Macaws
Blue & Gold Macaws
Also known as the Blue & Yellow Macaw, hand-fed babies make
wonderful pets! They are playful, comical, mischievous, extremely intelligent, and
lovable Blue & Golds have the capability of speaking quite well. However, they
do not mimic human voices the way that African Greys and Amazons do in tone and
inflection. They have their own unique voices and aren't afraid to use them!
Given the appropriate nutritional requirements in a nurturing
environment, the Blue & Gold Macaw can have a lifespan of 60 to 80 years. Measuring
between 32 to 34 inches in length, the Blue & Gold requires the largest cage possible
to keep him happy and healthy. We recommend the Kings Model 506 Cage, which will
allow for plenty of room to play and wing-flap to eliminate boredom while being caged.
Your Macaw should be given plenty of daily time
outside his cage. We carry a wide variety of play stands that allow your bird to
have hours of fun outside of his cage.
Catalina Macaws
The Catalina Macaw is a hybrid that is produced by breeding a Scarlet Macaw and a
Blue & Gold Macaw. The offspring will usually inherit the physical build and
size of the male bird. Their coloring depends upon whether the male is a Scarlet or
a Blue & Gold. Our male birds are Scarlets and the females are Blue & Golds,
which gives their offspring a similar appearance to the Harlequin Macaw.
The personality of the Catalina is a combination of
both the Blue & Gold Macaw and the Scarlet Macaw. They tend to have the friendly
disposition of the Blue & Gold which softens the more high-strung tendencies of the
Scarlet Macaw. Catalinas are very intelligent, playful, eager to learn, and can
become good talkers.
As with other larger Macaws, the Catalinas need the largest
cage possible, which is why we recommend the Kings Model 506 Cage. This cage is
durable and has a bird-proof latch, which is very important when owning any Macaw.
As with any Macaw, it's important for Catalina owners
to set the proper limits and boundaries as early as possible. The way in which a
Catalina is handled as a baby plays an important role in the development of their social
skills and personality.
Greenwing Macaws
 While they are called Greenwing Macaws, their name is often
misleading because they are a beautiful blend of red with green and blue colors on their
wings.
Greenwing Macaws are sometimes confused with Scarlet
Macaws because they are both primarily red, but this is their only similarity. There
are many differences in the appearance and temperament of these two Macaws. The
Greenwing Macaw has a band of green feathers across the center of its wings, whereas the
Scarlet Macaw has a yellow band of feathers across the center of its wings. The
Greenwing has red feather lines on its face, whereas the Scarlet has a bare facial patch.
Given the appropriate nutritional requirements in a nurturing
environment, the Greenwing Macaw can have a lifespan of 60 to 80 years or more. Measuring
between 32 to 36 inches in length, the Greenwing Macaw requires the largest cage possible.
We recommend the Kings Model 506 Cage. Greenwings generally reach maturity
between 4 to 5 years of age.
While Greenwing Macaws are known to be "gentle giants," they
also have a mischievous nature, which frequently leads them into trouble. It is
important for your Greenwing to have large, tough toys to accommodate his chewing habits
and to prevent boredom.
With their large size beak, Greenwings are prone to
dominating any situation. Therefore, it is important for Greenwing owners to set the
proper limits and boundaries as early as possible.
They are highly intelligent birds, with an ability to
learn quickly. They are extremely socially interactive in a variety of settings and
are exceptionally interactive with people as well as other parrots. The Greenwing
Macaw makes an excellent lifetime companion.
Harlequin Macaws
The Harlequin Macaw is a hybrid that is produced by breeding a Greenwing Macaw and
a Blue & Gold Macaw. The offspring will usually inherit the physical build and
size of the male bird. Their coloring depends upon whether the male is a Greenwing
or a Blue & Gold. Our male birds are Greenwings and the females are Blue &
Golds, which gives their offspring a larger build and head like the Greenwing and a
red-orange chest.
Greenwings and Blue & Golds both possess good temperaments,
and the Harlequins inherit the best of both species. They have the laid back,
easy-going nature of the Greenwing combined with the playful, mischievous nature of the
Blue & Gold. As with most Macaws, the Harlequins are highly intelligent, very
affectionate, and eager to learn. Harlequins can also become good talkers.
