Welcome home, Bingo!

[SailBoat]

FYI: Pale gray feet is the most common color of Amazon claws.

A real clue would be Bingo's Weight and overall length.

Regarding my vote: I have 'with some doubt' shifted to a YNA with a slight edge over a YCA.

 

[cnyguy]

Allee, you needed one more choice in your poll for people like me: "Haven't got a clue." Each time I look at Bingo's pictures, I change my mind about what kind of Amazon he may be. Whichever it is, he's a handsome fellow and he'll be another great companion for you and the flock.

 

[Allee]

Now that you mention it, I have changed my mind and am convinced he is just a really large budgie:30:

I have done a good deal of research into that clay and over the years ever since I first saw it in a bird store. Information keeps shifting regarding the reasons behind why scientists suspect they eat it (nutritional value, detoxification value, aids in digestion etc...). I know Kiwi seems judicious in how he consumes his and a block lasts a really long time with him just nibbling here and there on it, I would assume when he senses he needs whatever benefit it is he gets from it. Here's an interesting read from the Smithsonian and to my knowledge, one of the most recent new speculations into the reasoning behind parrots eating the clay. It's certainly counter intuitive to what any good bird owner might expect given the current information regarding parrot diet. IMO, that could be important for pet parrots from this part of the world who are deliberately given low/no sodium diets in providing them with self regulating sodium and mineral intake in a healthy/natural way. Interesting read, hoping more research and concrete answers happen at some point

Why Do Hundreds of Macaws Gather at These Peruvian Clay Banks? | Travel | Smithsonian

Bingo's wild cousins!
Parrot Clay Lick at Napo Wildlife Center, Ecuador - YouTube

Very interesting reading. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bingo feels about it. I watched several videos of Greys, Macaws and Amazons, they obviously believe there's something beneficial in the clay.

FYI: Pale gray feet is the most common color of Amazon claws.

A real clue would be Bingo's Weight and overall length.

Regarding my vote: I have 'with some doubt' shifted to a YNA with a slight edge over a YCA.

Oh Steven, please don't ask me to measure and weigh Bingo just yet. I hate to admit it but I'm a tiny bit intimidated by Bing's beak, those pinning eyes and his body language says he wouldn't mind biting me if I get too friendly. He's studying me, I hope I meet his criteria.

Allee, you needed one more choice in your poll for people like me: "Haven't got a clue." Each time I look at Bingo's pictures, I change my mind about what kind of Amazon he may be. Whichever it is, he's a handsome fellow and he'll be another great companion for you and the flock.

Gary, I completely agree, he's a handsome, charming fellow no matter what kind of Amazon. The quakers have yet to see him but they can hear him and I think they are delighted to have another talker in the flock. They get excited when Bingo talks and they call back to him, they've barked, cried, quacked, meowed and demanded, he C'mere! Poor bird, he probably thinks he's been donated to a zoo.

 

[Ladyhawk]

Does the winning poll answer actually change Bingo's DNA to make him that species of Amazon.

 

[Allee]

Does the winning poll answer actually change Bingo's DNA to make him that species of Amazon.

Ummm, no, it would not! Hahaha, that has crossed my mind. How do we determine who is correct? The truth is in there. I checked, Avian Biotech can tell me his sex and a plethora of other things but identifying sub-species isn't an option.

An Avian Vet possibly, or would that also be only an opinion, an educated opinion but still?

 

[Anansi]

Gotta wonder, if he's stumping all these amazon experts... maybe he's a cross? When we were having similar identification issues with Bixby, I'd reached out to ekkie expert Laurella Desborough and that was her take (red-sided/SI cross).

So anyone better at amazon sub-species identification want to chime in on whether the idea of a cross seems more likely?

 

[riddick07]

Looks like a YNA since we are all guessing lol. Most of the yellow crowned I've met have red shoulders.

April for example.

And some YNA have a lot of yellow on the top of their head. I know you can't see the neck but there's a large patch of yellow back there!

And then Kelly who is all green with one yellow feather and is 36 years old. Ignore the BFA.

