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Blue & Gold Macaw
Ara ararauna
The Blue and Gold Macaw is one of the most popular pet Macaws around the world. With their even temper, intelligence and
beauty, this is no surprise to those who know these marvelous birds.
The Blue and Gold Macaw, also know as the Blue and Yellow Macaw has a reputation among Macaws for being a good talker.
While one can never be sure if their pet parrot will ever talk, the Blue and Gold Macaw is more likely to talk than other
varieties of Macaw. The Blue and Gold Macaw is lively, intelligent, affectionate and even-tempered. Be warned, however, they
are also very loud. If you want quiet in your home you should never consider a Blue and Gold Macaw for a pet. They can also
be quite destructive if not given plenty of toys to chew. In spite of their noisiness and their love of chewing the Blue and
Gold Macaw makes a wonderful pet. The Blue and Gold Macaw is gentle and sweet. They are highly social parrots and love being
around people. Out of all the Macaws the Blue and Gold is one of the easiest to socialize. They are adaptable and can also
be re-socialized quite easily. Because of their intelligence the Blue and Gold is quite good at learning new tricks and seems
to delight in doing so.
The Blue and Gold Macaw is breathtaking because of its beautiful plumage and his immense size. Adult Blue and Golds average
34 inches (86cm) in length. Male and female Blue and Gold Macaws are not sexual dimorphic, that is there is not discernable
difference between them. The plumage of the Blue and Gold Macaw is primarily bright blue and bright saffron yellow. The yellow
is seen primarily on the underside of the Blue and Gold while Blue covers most of his body. The wings of the Blue and Gold
are primarily blue, darker on the primaries. The tail is also blue. The Blue and Gold's throat is black, and has been described
as a "black beard". As with most Macaws, the Blue and Gold has bare cheeks decorated with black lines. The front
of his crown is a beautiful emerald green that becomes blue that covers the rest of the head. The iris of the mature Blue
and Gold macaw is yellow, sometimes yellowish-green. One can distinguish immature Blue and Golds by their dark brown irises.
Originating in South America, Blue and Gold Macaws have been seen in Colombia, Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador,
Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, and Trinidad. Unfortunately they are currently disappearing from many areas including,
Venezuela, Brazil and Columbia. This disappearance is due largely to hunting, trapping, trade and habitat destruction. The
natural habitat of the Blue and Gold Macaw includes open marshlands and woodlands, rainforest, and other areas with large
trees. They are usually seen in pairs, family groups, or flocks of not more than 20 birds. Occasionally one might see gatherings
of Blue and Golds, which can number into the hundreds.
Green Winged Macaw
Ara chloroptera
The Green Winged Macaw, a beautiful bird, makes a friendly and feisty pet for those who can accommodate a noisy bird! They
are the world's second largest Macaw!
The Green Winged Macaw, or Red and Green Macaw, lives in social groups of six to 12 birds in forest land and often associates
with Scarlet and Blue and Yellow Macaws. They prefer to stay shyly in the treetops and are quite cautious when on the ground.
Red and Green Macaws build their nests high in trees or cliffs, breeding from November through March. They visit clay banks
regularly, eating mineral soil to neutralize toxins found in the unripe fruit they subsist on. Green Winged Macaws also eat
nuts, seeds, berries, greenery, and ripe fruit. Though they are less active than other Macaws, in captivity Green Winged Macaws
need a large outdoor aviary of 24 by nine by six feet with an enclosed shelter, constructed of strong wire or chain link.
These birds are avid chewers and need plenty of wood, as bored Green Winged Macaws will be destructive, chewing on their cage
or anything else they can find! They enjoy bathing and should always have fresh water. Green Winged Macaws should be fed a
wide variety of fruits and vegetables, greens, grains, nuts, seeds, and a mineral supplement along with peanut butter or other
fatty, high-protein treats. They may be hand-reared on biscuit, porridge, and white bread. Green Winged Macaws live nicely
with other birds and form strong bonds with their keepers. They may become aggressive during breeding season, however, when
they should be treated cautiously.
Red and Green Macaws grow to about 26 to 37 inches in length and have a 41 to 49 inch wingspan! They have red plumage with
blue back, rump, and tail converts. The bare facial patch is crossed with red feather lines. Green Winged Macaws have green
shoulders and inner secondary and median wing coverts; the rest of the wings are blue. Green Winged Macaws have blue edged
red tail feathers, and males may have green edged feathers at the backs of their heads. The bill is horn colored and prominent
with black edges and a black lower mandible, and the feet are dark gray.