As with other larger Macaws, the Harlequins need the largest
cage possible, which is why we recommend the Kings Model 506 Cage. This cage is
durable and has a bird-proof latch, which is very important when owning any Macaw.
Harlequins are not only big in size and beauty, but
they are also big in personality. They make excellent lifetime companions for
families of any size.
Hyacinth Macaws
The Hyacinth Macaw is the most sought-after parrot by bird
lovers and is the most majestic of all parrots. The Hyacinth can grow to a total
length of approximately 42 inches and has a beak strong enough to snap the welds on a
cage. Despite their tremendous strength and size, these magnificent birds are known
as "gentle giants." They are very affectionate and lovable towards their
family and are generally tolerant of strangers.
Hyacinth Macaws are prized not only for their personality, but
also for their remarkable beauty. They are a vibrant, iridescent violet-blue
color. Their long, tapered tails and wing undersides are a sleek black and their
eyes are brown with bright yellow rings. They also have a small patch of yellow next
to the lower beak and as a stripe on the tongue. Their skin carries a yellowish hue,
and their feet are grayish in color.
Hyacinth Macaws require more fat and carbs and less
protein in their diet than any other Macaw. The Hyacinth's natural food staple is
palm nuts, which are rich in oils and calories. However, palm nuts are not readily
available, but raw, shelled macadamia nuts are an ideal supplement for this important food
source. It's important for a Hyacinth to be fed a high quality seed and nut mix as
well as fresh fruits, vegetables, and a variety of people food. It is extremely
important that young Hyacinths are fed properly in order for them to develop and grow
normally, both nutritionally and psychologically. Hyacinths generally wean between
the ages of 8 months to 1 year.
 Hyacinths
are very playful and are avid chewers. They require toys that are larger and
stronger than average toys. Toys that contain wooden blocks should always be
provided to keep their beaks busy. Due to their inquisitive nature, Hyacinths should
never be unsupervised while out of their cage. They can be very
destructive and need close supervision.
Hyacinths are very active and should be provided the
largest cage possible. The Hyacinth absolutely requires a stainless steel cage.
We recommend the Kings Model 506 Cage in stainless steel. It is an extremely
durable cage and has a bird-proof latch. This is very important since some Hyacinths
have been known to be skilled at snapping welds on cages and opening cage latches.
Hyacinths command a high purchase price and require
significant upkeep. However, many of us bird lovers would agree that living with
such a beautiful and gentle creature is worth every penny.
Military Macaws
The Military Macaw is mostly green in color with the head being a slightly paler
shade. It bears a red frontal patch with a white bare facial area, which blushes
when the bird is excited. The naked facial skin is barred with small black feather
lines. The flight feathers are a beautiful shade of blue and the red tail is
bordered with blue. The large, strong beak is grey-black and the iris is yellow.
Even though the Military Macaw does not possess a brilliant mixture of colors as
found in many of the larger Macaws, the Military is a very impressive parrot. It is
very similar to the Buffons Macaw but is a bit smaller and a brighter shade of green.
Military Macaws are very social birds, who live in large flocks in the
wild. Their average lifespan is between 50 to 60 years. Military Macaws are
inquisitive and intelligent as are most Macaws. They are usually good talkers and
can also be taught various tricks.
The Military Macaw is a bit smaller than the larger
Macaws. Their length ranges anywhere between 25" to 28" from head to tail.
Because of their size and wing span, which is approximately 14", they command
a large cage. The rule of thumb for choosing a cage for any parrot is the larger,
the better. We recommend at least the Kings Model 306, but we prefer the Kings Model
406 so that there is adequate room to hang large toys for their strong beaks and still
have room to flap their wings.
Military Macaws are playful and love to chew. They should always
have wood toys that they can destroy as well as some non-destructible toys. Because
of their strong desire to chew, they should never be allowed unsupervised freedom in the
home, as they can get into trouble in a matter of seconds.
As with other Macaws, the Military requires a diet
that is high in fat. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, pellet, and trail
mix, they should also be fed a variety of nuts. Their beaks are large and strong
enough to open the largest of nuts.
Military Macaws that are socialized and trained
properly have the potential to be cuddly members of the flock. Overall, Military
Macaws make excellent lifetime companions for families of any size.
Red-Fronted Macaws
 Red-Fronted Macaws range from about 19 to 21 inches in length,
the perfect size Macaw for those who are intimidated by the larger Macaws and who want a
bigger bird than the mini Macaws.