 

[SailBoat]

No one can 'Ignore' a 'BFA.'

Great photos, thanks! I really like the photo with the DYH looking like he is telling the BFA an off-color story! Photo located as part of your other Thread! "Added Two More"

 

[Ladyhawk]

No one can 'Ignore' a 'BFA.'

You're telling me! If I disappear around a corner, Kizzy comes and joins me. She either lands on my head or right in the middle of whatever I'm trying to do. Very cute, but also a little aggravating.

I have very little doubt. Bingo, late bloomer or not, is a yellow nape. I am wondering if there could be something wrong with his / her reproductive system or hormones. If so, that could be why we aren't seeing a full yellow nape. It's something to have checked if it turns out Bingo really is eight. If he is otherwise healthy, maybe he won't have those wild Amazon mood swings.

 

[SailBoat]

Classifying an Amazon is a 'process' of taking each nominates' description and note next to each line item: yes, no, maybe, not sure. Than place a count for each (yes, no, maybe, not sure). The one with the greatest number of yes's, wins! This process also needs to include each of the sub-species within each primary. It also requires several 'experts' doing the same evaluation on the same Amazon.

Resulting from the vast variation in coloration, it is very common for coloration to not be an assured definition of what species you have. This is clearly shown here and why photos are not a good tool to use because the photo itself can vary the colors by understate or overstate a color.

Clearly, the closer to a specific nominate the Amazon is, the easier it is to classify them.

Allee: Let the CAV be the bad person and get the weight and measurements.


FYI: Likely not something wrong, but more likely just the problem one faces with an Amazon that is pushing the corners regarding coloration.

 

[Ladyhawk]

Does the winning poll answer actually change Bingo's DNA to make him that species of Amazon.

Ummm, no, it would not! Hahaha, that has crossed my mind. How do we determine who is correct? The truth is in there. I checked, Avian Biotech can tell me his sex and a plethora of other things but identifying sub-species isn't an option.

An Avian Vet possibly, or would that also be only an opinion, an educated opinion but still?

IMO, your best bet would be to contact a very experienced CAV or a well-known and respected breeder who raises many different species of Amazons.

Why not shoot off an email to Steve Hartman, inventor of the Aviator Harness? He did give me his two cents when I asked whether or not I should clip Kizzy's wings. No matter how you feel about that particular topic, it's obvious he cares not only about his birds, but other birds, too. I have no idea whether or not he'll help you identify Bingo's species, but hey. Why not try? Here's the info:

Website: The Parrot University, llc
Email: [email protected]
Phone: US and Canada (740) 965-1965 All other countries 001-740-965-1965​

Here are a couple of CAV's whose opinion I'd respect:

Dr. Brian Speer, author of Birds for Dummies and a world class veterinarian: Contact Us

Dr. Scott MacDonald - Traveling veterinarian who has surgically sexed more parrots than I've even seen - You can find contact info here: Scott E. McDonald​

I can't guarantee any of these people will give you the time of day, but if you can get them to look at pictures and videos of Bingo, I would trust their opinion 100 percent.

I think Bingo is obviously a yellow nape, but I have nowhere near the experience of the people listed above.

Good luck!

P.S. Where is the yellow nape emoji? We need one! It would be nice to have one for double yellowheads, yellow crowns and yellow shoulders, too.
P.P. S. OK, who thinks Bingo is a budgie. XD

 

[plumsmum2005]

P.P. S. OK, who thinks Bingo is a budgie. XD

That would be me LOL, have no idea on 'zons, sorry.

 

[SailBoat]

Regarding knowing for sure, I would recommended the tried and true method of letting Bingo become comfortable with his new home. As that happens, his diet will improve greatly as will his stance. Also, there is nothing like a series of showers to bring clarity to his coloration.

Remembering that with the exception of Allee, no one other than maybe she has seen anything like a 'Big Eagle' from this guy. And, as we all know, the flash feathers of the flight surfaces goes a very long way to defining this family of Amazons as the full combination of Body and Flight Surface Feathers are then seen.

