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Harligold Macaw

Picture of a Harligold Macaw, Second Generation Hybrid MacawHarligold MacawHarligold MacawPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Diana
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I absolutely adore my Harligold 'Kokomo'! We hand .raised him from the day he hatched. (I owned his parents) He is 7 mos. Old now and so beautiful, lovable &... (more)  Melodee Essex

   The Harligold Macaw is a very pretty bird with a double dose of the intelligent, gentle natured Blue and Gold Macaw!

   Hybrid macaws are bred for color, and the Harligold Macaw is a real beauty. This macaw is a second generation hybrid macaw. One of its parents, the Blue and Gold Macaw, is a species of naturally occurring macaws while the other, the Harlequin Macaw, is also a hybrid macaw. With the Harlequin Macaw (having a Blue and Gold Macaw and a Green-winged Macaw for parents) you have a macaw that is a real beauty and good natured. The Blue and Gold macaw is renowned not only for its beauty and sweet nature, but also its speaking ability. While the other parent, the strikingly handsome 'gentle giant' Green-winged Macaw, lends its beauty and a very gentle, amiable nature. This second generation hybrid macaw was developed from these crossings:

   Because hybrid macaws are a mixture of more than one type of macaw, the offspring are influenced by the traits and characteristics of both of its parents. Father's have the dominant gene, so this will generally influence the offspring's coloration and overall appearance. Crossing the Harlequin Macaw with the Blue and Gold Macaw can make for a 'double dose' of the Blue and Gold's wonderful qualities. The Harligold Macaw inherits its gorgeous coloring from these two striking parents and is strongly influenced by the Blue and Gold.

   The behavior and temperament of hybrid macaws are more unpredictable and uncertain than the coloration.  Harligold Macaws are a hybrid parrot that are very attractive with the intelligence and temperament of its parents. The pet Harligold should be quite trainable, learn to talk and do tricks, and have an amiable nature. These beauties can be a very affectionate, inquisitive, and fun companions. As with all macaws, they will require good socialization and consistent training to make good pets.

   See hybrid information, breeding combinations, and photos of hybrid macaws on the Hybrid Macaws page.

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


Scientific name:

   The Harligold Macaw is a second generation hybrid macaw. It is a cross between a Harlequin Macaw hybrid and a Blue and Gold Macaw Ara chloroptera.

Distribution:

   ThIs is a captive bred hybrid macaw. Hybrid macaws are rarely found in the wild.

Picture of a Harligold Macaw
Harligold Macaw

Description:

   Harligold Macaws are a very attractively colored macaw hybrid.  Both parents of the Harligold Macaw contribute to the colors of their offspring, though the father's have the dominant gene and this will influence their final appearance.
   One of the Harligold parents, the Harlequin Macaw, may bring a strong Green-winged Macaw influence into the mix. This is because the father of a Harlequin Macaw is most often a Green-winged Macaw (male Green wings are more common than females). Some of the characteristics when sired by a Green-winged macaw will be a large bird, brightly colored, with the head and beak shape more typical of the Greenwing.
   With its other parent being a Blue and Gold Macaw, it gets a double dose of the softer blue and gold coloring. The mixture in this bird makes for beautiful pastel blue-green colorings on its upper parts, contrasted with vivid orangish reds on its under parts.
   Harligold's are a full size Macaw and can learn to talk with a general vocabulary of about 15 or more words and expressions.

Size - Weight:

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

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. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat. See About Macaws: Housing and About Macaws: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:

   The Harigold Macaw typically takes on the sweet friendly side of the Blue and Gold with some of the natural clownish personality of the Harlequin Macaw (the word harlequin is defined as 'clown'). The result can be a very good natured and intelligent pet bird. They are a typical macaw. Can be cranky at times and may even be a one person bird or only like men or women unless well socialized. To have a well rounded bird that enjoys more that one person, make sure it is well socialized with lots of folks.

   See About Macaws: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded friendly macaw. (Also information on handling and activities)

Breeding/Reproduction:

   This is a hybrid and it use to be that they were generally not bred, however the breeding of hybrids is becoming more common. See About Macaws: Macaw Breeding, Bird Reproduction - Baby Macaws for information on breeding macaws.

Sexual differences:


   No visible differences in the sexes.

Potential Problems:

   Can be noisy (as can all macaws). See About Macaws: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:

   These birds are occasionally available and are expensive. There are more and more macaw breeders however, so finding these macaws for sale becomes easier as they become more common.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS
Lastest Animal Stories on Harligold Macaw


Melodee Essex - 2012-11-13
I absolutely adore my Harligold 'Kokomo'! We hand .raised him from the day he hatched. (I owned his parents) He is 7 mos. Old now and so beautiful, lovable & fun! This bird has personality plus and then some... Loves to cuddle and play, but definitely not afraid to let you know when he isn't pleased... Lol. He is a wonderful addition to our family!

  • Rob Tome - 2013-04-12
    I am about to adopt my first baby Harligold Macaw. The father is a Harlequin and the Mother is a Blue and Gold. I am so excited!
  • sherif - 2018-05-26
    wow.. nice to here that you own the parents .. " so do i " :
    can you send me your contact so we can share the knowledge for such pairs... thx sheirf
  • Michelle - 2018-08-18
    I have been hand raising macaws for many years. My favorites are the Harligolds. They are so playful and lovey dovey. Very talkative, they learn fast. They like to cuddle and give kisses. Their feather colors are different In each of them-truly beautiful! They will walk from their cages to the bedroom and climb into bed and lay on their backs cuddled up with me watching TV. I have several other varieties of macaws, too.
  • Randi - 2020-09-20
    we are looking to purchase a baby harligold if anyone knows where we can find one. Randi
  • Michelle Milden - 2021-04-11
    We raise Harligolds. I have hand feed them all. They are so playful and have so much character. They talk and dance and like to lay back and watch TV with me and when they hear something funny on TV they laugh! Raise them in Northern New York.
Reply
GARY HUSTON - 2010-11-11
There is less macaws that aren't brother, sister or aunt , uncle in breeding these wonderful birds. So we will have some kind of macaw in the usa for pets. I would rather breed pure breed. Look at the green wing about gone.
Because breeders are unable to get non related birds. Related birds give us sick and insane birds. Would you rather have zero birds it's close if we don't breed hybrids.

Reply
JP - 2010-08-03
You say they are bred for color? They are bred strictly for the money. These hybrids should not be happening and only disreputable breeders are doing it. My opinion.

Reply