Native to tropical forests at 1500 and occasionally 4700 feet, the Red and Green Macaw is also called the Maroon Macaw, the
Greenwing Macaw, and the Red and Blue Macaw. It is found in the Guyanas, Panama, Bolivia, Suriname, Brazil, Peru, Columbia,
Ecuador, Paraguay, and Argentina. Though it is not listed as threatened, the Greenwing Macaw's habitat is being destroyed
and it has disappeared in much of Panama due to trapping for trade and hunting for food.
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
The Scarlet Macaw is a beautiful bird with a sweet, inquisitive nature and friendly, outgoing personality!
In the wild, Scarlet Macaws live in family groups of up to thirty birds, but pair off within the groups. Occasionally,
isolated pairs of Scarlet Macaws are observed. They are highly social and are often seen keeping the company of Green-Winged
or Blue and Yellow Macaws. While flying, Scarlet Macaws give regular, raucous croaking calls. When perched, Scarlet Macaws
are nearly silent, and are generally extremely cautious when near the ground or in areas where raptors might prey upon them.
They regularly visit clay banks where they consume mineral clay in order to obtain the nutrients they need to neutralize the
toxins released into their systems from eating unripe fruit. Scarlet Macaws feed upon both unripe and ripe fruits, in addition
to seeds and nuts, greenery, flowers and berries. In captivity, you should feed your Scarlet Macaws greens, a wide variety
of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seed mixes and a mineral supplement. Egg food and white bread are good for young, hand
reared birds, and biscuits or oatmeal makes much appreciated treats. In warm weather, spray your Scarlet Macaw, as they love
to bathe, and be sure to have fresh water readily available. Scarlet Macaws should be kept warm with a bit of humidity, as
this is their natural clime. They are talkative and social, and may be kept with other birds except for during their breeding
season. They love human attention and are curious, affectionate, and docile, forming close bonds with their handlers.
The Scarlet Macaw grows to about 33.5 inches. Sometimes called the Red and Yellow Macaw, the base plumage color is a brilliant
red. The tops of the wings are yellow, as are the irises and sometimes the edges of the feathers on the back of the head.
Scarlet Macaws have green tips on the feathers of their wing coverts. The tail coverts are pale blue, and the wing feathers
have blue outer webs. The upperside of the tail is mostly red feathers with blue edges. Scarlet Macaws may have light traces
of red feather lines on their bald whitish face patches. The bill has blackish edges and is horn colored, and the lower mandible
is dark gray or blackish. Scarlet Macaws have dark gray feet.
Native to tropical forests below 3300 feet, the Scarlet Macaw also inhabits Pacific coast scrubland and lowland cultivated
areas with scattered forests. Found in parts of Panama, Southeast Mexico, Northern Bolivia and Brazil, Northern and Eastern
Columbia, Eastern Peru and Ecuador, Surinam, the Guyanas, and Southern Venezuela, the Red and Yellow Macaw is not as common
as the Blue and Yellow Macaw due to habitat loss, hunting for food, and trapping for the pet trade.
Hyacinth Macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
The Hyacinth Macaw can only be described as spectacular. The Hyacinth Macaw has been referred to as the "Rolls-Royce"
of parrots and it's no surprise why. The largest of the parrot family, this blue beauty is a site to behold.
The Hyacinth Macaw, also called the Hyacinthine Macaw or simply Hyacinth, is perhaps best known for his brilliant cobalt
blue plumage. In addition to being beautiful, the Hyacinth Macaw has a sweet, charming disposition. In spite of their size,
the Hyacinth is gentle with a very even-temperament. The Hyacinth Macaw is smart and inquisitive. Those lucky enough to own
these magnificent birds need to make sure to provide them with lots of toys. They are avid fans of chewing and can be quite
destructive if not given plenty of toys to play with.
The Hyacinth Macaw is a member of the largest group of parrots in the world - the Macaws. Of the Macaws, many would argue
that the Hyacinth is the most spectacular of all. The average Hyacinth is 40 inches in length (100cm) and two and three fourth
pounds in weight (1,250G). Their wingspan reaches nearly four feet in length. The hallmark of this macaw is his plumage. The
body of the Hyacinth is covered in rich, deep cobalt blue feathers. The head of the Hyacinth Macaw appears lighter in natural
light, some describing it as having an irradescent quality. The undersurface of the tail and flight feathers is dark gray.
