Macaw Profiles Back to Home page

 
Blue and Gold Macaws
are by far the most widely kept species. I would attribute this to the good availability of babies since this species has been found to breed quite redily in captivity. They need to be hand fed for three months or more. The Blue and Gold is what I would term a cool colored (cool meaning color temp) bird that has a spectacular arrange of Blues, yellows, blacks, and greens. Coloring on this macaw is spectacular. I often take it for granted because there are so many around. In order for this macaw to be recognized internationally by the same name it has been given a scientific or "latin" name. Belonging to the genus ARA the Blue and Gold is refered to as Ara-arauna. You may notice in the pictures that baby Blue and Golds have dark almost black eyes and older adults eyes turn a silver pale yellow. For reasons not totally understood Blue and Golds have a greater tendency to pluck their feathers. Not all birds pluck and there certainly are ways to prevent plucking but this species is more susceptible.
 
    When birds were being imported there seemed to be about three different sizes... one was quite large, then a mid-sized, and even a smaller species that was described as being more yellow and less orange/yellow. Unfortunately I believe the 3 species have been intermixed so much that these different sizes are becoming much less distinguishable. The smaller yellower species was described by Joan Abramson (author of The Large Macaws) "as being more high-strung and louder." Might have been nice to exclude this species from being inter-mixed in what is now our (the U.S.) Blue and Gold blood line. These distinct sizes and color differences are not noted in any other books that I can find but have been confirmed by ornithologists and aviculturists that commonly inspected birds that had been gathered from certain areas to be imported out of the country. 



Blue and gold Macaws make wonderful pets if you are prepared to properly keep them. From the great number of birds being re-homed it is obvious that too many people don't plan ahead when obtaining this magnificent macaw. The blue and gold is a fabulous show-off and really loves to interact with people and new things. They need to be stimulated daily with things you can do with them and provide for them. Just like dogs, they like to go on walks, hikes, a day in the park, mabey even a ride on the handle bars of your bycicle. Be creative and on this site I'm going to try and provide owners with new ideas and things they can do to keep the excitement alive as a bird owner.      




When socialising this particular species strong efforts need to be made to keep this species tame and loving. Usually not because the Blue and gold is a harder macaw but Because nurseries can be overloaded with blue and golds.(they are prolific once a pair gets going) It takes a lot of work to keep all the babies interacting and playing with toys and people. Bird breeders either need to hire nursery handfeeders / handlers or wholesale the extra babies to bird stores or professional handlers. When making your purchase on a blue and gold be sure you discuss how well the bird has been socialised.
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   Greenwing Macaws (the proper name is Greenwinged macaw) are becoming more common now as people are breeding more of them and people keeping them are finding out about their very sweet gentle nature. The beak, which appears all white when they are babies, and a combination of white upper and black lower as adults, can be very intimidating.
 
Indeed the Greenwing Macaw has a very strong beak capable of opening the hardest nuts, even Macadamian nuts!

The name greenwing doesn't really fit this predominantly red macaw but that is what we're stuck with. The name comes from a large patch of green feathers on the middle of each wing.

The green on the wing and the red feather tracts on the face are what differentiate this macaw from the scarlet.
Of course there are many other differences for "macaw" people. Even with these noted markings I have seen published books with the Greenwing Macaw mis-represented as a Scarlet. This is probably due to the relatively new existence of the Greenwinged Macaw in the pet market. Scarlet Macaws have been in the pet trade and the public eye for much longer.

The red of the Greenwing is a crimson red, deep dark red that is absolutely beautiful as it encompasses the white face and white upper beak. The eyes like other macaws are dark when they're babies and pale silver/yellow as adults. The Greenwinged Macaw also came into the U.S. in different sizes. Most breeders refer to the largest ones as jumbo or giant greenwings. This is a large bird and requires a large living space. As with most macaws, simply putting them in an Iron rod cage, with some toys, just doesn't cut the mustard with these animals. Be creative! Mabey before you buy, planning an outside habitat would be nice, as well as inside cage, and play area. Greenwing Macaws are big, gentle, and very steady when handled properly. The scientific name for these big guys is Ara-chloropterus. The babies are big and eat a ton. The weaning time for a Greenwing Macaw can be 4 to 6 months. They are more than worth the extra money they cost.    

The Scarlet Macaw
is in many ways just like the rest of the large macaws, a big beak, fabulous colors, loves attention, and learns to talk. The Scarlet macaw is often refered to as "nippy", more agressive, and head strong. I am here to tell you that they are just as wonderful as any of the other macaws only a little more sensative to abuse and neglect. Im I saying that it's peoples fault they have this reputation? Damn straight. 
    Let me explain abuse and neglect and how it may affect your macaw. Too many people think that a parrot and a black square cage go together like a fish in a bowl. Listen carefully when I say that leaving your parrot in a steel cage most of the day is abussive. Think outside "the box" when preparing your macaws environment. Many people have converted extra rooms into small jungles full of branches, ropes, play stands, ect... Even if your limited on space your Scarlets sleeping space "the cage" can be converted into the launching pad for branches, ropes, and your imagination to invite your macaw to explore, swing, hang upside down, you know...be freeeeee! Neglect is building this wonderful environment, or not, and forgetting your bird is there at all untill he starts screaming, literally, for attention. 
    Let's talk a bit about the Scarlet macaws personality. Scarlets are sensative to neglect, mistreatment, or abuse. More sensative than other species of macaws. They are also very intellegent and loving when treated properly. Scarlets like to cuddle, they like to play, and they like to be with YOU. Yes they talk and have been said to be very good talkers when you spend the time to teach them. All macaws bite, yep they bite, so if this scares you then a macaw may not be the right bird. The good thing is that you can train them that bitting hurts and is not acceptable. Nevertheless, it is not realistic to think you should never get bit. Macaws use their beaks to feel their way around and part of that feeling around is applying pressure to different objects they encounter. Yep, your fingers and skin will be explored, but it doesn't mean you let them have their way with you. A simple "NO" usually works fine followed by diverting their attention to a toy or other object. Flicking their beak, dropping them, or just blatantly hitting them will turn a Scarlet into a ferocious beast. O yeah and one little trick that Scarlets are famous for is the pinch and twist, oh yeah, they love to do that if you let them. Remember, easy does it with reprimands but be consistent. No, they wont bite your finger off (or a small childs arm as I once read in a macaw forum) but I wouldn't let any macaw sit on my shoulder close to my face. They are exotic, a step from the wild, animals.
    The Scarlet macaw is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. They make great pets for the right people. If your one of those people, or want to become one of those people, then this is a great bird to own. I have a wonderful Scarlet Macaw and she is no more nippy, or unpredictable than any of my other 7 macaw pets. She is in fact one of  my most trusted birds with "strangers." If you would like one of these California raised beauties, please apply by sending me an e-mail and we'll talk. ara.amor@verizon.net  Bill S.