What an amazon parrot really costs
$65,900 lifetime$5,360 first year$1,240 a year afterBreakdown
A captive-bred Amazon parrot costs about $1,800–$5,000 from a US breeder or seller, with baby yellow-napes and double yellow-heads at the top; rescues charge a few hundred dollars. A suitable cage and gear add roughly $700, then budget about $900 a year for pellets, produce, toys, cage paper and an avian exam with bloodwork, plus illness costs. Amazons commonly live 40–60 years, so that yearly bill can run for decades.
- Life expectancy
- 40–60 years
- Size
- 12–15 in long, about 300–550 g depending on species
- Care level
- High
- Price
- $1,800–$5,000
- Setup
- About $710
- Insurance
- Available
Estimate for: One captive-bred Amazon parrot of a commonly kept species (blue-fronted, yellow-naped, double yellow-headed or orange-winged, about 12–15 in and 300–550 g) kept as a house pet. Space needed: A cage of at least 35 x 25 x 40 in with bars 3/4–1 in apart, plus daily time out of the cage on a play stand.
Lifetime cost$65,900
First year $5,360Then about $1,240 a year
_Rio_Negro.jpg){kind=link}
Where the money goes each year
A typical year for an amazon parrot, with typical spending in an average-cost area, no insurance.
- Illness and injury (average)$350
- Replacement toys$180
- Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats$150
- Annual avian-vet wellness exam$145
- Yearly bloodwork (CBC and chemistry)$140
- Cage liners / paper$120
- Pellets$80
- Nail trims and beak care (as needed)$40
- Replacement perches$30
- Typical year$1,240
Most years land between $870 and $2,310. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.
Setup and the first year
Bringing it home
- Price: Breeder or bird store (captive-bred)$3,400
- Parrot cage (at least 35 x 25 x 40 in)$456
- Perches in varied diameters and textures (3)$50
- Extra food, fresh-food and water dishes$20
- Starter toys (5–6 large-bird toys)$120
- Travel carrier (for vet trips)$65
- New-bird exam with an avian vet$135
- New-bird tests (bloodwork, Chlamydia and polyomavirus PCR)$200
- To bring them home$4,450
Running costs in year one
- Pellets$80
- Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats$150
- Replacement toys$180
- Replacement perches$30
- Cage liners / paper$120
- Illness and injury (average)$350
- Year-one running costs$910
First-year total: $5,360. Adopting instead brings it to about $2,260.
Make it your estimate
Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.
Your lifetime estimate$65,900
First year $5,360Then about $1,240 a yearOver 50 years
$103 a month in a typical year.
Show your yearly breakdown
- Illness and injury (average)$350
- Replacement toys$180
- Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats$150
- Annual avian-vet wellness exam$145
- Yearly bloodwork (CBC and chemistry)$140
- Cage liners / paper$120
- Pellets$80
- Nail trims and beak care (as needed)$40
- Replacement perches$30
- Typical year$1,240
What to buy
The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to an amazon parrot. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.
- Parrot cage (at least 35 x 25 x 40 in)Setup, typically about $456See on Amazon
- Perches in varied diameters and textures (3)Setup, typically about $50See on Amazon
- Extra food, fresh-food and water dishesSetup, typically about $20See on Amazon
- Starter toys (5–6 large-bird toys)Setup, typically about $120See on Amazon
- Travel carrier (for vet trips)Setup, typically about $65See on Amazon
- PelletsOngoing, typically about $80 a yearSee on Amazon
- Cage liners / paperOngoing, typically about $120 a yearSee on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.
Health costs to plan for
| Condition | What it is | Typical treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity and fatty liver disease | Merck says Amazon parrots are 'especially likely to become obese', which raises the risk of fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis; Lafeber's vet sheet lists hepatic lipidosis and atherosclerosis for Amazons. Source | Exam ($115–$225) and bloodwork ($80–$200), then a diet change to pellets and vegetables; hospitalization ($300–$2,000+) for birds in liver failure | $200–$2,000 |
| Vitamin A deficiency and sinusitis | Lafeber lists vitamin A deficiency on poor diets and its vet sheet notes hypovitaminosis with secondary sinusitis in Amazons; all-seed diets are low in vitamin A. Source | Exam, swabs or culture, antibiotics for the sinus infection and a switch to pellets | $150–$500 |
| Chlamydiosis (psittacosis) | Lafeber lists chlamydiosis for Amazons, with poor appetite, fluffed feathers and nasal discharge; it can spread to people. Source | Exam, Chlamydia PCR ($21 lab fee before markup) and a long antibiotic course with retest; severe cases need hospitalization | $160–$500 |
| Aspergillosis | Lafeber's vet sheet lists aspergillosis, a fungal respiratory infection, among common non-infectious problems in Amazons. Source | Exam, bloodwork and imaging, long-term antifungal medication and often hospitalization ($300–$2,000+) | $300–$2,000 |
The yearly estimate includes an average of $350 for illness and injury. Insurance is available for this pet; turn it on in the calculator to compare.
