|
|
Animal-World
Information
|
|
|
|
Special Features
|
|
Exotic Pet
Bird Libraries
|
Pet Bird
Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
Pet Care Information - Macaw Types |
|
|
A favorite for trick training, Macaws are used in shows throughout the world!
Bird Information on Macaw Parrots:
The activities of pet macaws are very animated and comical. Being very
intelligent and inquisitive makes macaws relatively easy to train. Combine
these two wonderful traits and you have a great show bird!
Dr. Jungle says..."Macaws are definitely among the most colorful
and strikingly beautiful birds of the parrot family!"
Macaws definitely are among the most colorful and strikingly
beautiful birds of the parrot family. Because of their great beauty and
engaging personalities, they are a favorite pet among bird lovers. They
have been kept as pet birds for centuries.
Don't see your favorite Macaw Parrot here?
Send us a a picture and/or description and we'll try to include it!
~ Submit it Here ~
Pet Birds: Macaws can make excellent pets. They have great appeal not only for their striking appearance but because they are playful and loving. They also have a long life span and are very hardy. The macaw calls can be quite loud however, and they do love to chew anything they can get a hold of. All macaws require good socialization and consistent training on an ongoing basis to make good pets.
When choosing a pet bird, the first thing to think about are the types of macaws and determine which ones are suitable to your lifestyle. The size of the macaw and the facility it will require, the cost of obtaining it, and the costs of keeping it are important considerations. Smaller mini macaws, though not quite as vividly colored, take somewhat less space and their associated costs may also be less than for large macaws or hybrid macaws. Another very important consideration is their conservation status. The number of macaws is increasing due to aviculture, however all species of macaws in the wild are of concern and most are endangered birds. Macaws that are highly endangered birds and not firmly established in captivity, should not be kept individually as pets. Rather these macaws should be paired up for breeding to help ensure the sustainability of these birds into the future. Macaws that are highly endangered are generally quite rare and usually very expensive, and some are simply not available.
Facts About Macaws:
Today there are 17 living species
of macaws. For a number of years they were placed in just four genera, but scientists have been (and still are) adjusting this. More recently they have been described in 6 genera, but even that is still somewhat confused and may be changed. Most of the pet macaws come from the Ara group, the Diopsittaca group, and the Primolius group.
- Genus Ara
This genus contains 8 of the 17 species. The most easily
recognizable are the large macaws because of their large
size and vivid coloration. The best known are the Blue
and Gold Macaw Ara ararauna, the Green-winged Macaw Ara chloropterus, and the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao.
Other large macaw species in this group also make great pets and show birds, but are less vivid in their coloration. These are the Military Macaw Ara militaris and the Buffon's Macaw Ara ambiguus.
Two very pretty large macaws, but also highly endangered birds and less available, are the Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys and the Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis.
Finally there is a smaller bird in this group. It is usually considered a mini macaw. This is the Severe Macaw or Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara severus.
- Genus Primolius
The macaws in this group are three of the smaller mini macaws. They are the Yellow-collared Macaw Primolius auricollis, Illiger's Macaw or Blue-winged Macaw Primolius maracana, and Blue-headed Macaw Primolius couloni.
In the past they have been ncluded in the Ara group, and then included in the Propyrrhura group. More recently they have been placed in this group, though it is subject to debate. Due to the naming rules there may be precedence given to the Propyrrhura group, ao we may yet see another name change.
- Genus Diopsittaca
These are three of the smaller or mini macaws. These
birds are often listed under the genus Ara as well.
This
group contains the Red-shouldered Macaw species (nobilis)
which includes the subspecies of the Hahn's Macaw Diopsittaca
n. nobilis, the Noble Macaw Diopsittaca n. cumanensis which is the smallest macaw species,
and the Long-winged Macaw D. n. longipennis.
- Genus Anodorhynchus
The macaws in this
group are either highly endangered or critically endangered birds. This group includes the Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Glaucous Macaw Anodorhynchus glaucus,
and the Lear's Macaw Anodorhynchus leari, also known as the Blue Macaw or Indigo Macaw.
- Genus Orthopsittaca
There is only one mini macaw in this genus, the Red-bellied Macaw Orthopsittaca manilata. The Red-bellied Macaw also use to be in the Ara genus. Most authorities now place it in the genus Orthopsittaca however.
Although easy to catch, this bird is very difficult to keep in captivity due to a highly specialized diet and it is very difficult to breed. It was listed as Endangered in 2007 - IUCN, but as of 2009 it been downlisted to the status of Least Concern. These macaws in the wild, appear to be more abundant than previously thought, though their habitat is still at risk.
- Genus Cyanopsitta
This genus contains only one species, the very rare and critically endangered Spix's Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii, also known as the Little Blue Macaw.
Types of Birds:
All macaws share the same
physical characteristics. They all have long tails, slim bodies,
and broad heads. Where they differ is in size and the spectacular coloration of their plumage. The naturally occuring macaws consist of the large macaws and the mini macaws. All of these macaws in the wild are endangered birds. There are also hybrid macaws produced in captivity. Hybrid macaws are not endangered birds.Macaws are commonly referred to as a large macaw, mini macaws, or hybrid macaws.
- Large Macaws - There
are 11 living species in what are considered the Large Macaw. The Cuban Macaw Ara tricolor, also known as the Hispaniolan Macaw, is not included here as it is considered to now be extinct.
- Blue and Gold Macaw
- Blue-throated Macaw
- Buffon's Macaw
- Glaucous Macaw
- Green-winged Macaw
- Hyacinth Macaw
- Lear's Macaw or Blue Macaw
- Military Macaw
- Red-fronted Macaw
- Scarlet Macaw
- Spix's Macaw
- Mini-Macaws - There are six smaller macaw species in what is considered the Mini-Macaws group, These are generally macaws who's totally length does not exceed 20" (50 cm).
- Blue-headed Macaw
- Illiger's Macaw
- Severe Macaw
- Red-bellied Macaw
- Red-shouldered Macaw (Includes: Hahn's, Noble, Long-winged)
- Yellow-collared Macaw
- Hybrid Macaws - Macaw hybrids, crosses of different macaws, are produce for their amazing coloring. There are currently 30+ different types of hybrid macaws. Following is the number of hybrids we are aware of in each generation of crosses:
- First generation hybrid macaws: 15
- Second generation hybrid macaws: 10
- Third generation (or more) hybrid macaws: 5
See Hybrid Macaw Parrots for more information about these birds. See pictures of different types of hybrids
and to learn which breeding
combination makes up each of these
Back to Birds
|
 |
|
Pet Comparison Shopping!