So, regarding the Poll, time will draw that definition and there are still a few that have not voted.

FYI: Henpecked and Birdman666 your comments would be welcomed!

 

[Allee]

Thank you for the comments, Everyone! Victoria, thanks for the great photos, such beautiful birds!

As always, excellent advice, Steven! However it turns out, this guy is an amazing Amazon, that works for now. He isn't completely comfortable yet but opening up more every day. I love his voice, he's talking more and more in the mornings and evenings. His curiosity often gets the best of him, I'm working with that. He's a cutie, I'm having so much fun getting to know him on his terms.

 

[Ladyhawk]

However it turns out, this guy is an amazing Amazon, that works for now.

Amen. So glad he found you.

 

[SailBoat]

The vast amount of cuteness and extensive knowledge provided on defining a specific species clearly takes this Thread to a Five Star Home Run! Congratulations everyone!

 

[Allee]

Soooo, sixty percent of the votes go to Yellow Nape? B-I-N-G-O isn't saying and I'm still undecided. Thanks for the opinions and votes! It was fun and I've learned a lot about sub species, apparently not enough but still.

I was very concerned about Bingo for a few days, he seemed to have trouble processing all he'd been through. He called out for his first human who passed away six months ago, it was heartbreaking to hear, he also coughed like a human when he was calling for his lost friend and caregiver. Bingo was showing visible signs of stress and showed little interest in his new surroundings and even less interest in food. I knew he had not been allowed out of his cage for about eight months and I was told he had to have a certain pellet diet and a particular seed mix or he would immediately pluck himself bald. Where do people get these ideas? I want to say here, I am not judging the woman who made the choice to rehome her birds, life happens to all of us, I know it was an awful decision to have to make. These birds were loved and well taken care of for most of their lives and it shows. I'm thrilled she chose us as Bingo and Jack's new family. In a sense she is correct, abrupt change and stress often trigger plucking but an unvaried, limited diet and never moving or changing the cage in any way can be harmful too.

Back to Bingo, I knew coming out of his cage would be hard after eight months, I kept opening his door so he could decide. I provided the food he was familiar with but he flatly refused to go near his bowls. My tiny green Quaker, mentor, Harry, tried to starve herself once, the tricks I learned attempting to get food past her beak came in handy once again.

I fed Bingo from my hand one bite at a time for several days. I kept serving him fresh chop for breakfast and dinner but he would only accept it from my fingers. The first finger food that made Bingo LOL was sweet potato fries dusted with cinnamon and coconut flakes then baked in the oven. He's tried a lot of new foods in the last few days and several have made his new favorite foods list. His poop has looked a little healthier every day and this morning it looked normal.

Yesterday Bingo came out of his cage for the first time since he arrived. This evening he ran to his dinner bowl and sang to his food. He still clamps his beak to the side of his water dish and sucks the water rather than drinking like most parrots do, I'm sure that's from only having a bottle to drink from for a long time. He was in such a happy mood once he left his cage, I decided to try a mist bath, he squealed at first and I thought he was afraid but when he fluffed his feathers I realized he was a little shy but delighted to get wet.

Bingo loves evenings, some people would undoubtedly say he gets loud. Remember I live with Poppy an umbrella cockatoo. I love his voice and the odd noises he makes. We're making wonderful progress and having a great time getting to know each other.

*I have yet to meet the beautiful CAG, Jack, but I hear he's adjusting much more quickly than Bingo, more proof that all birds are as unique as we are and experience life as it unfolds. They can teach us volumes if we let them.

 

[RavensGryf]

Allee, congratulations on acquiring Bingo . He (or she) is gorgeous!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Great news Allee, so good to see Bingo on his cage. We are all awaiting the beautiful Jack too.

Loved the sweet potato fries, sound delicious! Can I ask if you use any oil and if so which one? Would Coconut oil work?

 

[Allee]

Thanks, Julie! Nice to see you here, how are you and your boys?

Plumsmum, I put my fries in a bowl, add a little melted coconut oil, cinnamon and coconut flakes, toss gently and lay them out on a baking tray.