What drives the cost
- Price depends mostly on species: BirdsNow listings (Oct 2026) ran $1,800 for young or adult blue-fronts and yellow-napes up to $4,800–$5,000 for baby double yellow-heads and yellow-napes, and ThePricer found a $5,900 baby double yellow-head at a bird store.
- Yellow-naped and double yellow-headed Amazons are on CITES Appendix I and endangered in the wild, so they cost more and you should get paperwork showing the bird was bred in the US.
- Merck names Amazons among the birds especially likely to become obese, and Lafeber lists fatty liver and atherosclerosis; pellets plus vegetables and few table scraps is the cheap way to avoid those bills.
- VCA recommends checkups twice a year with lab tests; ThePricer's 2026 figures put an exotic-vet wellness exam at $115–$200 and an annual blood panel at $80–$200.
- Amazons are loud and chew hard: plan on a steady supply of large-bird wooden toys ($15–$40 each at Chewy) and replacement perches.
Is it legal where you live?
No US state ban on keeping Amazon parrots was found. The 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act ended most imports of wild-caught CITES-listed parrots (the blue-fronted Amazon was one of eight species under an immediate moratorium), so pet Amazons sold in the US should be domestically captive-bred. Yellow-naped and double yellow-headed Amazons are on CITES Appendix I, so ask the seller for proof the bird was bred in the US.
Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.
- Breeder or bird store (captive-bred)
- $1,800–$5,000
- Bird rescue
- $100–$500
- Lifetime
- $65,900
How this estimate is built
Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.
Show all 17 line items and their sources
| Item | Typical | Basis and sources | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | |||
| Parrot cage (at least 35 x 25 x 40 in) | $456 | The Vet Desk's minimum is 35 x 25 x 40 in; Lafeber's vet sheet gives bar spacing of 3/4–1 in (up to 1.5 in for larger Amazons). Typical: A&E Majestic Series Small, listed for Amazons, $455.73 at Chewy. Low: A&E Play Top Medium, $329.99. High: Prevue Playtop Stainless Steel Large, listed for Amazons, $999.99 (ThePricer also cites this cage and an A&E Majestic Medium at $649.99). The Vet Desk: Amazon Parrot breed profile (minimum cage 35 x 25 x 40 in); Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot; Chewy: Best bird cages 2026 (A&E Majestic Small $455.73 and Prevue Playtop Stainless Large $999.99, both listed for Amazons); Chewy: Parrot cages (A&E Play Top Medium $329.99; carriers $31.99–$89.99); ThePricer: How Much Do Amazon Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026) | |
| Perches in varied diameters and textures (3) | $50 | Lafeber's vet sheet gives about 1-in perches for Amazons. At Chewy: Polly's 1-in hardwood perch $16.27, KNUTI corner perch $16.18, JW Pet Large Comfy rope perch $14.70. Typical = three; Hepper gives $20–$50 per perch (high). Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot; Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch, 1-in diameter ($16.27); Chewy: Parrot supplies and accessories (JW Pet Large Comfy Perch $14.70, KNUTI corner perch $16.18, Bagel Cascade Large $14.96); Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026) | |
| Extra food, fresh-food and water dishes | $20 | The Vet Desk prices Amazon food and water bowls at $20; Hepper gives $5–$15 per dish (three dishes at the top). The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026); Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026) | |
| Starter toys (5–6 large-bird toys) | $120 | Super Bird Creations Woodpile Large/X-Large, listed for Amazons, is $39.99 at Chewy and the Bagel Cascade Large $14.96. Typical = a mix of five or six; The Vet Desk budgets $100 for toys and accessories. Chewy: Super Bird Creations Woodpile Bird Toys, Large/X-Large ($39.99; Amazons); Chewy: Parrot supplies and accessories (JW Pet Large Comfy Perch $14.70, KNUTI corner perch $16.18, Bagel Cascade Large $14.96); The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Travel carrier (for vet trips) | $65 | Chewy parrot carriers run $31.99 (Halinfer backpack) to $89.99 (LAIRIES double-layer); The Vet Desk prices a carrier at $100 and Hepper a travel cage at $40–$120. Chewy: Parrot cages (A&E Play Top Medium $329.99; carriers $31.99–$89.99); The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026); Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026) | |
