and greet sessions that you and a bird will just attach and it could be a totally different bird from what you were looking for.
That is how I got my first ringneck. Since then they have become one of my favorites - they truly hold my heart - ringnecks and the plumheads.

As far as macaws, hahns macaws are very cute but very drama queenish and can also be highly aggressive with other birds to the point of trying to kill them.
I do not trust my hahns with the majority of my birds at all.

You might also look at some of the other smaller macaws..
The Yellow Collar and Illigers are a little larger and have wonderful personalities.
My Yellow Collar is just fabulous - I totally love her. So animated as well and not as loud as a hahns can be with the frequent screaming.

Good luck with your research, I am sure you will find the right bird for your dad.
Just keep an open mind and be willing to meet all different birds and learn about them.

[Lisa B]

An Orange Wing amazon female was my first large bird, and my favorite of the Zon family. She was a wild caught import from sometime in the early 80's.

[bigdog123]

i think so they nice birdz

[Shadow190]

Originally Posted by PetiteJadie

I'm just at the beginning of the research process. As I mentioned it's a christmas present so i've got lots of time to find information. I wanted your opinions to help me narrow my search.

He's looking for a bird to be his friend. He loves the baby cockatoos - so sweet and gentle. he doesn't seem to get that these can be monster birds when hormonal and i know that a cockatoo would be all wrong for him and the family.

He likes the medium-large sized birds. A Hahn's is probably just a bit small but I think what it lacks it size it would make up for in personality. Blue and scarlet macaws are too big.

Do Amazon's tend to be more on the nice side? He loves giving Jadie little scritches on her head. I know Ringnecks tend not to like being touched so that's why i decided to start looking at other species.

I have three words for you:

Blue Crowned Conure. It's bigger than the Hahn's, but slightly smaller than an Amazon. They are playful and they talk, and they are closely related to the macaws.

[LADY_DEBRA]

I agree with a Tag or a Cag , especially a Tag , they are cuddly and very smart :) also maybe a Eckie my KC is really a gentle layed back fellow but not to cuddly my Tag Rudy is very cuddly or if you dad decides ona small bird Quakers are great small birds and very smart and they talk and easy to take care of and price wise not expensive
just my 2 cents worthe lol