Animal-World > Pet Birds > Macaw Types > Catalina Macaw

Catalina Macaw

Family: Psittacidae

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"Merlin" Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Cheryl Galloway

 

Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy William Morris

  The Catalina Macaw is a very colorful parrot. It is a cross between a Blue & Gold Macaw and a Scarlet Macaw.

Hybrid breeding combinations are given on the Hybrid Macaws page.

For information about the care of Macaws see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Macaw

Description:
   Catalina Macaws are among the most colorful of the Macaws. They are a full size Macaw and can learn to talk with a general vocabulary of about 15 or more words or expressions.

Care and feeding:
   A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.

Distribution:
   This is a hybrid not found in the wilds.

Size - Weight:
   A full sized macaw, they can get over 2 lbs. Lengths up to 86 cm (34 inches).

Social Behaviors:
   They are a typical macaw.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Because it is a hybrid it is generally not bred.

Sexual differences: No visible differences.

Potential Problems: Can be noisy (as can all macaws).

Availability: This bird is generally hard to find and is expensive. There are more and more breeders however and they are becoming more common.

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Latest Comments
Hi I have had my catalina macaw for about a month. He/she loves my hubby but when he is gone rocky clings to my 5 yr old daughter. We bought rocky from a lady who was his/her third home. I have definitely found a new love for the large birds, this will be his/her forever home. I am glad that we have Rocky. I plan on having her/him dna tested than microchipped. Being 6-7 yrs old, we will have a long life together.:) thanks for the info before my purchase. Sarah 2007-04-14
My Catalina Macaw Max is the light my moms and my life. He is very funny and loves to hang by his beak and squawk. He barks like a dog and will say hi if you are watching tv instead of paying attention to him. He took some time for me to get use to but we love him and Me and him are around the same age (17). Hes very loving, when he wants to be. We wouldn't sell him for the world. Donna and Megan 2007-02-22
i bought my catalina from a woman who couldn't keep him in a new apartment. Conan took a few months to get used to me and my 13 year old daughter, but now he's part of the family. he's VERY talkative, but he's MESSY! these macaws are SMART! he picks up phrases fast. i have 2 dogs and he's not afraid of them at all. all in all catalinas are great birds and definitely LOVE attention. Bruce 2007-01-25
I have a Catalina Macaw his name is Uno. He is my love. I take him everywhere. He loves to be held. He also loves to show off. He spreads his wings and yells look at me I am a pretty boy. If you do not say how pretty he is he will get louder and continue until you pay attention to him. Petting we are working on, he will growl when not in the mood. He just turned 3 years old. I only cage him when I am not home as all my loves. I also have a U2 and a LSC Too. He does prefer females but will go to anyone. The reactions I have from people are wonderful. They want to get all the information they can on theses amazing birds. Kim from OH Kim 2006-08-27
I had a Catalina Macaw for about 12 years. Me and him (or Her) were buds. We got along really great, we slept together (by my head), we played every single day. His/her name was Tailgate. I purchased him/her over in Hawaii for $1,800 and it was worth every cent. I got rid of his cage about 5 years ago and just put him/her on a perch. It worked out really well. (a couple of times he/she did get down) He/she did have his moments, but not really towards me. He/she adapted to two people in our house real well. Did not really like anyone else. I had to move and place him up in our cabin in the moutains for a couple of months with my former roomate. The day I was to go up and pick him up and take him to his new home, he died. No one knows what happen to him/her. It appeared as though he/her fell from the perch and broke his/her neck. A freak thing I guess. I was very upset. This bird meant everything to me. I cried for about 1 week. (this happen just about 2 weeks ago) I have been looking at replacing him/her with another or even a Hyacinth Macaw, but I lack money. Maybe some day I figure. I will be moving over to Hawaii in October and who knows. Chris Bono 2005-03-17
Some of the coolest comments:
I have had my Catalina Macaw for over 5 years now! Prior to, he was my brother-in-law's bird. He's in his "terrible teens", lol. He loves to go for car rides (van only...hates the mustang). There is about a 15 minute window before he begins regurgitating (he really loves me)! I've read and heard their vocubulary is approx. 15 to 25 words. Well...be informed, this is an extremely conservative estimate. My "Buddy" (Budweiser)has a vocabulary in excess of 50 words and min. 20 full phrases/sentences, that are most of the time-used in context with full appropriate expression. And that's only what I've heard! This is excluding his sound imitations, little dog & big dog barks, eeeew, kissing, coughing, sneezing, opera singing (I don't have the heart to tell him he's no "song bird"), whistling, laughing, humming, sighs, Uuuugh-I'm sick sounds, etc. He hasn't met a yellow nape or African Grey yet that he hasn't "put to shame" in a verbal war! He was raised with another Macaw and a Nape and I wonder how much influence that had on his verbal skills? To this day, I'm amazed at what comes out of his mouth. Since new things are always "popping" out of his mouth-that he didn't hear at home! For over a year, at approx. 8pm every night, He'd call out "Boo Bear". I had no idea why until my brother in law was at my house and heard him calling "BooBear". Boo Bear was a dog my brother in laws-father had when Buddy was a baby! His new phrase for this week, "That's enough-You better behave". He's in his rebellious/teenage years and reminds me of this daily with his "whatever, shut up and spoiled brat"! I recently began fostering a handicapped (one leg) female Green Wing, who supposedly only said "I love you" and "Hello"...whether her owner (tsfrd. overseas for military duty) didn't know, or Buddy has had an influence...within the short 3 weeks she's been with us, I have heard her say many of the same phrases and words as him. I'm worried about him being a bad influence on her and the four letter words will start coming out soon. lol My buddy is a spoiled, bratty, narcicist and I wouldn't trade him for the world! When both my cats (a year apart) were losing their battles with cancer, Buddy would go stand next to them and just gaze at them. It was as though he was trying to comfort them in some way. Prior to them getting sick, he never gave a care in the world about those cats. Didn't even acknowledge their existence. After they both passed to kitty heaven, he didn't speak for several days. I think he was grieving or allowing me to do so. I can't ever imagine beginning my day without hearing, "Goin to work-crappy work-hurry up"...and ending my day with kisses, "I love you-see you in the morning". Stacy 2007-12-01
Hi, We have just recently adopted a Catalina Macaw, Cleopatra....Cleo for short. And she is an absolute doll baby. So loveable and sooo smart. She talks very well...and in context. We just love her to pieces. Still trying to understand how anyone could give up such a wonderful,loveable bird. We are owned by 5 other birds so she fits in well. John & Marti Ohio Marti Anders 2003-12-06

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Author: Clarice Brough, CAS