Their bill is also dark gray and is deeply curved, forming a sharp point. The face of the Hyacinth Macaw has often been described
as smiling; this is due to the large vibrant yellow crescents around the lower mandible. In addition to the yellow crescent,
yellow eye rings are also a feature of this stunning breed. Immature Hyacinths have a notably shorter tail and a paler upper
mandible.
In the wild the Hyacinth is a social bird seen in small flocks of six to twelve. Families are usually easily distinguished
in the flocks. Their native diet includes nuts, berries, palm fruits such as Astryocaryum tucuma, Acrocomia aculeata, Syagrus
commosa, Acrocomia lasiopatha, Attalea phalerata and Attalea funifera, and other types of fruits.
The Hyacinth originates in South America, and was first documented in 1790. They are commonly seen in Paraguay, Brazil,
Bolivia, and other areas. There has been some debate over what their natural habitat is. The Hyacinth seems to prefer fairly
open areas with tall trees, as opposed to the rainforest. They are also seen in marshes, savannas, palm groves, and flood
areas. Unfortunately, the Hyacinth is becoming increasingly rare in the wild and is now considered endangered. At one time
the wild population consisted of less than 4,000 birds. The main cause of this decline is hunting, trade, and trapping. Today,
however, there have been several updated published studies, which indicate that the wild population of Hyacinths in Brazil
is more likely to be upwards of 6500 or more. Because of the successful efforts in conservation by several privately funded
groups, great measures have been taken to protect the Hyacinths and crack down on illegal trade. This probably accounts for
the increase in numbers.
Catalina Macaws
Ara ararauna x macao
Most people are divided on the question of hybrid Macaws: some seem to love them, and others believe they should not be
bred to keep natural Macaw bloodlines pure. Regardless of your political opinion, however, there is no dispute that the Catalina
Macaw hybrid is an exquisitely gorgeous bird!
Catalina Macaws, known as Rainbow Macaws in Australia, have the same noisy, intelligent, playful personalities as their
naturally occurring counterparts! They need a large outdoor aviary of 24 by nine by six feet with an enclosed shelter, constructed
of strong wire or chain link. These birds are avid chewers and need plenty of wood, as bored Catalina Macaws will be destructive,
chewing on their cage or anything else they can find! Plenty of attention and love is a must with Catalina Macaws, and will
be well rewarded as these birds form strong bonds with their handlers and are good talkers! Highly inquisitive by nature,
Catalina Macaws relate to the world by chewing on things, "feeling" them with their mouths! This means gentle biting
characterizes their behavior, but sharp bites are only inflicted when the Macaw is extremely upset or frightened. Catalina
Macaws enjoy bathing and should always have fresh water. Catalina Macaws should be fed a wide variety of fruits and vegetables,
greens, grains, nuts, seeds, and a mineral supplement along with peanut butter or other fatty, high-protein treats. They may
be hand-reared on biscuit, porridge, and white bread. Catalina Macaws live nicely with other birds, but may become aggressive
during breeding season, when they should be treated cautiously.
Catalina or Rainbow Macaws grow to about 34 inches in length, and are characterized by their incredibly varied and bright
plumage! The wings are mostly orange-yellow with orange-yellow undersides and blue edging topside. Their chests are gold-yellow,
topped by a blue-green head with a green crown! The beak is horn colored. The back of the neck and back are shaded orange
and the Catalina Macaw's tail is tapered and quite long. Generally, Catalina Macaws do not like to have their tail feathers
touched! Catalina Macaws look a lot like Harlequin Macaws and the two are often confused.
Catalina Macaws do not occur naturally in the wild, but are a domestic cross of Blue and Gold and Scarlet Macaws. Usually
the mother is the Blue and Gold Macaw because Scarlet Macaw females are a bit rare. Many people are against hybrid Macaw ownership
because they believe Macaw bloodlines should be kept pure since many Macaws are disappearing in the wild. Because hybrid Macaws
look very similar to purebred Macaws, the difference would show up only in the offspring and Macaw bloodlines might be tainted,
losing natural Macaw breeds forever.