| First year | |||
| New-bird exam with an avian vet | $135 | Lafeber's vet sheet recommends a history and full physical exam for every new Amazon. ThePricer (findanexoticvet.com data) gives $135–$225 for a new-patient exotic exam; The Vet Desk prices the first vet check at $100. Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot; ThePricer: How Much Do Amazon Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026); The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| New-bird tests (bloodwork, Chlamydia and polyomavirus PCR) | $200 | Lafeber's vet sheet lists baseline CBC, protein electrophoresis and plasma chemistry, with polyomavirus and Chlamydia testing as warranted. The UGA lab charges vets $21 per Chlamydia or polyomavirus PCR and $21 for DNA sexing, before clinic markup; ThePricer puts a parrot blood panel at $80–$200. Low = PCRs only; high = full panel plus PCRs. Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot; UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab: Avian submission form and prices (Oct 2024); ThePricer: How Much Do Quaker Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026; avian exam, bloodwork and emergency figures) | |
| Every year | |||
| Pellets | $80 | Harrison's feeding guide is 15–30 g a day for Amazons (about 12–24 lb a year); ZuPreem's is 1/2 cup a day. Low: 12 lb from ZuPreem's 35-lb bag ($129.99, $3.72/lb) ≈ $45. Typical: about 18 lb from 17.5-lb bags ($77.99, $4.46/lb) ≈ $80. High: 24 lb of Harrison's from 25-lb bags ($10.52/lb) ≈ $252. Chewy: Harrison's Adult Lifetime Coarse (5 lb $63.59, 25 lb $262.94; Amazon 15–30 g a day); Chewy: ZuPreem FruitBlend Parrot & Conure (17.5 lb $77.99, 35 lb $129.99; 1/2 cup a day for Amazons); ThePricer: How Much Do Amazon Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026) | |
| Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats | $150 | Limited data: Lafeber recommends a manufactured diet plus vegetables, some fruit and healthy treats, and limited table food because Amazons gain weight. The Vet Desk puts Amazon food at $15–$25 a month and Hepper at $15–$40; typical assumes about $12 a month of produce and treats on top of pellets. Lafeber: Amazon parrot species profile; The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026); Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026) | |
| Replacement toys | $180 | The Vet Desk budgets $10–$15 a month for toys that need frequent replacing ($120–$180 a year); Hepper allows up to $50 a month for entertainment. High = one Woodpile Large ($39.99, Chewy) a month. The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026); Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026); Chewy: Super Bird Creations Woodpile Bird Toys, Large/X-Large ($39.99; Amazons) | |
| Replacement perches | $30 | Amazons chew wooden perches. Typical = two hardwood or rope perches a year at about $15–$16 (Chewy); high = four. Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch, 1-in diameter ($16.27); Chewy: Parrot supplies and accessories (JW Pet Large Comfy Perch $14.70, KNUTI corner perch $16.18, Bagel Cascade Large $14.96) | |
| Cage liners / paper | $120 | The Vet Desk puts bedding at $5–$10 a month; Hepper puts cage liners at $10–$25 a month. Typical = $10 a month. The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026); Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026) | |
| Annual avian-vet wellness exam | $145 | VCA recommends semi-annual checkups; Lafeber's vet sheet calls for at least an annual exam. Typical = one exam at the $145 2026 survey average cited by ThePricer. Low: The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI) bird wellness exam from $107.62 (Feb 2026). High = two exams a year at the top of ThePricer's $115–$200 exotic wellness range. VCA Animal Hospitals: Amazon Parrots - General; Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot; ThePricer: How Much Do Quaker Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026; avian exam, bloodwork and emergency figures); ThePricer: How Much Do Amazon Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026) | |
| Yearly bloodwork (CBC and chemistry) | $140 | Lafeber's vet sheet recommends CBC, protein electrophoresis and chemistry as baseline tests and VCA says checkups include lab tests; ThePricer puts an annual parrot blood panel at $80–$200. Low = skipped. Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot; VCA Animal Hospitals: Amazon Parrots - General; ThePricer: How Much Do Quaker Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026; avian exam, bloodwork and emergency figures) | |