The bottom picture is a young Red-Fronted Macaw.
Youngsters without their mature coloring are beautiful. However, as they
mature, their beauty is unbelievably stunning. The top 2 pictures are mature
Red-Fronted Macaws...absolutely striking! They have red crowns, red ear patches, red
shoulders and legs, and the underside of their wings is a vibrant orange. Their
primary wing feathers and the ends of the longest tail feathers are a beautiful shade of
blue.
One of the neatest things about Red-Fronted Macaws is they can
hover like hummingbirds! They can literally stop in mid-air and change direction at
the drop of a hat! It is simply amazing to watch a Red-Front in flight!
A Red-Fronted Macaw requires a large cage. The
rule of thumb with any parrot is: the bigger, the better. We recommend the
Kings Model 306 Cage at the very least in terms of size. It is a durable cage with a
bird-proof latch.
Red-Fronted Macaws are highly intelligent and many
learn to speak in context. They are mischievous, just like the larger Macaws, but in
a smaller package. They are not nearly as loud, but are just as sociable and sweet
as the larger Macaws. They make excellent pets for both small and large families.
Scarlet Macaws
Scarlet Macaws are stunningly beautiful with their bright yellow bands on each
wing, combined with the red coloring on their bodies and upper wings and the royal blue on
their lower wings, make a striking contrast.
Scarlet Macaws are sometimes confused with Greenwing Macaws
because they are both primarily red, but this is their only similarity. There are
many differences in the appearance and temperament of these two Macaws. The Scarlet
Macaw has a band of yellow feathers across the center of its wings, whereas the Greenwing
Macaw has a green band of feathers across the center of its wings. The Scarlet Macaw
has a bare facial patch and the Greenwing Macaw has red feather lines on its face.
The Scarlet Macaw is usually very different in temperament than
a Blue & Gold or Greenwing. The Scarlet has a reputation for being nippy and
tends to be more high-strung and sensitive to fast movements than the other large
Macaws. This doesn't necessarily lessen a Scarlet's qualifications as a pet.
However, it does suggest that a potential buyer should be experienced in parrot psychology
and handling in order to best manage a Scarlet. Even as a youngster, if a Scarlet
finds that he can control or scare you by nipping, this will very quickly turn into
biting. It is important to never react to a nip or pinch with aggression towards
the bird, as it will scare a young Scarlet and eventually lead to an aggressive bird.
Scarlet Macaws range from 32 to 36 inches in length and are not
as heavy bodied as Greenwing Macaws. Scarlets have beautiful long, slender
tails. As with other larger Macaws, the Scarlets need the largest cage
possible. We recommend the Kings Model 506 Cage.
Scarlets are highly intelligent and can be very
loving, as long as they are raised properly from day one. Improper handling will
cause a Scarlet to become aggressive and nippy toward their owners.
Yellow-Collared Macaws
Yellow-Collared Macaws, also known as Mini Macaws, are small in size but large in
personality. If you are looking for the personality of a large Macaw in a smaller
package, the Yellow-Collared Macaw just might be the right bird for you.
Yellow-Collared Macaws are native to central South America from
Brazil to Argentina. Their primary color is green. As they mature, they
develop a distinct yellow collar across the back of the neck. Their forehead, lower
cheeks, and crown are brown. The edge of the primary wing feathers is blue.
The tail is blue at the tip and becomes reddish brown towards the base. The
underside of the tail and flight feathers are yellow. They have a white bare facial
patch, and their beak is dark grey that turns lighter toward the tip. Their legs are
a light pinkish color, and their eyes are orange. Yellow-Collared Macaws range from
approximately 15 to 17 inches in length, of which almost half is tail feathers.
Yellow-Collared Macaws are extremely intelligent and love to
play, so lots of sturdy toys are an absolute must. They tend to be escape artists so
it's important to have a sturdy cage with a bird-proof latch.
If well socialized when young, Yellow-Collared Macaws
tend to welcome strangers. They also have the ability to learn a variety of words
and phrases.
While they are active birds, Yellow-Collared Macaws
are also very affectionate and enjoy being cuddled by their owners. Yellow-Collared
Macaws make delightful pets and are an excellent choice for anyone who likes Macaws but
does not have the room for a larger bird. |