Harlequin Macaw
Ara ararauna x chloroptera
The Harlequin Macaw is a very large, beautiful hybrid Macaw whose temperament is remarkably sweet and playful!
Like all Macaws, Harlequin Macaws need lots of space in which to play and lots of attention from their families! These
birds are inquisitive by nature, and explore the world by "feeling" it with their mouths! This means they will nibble
gently on you, on their cages, their toys, and all sorts of things! Macaws love to chew, and Harlequin Macaws because of their
large size will need plenty of wood to amuse themselves with in addition to a sturdy cage. Harlequin Macaws love nuts and
seeds, and their diet should include lots of fresh fruit and greenfood. Commercial parrot mixes are a good standard but will
need to be supplemented with the fresh food. Eager to please, the Harlequin Macaw forms a strong bond with its handler and
can develop a vocabulary of human words! These Macaws are extremely intelligent and quite energetic and affectionate!
A cross between Green Winged Macaws and Blue and Gold Macaws, the Harlequin Macaw is a striking and sizeable bird! Harlequin
Macaws grow to about 34 inches in length and are very brightly colored. Usually, Harlequins are sired by Green Winged Macaws,
since female Green Winged Macaws are often more difficult to find than female Blue and Gold Macaws, the typical mother of
the cross. Generally, Harlequin Macaws inherit the father Green Wing's physical build and the mother's coloration, making
it look identical to another hybrid, the Catalina Macaw. Usually, the chest feathers of Harlequin Macaws are reddish-orange
and are edged with a brighter yellow-orange color.
Many breeders are against the ownership and development of hybrid Macaws, since pure bloodlines are important. Most countries
have laws about the import of wild birds. This means that captive birds are the only domestic genetic specimens of many species
of Macaw. As hybrids are often very hard to tell apart physically from purebred Macaws, they could easily contaminate bloodlines
by producing offspring that are not one species or the other! Also, with many types of wild Macaws becoming endangered or
extinct, many people feel that domestic Macaws may someday become the only examples of their breeds remaining in existence!
If they were to become crossed with hybrids, they would no longer be true examples of their breed.
Severe Macaw
Ara severa severa
With a colorful personality, the Severe Macaw or Chestnut-Fronted Macaw is all the fun of a large Macaw rolled into a
smaller package!
The Severe Macaw is extremely social and loves to mimic speech and be petted and played with! Best if kept in pairs, Severe
Macaws are quite intelligent and should be provided with ropes to swing on and lots of wood to chew, for they can get quite
destructive if bored. Forming strong bonds with their keepers, they are affectionate, silly, and active, and love to climb,
explore, and hang upside down, chatting and squawking often. Chestnut-Fronted Macaws relate to their world by chewing on it,
and this may include you! They should be taught early on to regulate the pressure of their beaks. They do well when fed on
a variety of nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, green food, and commercial pellets. Pasta, beans, pine nuts, and porridge all
make fine treats for Severe Macaws. Because of their smaller size, Severe Macaws will do well in a cage for African Grey Parrots,
however, be sure it is sturdy and do not give these birds toys intended for small birds!
The Chestnut Fronted Macaw is about a foot and a half in length and is crowned with a line of chestnut colored feathers
across the forehead. The plumage is primarily metallic green, and the crown is blue. The shoulders are red. Severe Macaws
have blue flight and tail feathers with red undersides. Their bare facial patch exhibits delicate feather lines, the chin
is a dark reddish brown, and the underside of the tail is a dark chestnut color. The bill is black and the feet are dark gray.
Severe Macaws have orange irises. The wingspan of Chestnut-Fronted Macaws is eight and a half to nine and a half inches. When
setting up pairs, Severe Macaws must be sexed using DNA or surgical methods. Immature Severe Macaws will have blacker colored
bands on the foreheads, as the chestnut color develops with maturity, and you may use this indicator to determine the bird's
breeding capabilities.
Severe Macaws are native to northern Venezuela up through the Guyanas and south to northeast Brazil. They are little known
as companion animals though they make wonderful family pets when captive bred and hand raised and remain quite rare.
Hahn's Macaw
Ara nobilis nobilis
Because it is the smallest of all the macaws, the Hahn's Mini Macaw is a particularly interesting bird.