| Nail trims and beak care (as needed) | $40 | Hepper gives $5–$20 for a nail trim and $10–$35 for a beak trim, usually at the wellness visit; The Gentle Vets charges $93.53 for a beak trim that needs an exam (high). Low = rough perches keep nails worn. Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026) | |
| Illness and injury, per year | |||
| Illness and injury (yearly average) | $350 | No survey reports average illness spending per Amazon. The Vet Desk averages Amazon medications and vet visits at $10–$40 a month ($120–$480 a year); ThePricer's 2026 figures are a $320 starting bill for an after-hours emergency and $300–$2,000+ for hospitalization. Typical assumes roughly one sick visit with tests and medication a year. The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026); ThePricer: How Much Do Quaker Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026; avian exam, bloodwork and emergency figures) | |
| Insurance, per month | |||
| Nationwide Avian & Exotic accident & illness premium | $20 | Nationwide lists Amazons among covered birds and says premiums 'generally start at less than $21/month'; The Vet Desk puts Amazon insurance at $10–$30 a month. Nationwide (petinsurance.com): Pet insurance plans for birds (Amazons listed); The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
More pet birds by yearly cost
- Cockatiel$650 a year
- Sun conure$800 a year
- Green-cheeked conure$800 a year
- Quaker parrot$860 a year
- African grey parrot$1,410 a year
- Cockatoo$1,800 a year
- Compare all pet birds
Common questions
How much does an amazon parrot cost?
Breeder or bird store (captive-bred): $1,800–$5,000; bird rescue: $100–$500. The bigger costs come after: about $710 to set up, about $5,360 for the whole first year, then about $1,240 a year.
How much does an amazon parrot cost per year?
About $1,240 a year ($103 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $870 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $2,310 for a generous owner in a big city with insurance.
How much does an amazon parrot cost over its lifetime?
About $65,900 over a 50-year life, in 2026 dollars.
Sources
- Lafeber Vet: Basic Information Sheet: Amazon Parrot
- Lafeber: Amazon parrot species profile
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Amazon Parrots - General
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Popular Pet Birds (table)
- ThePricer: How Much Do Amazon Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026)
- The Vet Desk: How Much Does an Amazon Parrot Cost? (Jan 2026)
- Nationwide (petinsurance.com): Pet insurance plans for birds (Amazons listed)
- US Fish & Wildlife Service: President signs Wild Bird Conservation Act (Oct 1992)
- BirdsNow: Amazon parrots for sale (Oct 2026; single birds $1,800–$5,000)
- Hepper: Amazon Parrot Cost (updated Jan 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual (owners): Nutritional Disorders of Pet Birds
- The Vet Desk: Amazon Parrot breed profile (minimum cage 35 x 25 x 40 in)
- Chewy: Best bird cages 2026 (A&E Majestic Small $455.73 and Prevue Playtop Stainless Large $999.99, both listed for Amazons)
- Chewy: Parrot cages (A&E Play Top Medium $329.99; carriers $31.99–$89.99)
- Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch, 1-in diameter ($16.27)
- Chewy: Parrot supplies and accessories (JW Pet Large Comfy Perch $14.70, KNUTI corner perch $16.18, Bagel Cascade Large $14.96)
- Chewy: Super Bird Creations Woodpile Bird Toys, Large/X-Large ($39.99; Amazons)
- UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab: Avian submission form and prices (Oct 2024)
- ThePricer: How Much Do Quaker Parrots Cost? (updated Sep 2026; avian exam, bloodwork and emergency figures)
- Chewy: Harrison's Adult Lifetime Coarse (5 lb $63.59, 25 lb $262.94; Amazon 15–30 g a day)
- Chewy: ZuPreem FruitBlend Parrot & Conure (17.5 lb $77.99, 35 lb $129.99; 1/2 cup a day for Amazons)
- The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026)
- Wikipedia: Yellow-headed amazon (CITES Appendix I, IUCN Endangered)
- World Parrot Trust: Yellow-naped Amazon (CITES Appendix I, IUCN Critically Endangered)
Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 18, 2026. Spot a wrong figure?