It was Christopher Columbus himself who apparently gave the name 'Amazon' to a green, short-winged parrot that he brought back to Europe after his first voyage to the New World.

In addition to the pet trade, South American Indians have traditionally hunted Amazon parrots for food. Some species are also so abundant that they are considered to be pests by farmers and shot on sight. In some areas, notably parts of Mexico and Venezuela, it has become rare through trapping for the cagebird trade.