The Hahn's Macaw is a bit easier to care for than many other birds in its family because of its much smaller size. With
very high intelligence, the Hahn's Macaw is easily trainable and amusing, with an outgoing and funny personality. Though some
individuals are reported to be noisy, most will vocalize once or twice a day like most parrots, generally they are not considered
very are a great alternative to the noisy large macaws for this reason. Though they are not known to be the best talkers some
individuals are reported to be good talkers. Hahn's Macaws quickly form attachments to their handlers and will amuse them
for hours with their boisterous antics! Feed your Hahn's Miniature Macaw a wide variety of seeds, fruits, and legumes to ensure
good nutrition and to alleviate boredom. It is best to dust the food with mineral and vitamin supplements; a multi-vitamin
and calcium are especially important. Males will only need calcium twice a week, but hens will lay eggs and thus will require
calcium-dusted food five times a week! Be sure to provide plenty of fresh water, toys, chew toys, and perches so your Hahn's
Macaw is absolutely comfortable! The average Hahn's Macaw can live 25 to 40 years or more.
Because of its gorgeous coloration, the Hahn's Macaw is sometimes called the Red Shouldered Macaw. They are also known
as the Hahn's Miniature Macaw due to its small size! It grows to about 13 inches in length and has green plumage with brilliant
red underwing feathers. Hahn�s Macaw�s wingspan only comprises six and a half to seven inches! The foreground
of Hahn's Macaw's crown is a gorgeous blue, as is the forehead. Hahn�s Macaw has a reddish brown iris and the black
beak contrasts strikingly with the Macaw's characteristic bald facial patch. The face is sprinkled with tiny black feathers,
and Hahn's Miniature Macaw has gray feet. The tail has olive-yellow feathers on its underside, as do the flight feathers.
In the wild, Hahn�s Miniature Macaw is native to the tropical forests north of the Amazon in Brazil, in addition
to the Guyanas and the eastern areas of Venezuela. It has also been found in Surinam. Currently, there is much dispute as
to whether the Red Shouldered Macaw belongs to the genus Ara, as has been traditionally assumed, or to the genus Diopsittaca.
Yellow Collar Macaw
Ara auricollis
The Yellow Collared Macaw, also known as the Mini Macaw may be small in size, but he is very large in personality and
beauty. It is no surprise that the Yellow Collared Macaw is a favorite among many parrot fanciers.
If you want the personality of a large Macaw in a small package the Yellow Collared Macaw might just be for you! The Yellow
Collared Macaw has a pleasant disposition, particularly when bred in captivity and hand raised. They are classified as medium
to noisy parrots, but they are much quieter than other species of macaw. The Yellow Collared Macaw is a highly intelligent
birds who display quick learning. In addition many are capable of speaking. There are never any guarantees that your bird
will talk, but several owners of Yellow Collared Macaws have reported good mimicking ability. They are sweet and loving birds,
many of whom love to be cuddled by their owners. They may not do well in homes which are noisy of have small children, this
is because they have a tendency to become nervous and jumpy when large amounts of noise are present in the home.
Male and female Yellow Collared Macaws do not differ in appearance. It is generally true that females are smaller than
males, but size is not a reliable method of distinguishing sex. Some also hold that the males exhibit a larger yellow neck
collar than females, but again this is unreliable. If you wish to know whether yours is a male of female it is recommended
to take them to your local avian veterinarian for testing. The Mini Macaw can only be described as beautiful. His plumage
is largely green, but what makes it so spectacular are all the other colors splashed elsewhere on his body. His nape possesses
a yellow band and a bluish tinge is seen decorating those feathers. The secondaries and greater wing covets are also splashed
with blue. And blue is the primary color for the primary-coverts and primary wing feathers as well. The under wing coverts
are an olive yellow. His tail feathers are light maroon turning blue at the ends. His bill is entirely black except for the
tip which is horn colored. Brownish-black feathers cover the cheeks (whitish naked skin area in the cheek area as well), crown
and forehead. His eyes possess an orange iris and he generally will have gray feet, though one owner reports hers has pink
feet! Immatures can be easily distinguished with their more horn colored bills and the narrower nape band. They are smaller
than most macaws measuring 15 inches (38cm) at adulthood with weights of 230 to 250 grams on average.
The Yellow Collared Macaw originates in South America. They are a highly social bird in the wild and can be seen frequently
in flocks of 10 to 20, and gathering of flocks can be seen in numbers as high as 500.
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