Blue Amazon Parrot Vs. Cockatoo

The Blue Amazon Parrot and Cockatoo are members of the parrot, or Psittacines, family but they're considered very different birds. Both belong to the respective subfamilies of Cacautuidae, which includes all cockatoo varieties, and Psittacidae, which includes lories and "true" parrots. Both are considered friendly, talkative pets, but cockatoos desire a tremendous amount of behavioral training and attention compared to the parrot.

  1. Talking Styles

    • According to the website Blue Front Parrot, blue Amazon parrots are the most skilled speakers of the parrot world with the exception of the African Grey Parrot. They will not only repeat words and phrases, but will respond to questions and are often used in bird shows. Cockatoos are very adept at talking and mimicking. According to the website Avian Web, they do need obedience training or they will be very loud screamers and trying on owners.

    Behavior

    • Blue Amazon parrots are mild-mannered but may bite later in adulthood, particularly if they are molting. According to Avian Web, cockatoos are very cuddly as pets, but will bite without adequate training. In the wild, both are considered social birds that fly and nest in groups.

    Size

    • The single-species blue Amazon parrot ranges from 13 to 15 inches in length. There are 22 species of Cockatoo and they range from 12 to 26 inches in length.

    Coloring

    • Color is variable on the blue Amazon parrot from bird to bird, but the feathers tend to be green and the foreheads are bright blue. The crown, cheeks and ears of a blue Amazon parrot are often marked with bright yellow patches. According to the website Animal-World, cockatoos have single-color plumage. Crests can range from pink to orange to black.

    Life Spans

    • A lifelong friend, cockatoos have a lifespan of up to 120 years. Blue Amazon parrots live between 40 and 80 years.

    Training

    • Avian Web says the cockatoo owner should provide the bird with plenty of chew toys, discourage biting and screaming, and spend lots of time with it. If the bird gets lonely, it tends to act aggressively. (This is why many owners will have two cockatoos). Blue Amazon parrots require plenty of sleep, cage toys, and only mild redirection when it comes to biting or aggressive behavior.