It has been recently been reclassified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to a dramatic decline across the extent of its range.

This parrot readily mimics sounds, and in captivity, this includes human speech, which is probably the reason it is popular in aviculture.

[4] The yellow-naped amazon is distinguished by its green forehead and crown and a yellow band across the lower nape (back part of neck) and hindneck.

[6] Breeding success is low (89%), and the majority of nests fail due to poaching [5] The vocal behavior of yellow-naped amazons has been more extensively studied than in any other wild parrot.

[9] Mated pairs of yellow-naped amazons also duet together on their territories in highly complex ways; they produce precisely coordinated and synchronized sequences of calls.

These duets are organized by syntactic rules, in which the order and structure of notes changes in predetermined but flexible ways.

Three subspecies are recognized: It is found along the Pacific Coast from southern Mexico south to northern Costa Rica.

A rare blue mutation of the yellow-naped amazon is known to exist in which the entire body is turquoise in color.