Rescued a Amazon parrot — need all the advice I can get!

Hi everyone! I recently adopted a rescue Amazon parrot from a shelter near downtown Toronto. Their name is Tango (the shelter named them but it stuck). They're a bit shy and don't trust easily — no idea what their previous situation was. I want to give them the absolute best life possible. Any tips for helping a rescue bird settle in and learn to trust again?

Welcome to the forum! Great to have another bird lover from the GTA. Your Pionus sounds adorable — what's their personality like?

Welcome to the forum! Great to have another bird lover from the GTA. Your budgie sounds adorable — what's their personality like?

You're clearly a caring bird owner — the fact you're asking for help shows that. Your bird is lucky to have you.

Can we start a support group for this? Because SAME.

This happened to us last winter. I think the shorter days and dry heated air were the cause for my bird.

YES! This is exactly what I needed to read today. My Amazon parrot and I have been going through the same thing!

Oh my bird did this for about a few days and I tried everything. Honestly, time was the biggest factor. They just grew out of it.

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is removing mirrors from the cage — can cause hormonal or aggressive behavior. A lot of people also recommend giving warm food (like a warmed mash) on cold Toronto mornings. My avian vet in the Danforth also suggested checking for being moved to a new cage or new room which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!

I joined a bird owners meetup group in the GTA — great way to get in-person advice and let the birds socialize. Check Facebook groups!

If you're in Hamilton, check out the avian vet on Hurontario St. They're amazing with zebra finch specifically.

If you're near Oakville, PetSmart on Kennedy Rd actually has a decent bird section. Better than most locations.

The Toronto Humane Society sometimes has birds available for adoption too. Worth checking if you're in the downtown area.