Macaw Parrot: Bird Species Profile

Macaws are not a single species; instead, they are a group of 17 species within the true parrot Psittacidae family. Macaws are beautiful, exotic-looking birds with large beaks, bright feathers, long tails, and light or white facial patches. Most of these species are big, friendly, and extraordinarily noisy, although there are a handful of miniature species. They require a lot of space to live healthy, active lives. It is common to deed pet macaws in wills and end of life plans as these birds may outlive their owners, though disease and poor nutrition can shorten their lifespan.

Origin and History

Macaws are large, colorful South American parrots. Europeans learned about these "New World" parrots from Christopher Columbus' journey logs in the 15th century.

Most species of macaws are endangered (hyacinth, red-fronted and blue-throated), and a few (the Spix's macaw and glaucous macaw) are almost certainly extinct. Their dwindling numbers are a result of the loss of their habitat through deforestation and illegal trapping for the pet trade.

Temperament

Macaws are playful and active, and they have exuberant personalities that match their size. A well-cared-for macaw that receives appropriate nutrition, mental stimulation, enrichment, attention, and plenty of space for exercise makes a unique, long-lived companion that is affectionate and loyal.

However, their size and personalities can also make them challenging pets. Macaws that are not regularly handled or have hormonal imbalances, drastic environmental changes, or lack of mental stimulation can become aggressive, territorial, destructive, and problematic.

It is best to start training these intelligent birds from birth. Early training should focus on hand-feeding, not nipping or biting, no screaming, and eventually, teaching your bird to talk or sing. As you develop a rapport with your bird, you may even share jokes and enjoy various types of interactive play.

Speech and Vocalizations

Macaws are loud and noisy. Their vocalizations can be more than some people can tolerate, and they can scream when they want to. If you can't deal with noise or if you have nearby neighbors, then a macaw is not your ideal pet.

They can learn to say words and mimic your speech, but they do not speak as clearly as some other pet bird species. However, with consistent training, the blue-and-gold is the best talking large macaw. The Hahn's macaw is best talking mini macaw.

Macaw Colors and Markings

There are several species of macaws in the wild, but the ones most commonly in the pet trade are large, colorful macaws. Scarlet, military, blue and gold, and hyacinth macaws are the common pet macaw species. Mini macaws are harder to find but include species such as Hahn's, Illiger's, and yellow-collared macaws.

There are so many color variations; macaw plumage seems to include every color of the rainbow. In addition to the 17 species, there are numerous colorful hybrids, including the rainbow macaw, more commonly known as the Catalina.

Macaws are dimorphic, meaning you cannot tell the sexes apart by looking at them. To figure this out, the bird needs genetic testing or a surgical sexing procedure.

Caring for a Macaw

Macaws need a large and durable cage, so be prepared to make a significant investment. Mini macaws can live in a cage sized for Amazon parrots (2 feet by 3 feet and 4 feet tall). Larger macaws will need a cage that is at least 3 feet by 4 feet and 5 feet tall. The cage must be strong enough to withstand the significant beak strength of macaws—a stainless steel or wrought iron cage is a good investment. You will also need to offer your bird a play gym or out-of-cage perch or play stand.

Provide a wide variety of wooden toys or plain, untreated chunks of wood for the bird to chew on a rotational basis. Toys meant to be taken apart to get at a treat are also a good choice, as are hanging toys and toys to climb on.

Macaws can be messy and destructive, so provide heavy-duty toys to divert your bird away from your wooden furniture or other enticements around the house. You can even make your own macaw toys and utilize recyclable, yet safe, materials such as phone books and tissue boxes.

Common Health Problems

Macaws are usually hardy, long-lived birds. Their most significant health issue is not physical but emotional. As intelligent, social beings, macaws are prone to boredom and loneliness. A depressed macaw will self-injure by pulling out its feathers. There are two simple solutions to this problem: Either get more than one macaw or spend a great deal of time interacting with your pet. Either way, you will have a loud, highly interactive home life.

Macaws are also susceptible to certain avian diseases:

• Proventricular dilatation disease: An incurable viral disease
• Psittacine beak and feather disease: A contagious and fatal viral disease
• Psittacosis (parrot fever): A disease caused by chlamydia bacteria that can be transmitted to humans
• Beak malocclusion: A beak alignment disorder
• Aspergillosis: A fungal infection

To ensure your pet's health, find a local avian vet where you can build an ongoing relationship. Your pet should visit the vet regularly to check for any signs of disease or depression.

Diet and Nutrition

In the wild, macaws eat a variety of seeds, plants, fruits, and nuts. As pets, a formulated pelleted food should be the basis for your macaw's diet supplemented with a wide range of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables.

Pellets should comprise 50 percent of their food. Seeds and nuts should be no more than 10 percent of their diet (as they are too high in fat). The rest of the menu should consist of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The average healthy macaw will consume approximately 10 to 15 percent of its body weight daily. For reference, the larger scarlet macaw weighs about 2 pounds. These proportions translate to mean that the bird will eat about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of parrot mix and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of fruit and vegetables every day. You can feed it once in the morning upon waking and at dusk before it goes to sleep.

You can offer your macaws a small portion of whatever you are eating, as long as it does not include any chocolate, avocado, caffeine, salt, or sugar. These birds tend to like cooked pasta, applesauce, and cereal as treats.

Exercise

Macaws need much more room than a cage will provide to explore, spread their wings, and be mentally and physically healthy. Unless you have a free-flight aviary as its enclosure, plan on your macaw spending more time outside of its cage than in it. Birds are flock species and are also very affectionate, so they require at least 2 to 4 hours of attention from their owners or another bird to be happy.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Macaw

Before you get a macaw, consider your space and time commitment. Frankly, if you don't have space for a large bird, don't get one.

Macaws are often available in pet stores, and older birds are usually available for adoption. You can also purchase a macaw from an avian breeder. Some online sources you can try include:

• Beauty of Birds List of Breeders
• Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary
• Petfinder

Smaller macaws can cost about $1,000 while larger macaws can run about $2,000. Hybrids may cost up to $5,000 or more. Before you buy, meet your prospective pet. The bird you choose should be bright-eyed and healthy with full plumage. Spend some time together to be sure you are a good match. Remember that a macaw can be a pet for a lifetime, so make a fully informed choice.

More Pet Bird Species and Further Research

If you are interested in macaws, check out:

• Catalina Macaw Species Profile
• Green Wing Macaw Species Profile
• Scarlet Macaw Species Profile

Otherwise, check out all other large bird species profiles.