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Severe Macaw

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Severe Macaw

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Family: Psittacidae

Severe Macaw or Chestnut-fronted Macaw baby

Severe Macaw - "Fuzz Button"Ara severaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

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My mom was planning on getting me a Severe for good grades in school, and I've always wanted a Macaw. The only problem is we don't know how loud they are, and we... (more) Ava.

The Severe macaw is one of the "mini" macaws. The baby Severe Macaw pictured above, "Fuzz Button" is one of two very sweet, friendly baby birds!

Contents

Scientific name:
Distribution:
Description:
Size - Weight:
Care and feeding:
Social Behaviors:
Breeding/Reproduction:
Sexual differences:
Potential Problems:
Availability:

The Severe Macaw makes a wonderful pet for if you want the macaw personality, but in a smaller size. The Severe Macaw is a very clownish and lively little mini macaw. They are small and easy to handle, and a hand raised Severe Macaw is very social and affectionate. Though there aren't as many of these birds as some of the other macaws, they are ready breeders and are becoming a bit more available.

Severe Macaws are eager to play and enjoy interacting with their keepers. Adept at learning some tricks, they can also be pretty fair talkers. These mini macaws are very loyal, and do tend to become a one person bird unless well socialized as babies with continued handling on a daily basis.

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

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Ara
Species: severa

Scientific name: Severe Macaw, also known as Chestnut-fronted Macaw - Ara severa

Distribution: The Severe's natural habitat runs from eastern Panama in Central America south as far as Bolivia and Brazil. This is a wide range, and they have not been impacted by collection like other types of macaws. A number of these macaws were brought into the in the 1980's, but with little adverse affect on their populations. It is the deforestation of their natural habitat that poses the most serious threat to these mini macaws.

Description: Severe Macaws are a mini macaw, like the Hahn's Macaw or the Yellow-collared Macaw. They are predominantly green with patches of red and blue on the underside of the wings. Their chest feathers are tipped with a bit of chestnut brown, which is where their alternate common name is derived from.
They have bare facial patches with fine black lines running across it. There is also a bit of brown down the sides of their cheeks and under the chin. A band of brown also goes across their forehead.

Severe Macaw or Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Father

Severe Macaw - "Phillip"
Adult Male Breeder

Size - Weight: Severe's can grow to lengths of 40 cm (16 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, and 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 Severe Macaw is a social and friendly mini macaw, and a great choice if you want a smaller macaw.. These mini macaws are intelligent and eager for attention and play. They have a good disposition and respond well to handling and training. But they are a typical macaw and can be cranky at times and may prefer only one person or only one gender.

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

Severe Macaw - juvenile

Breeding/Reproduction: The usual clutch consists of two or three eggs which incubate for about 26 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. Feed the parents plenty of greenstuffs, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, and fruit laced with food supplement while they are rearing the youngsters.

The juvenile Severe Macaw seen here is one of two very sweet hand fed babies. The father (Phillip seen in the picture above) and mother are about 14 years old. They had three eggs, two of which hatched. The third egg was cracked and never hatched. We pulled the babies from the nest when they were four weeks old, and hand fed them from there.

The babies are about 12 weeks old and are still taking one feeding per day. They both are very affectionate and love to cuddle into your lap or chest wherever you hold them. They can be noisy but with a little attention they will calm down and be very good companions. Usually they make noise in the morning because they are so excited to have the cover removed from their cage, and they like to be fed.

See About Macaws: Breeding/Reproduction for information on breeding.

Sexual differences: No visible differences.

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

Availability: There are not as many Severe Macaws in captivity as there are other types of mini macaws. But they are a delight to own, and have proven to be ready breeders. More are being bred today, and occasionally you can find these macaws for sale.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

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Ava. - 2016-04-28
My mom was planning on getting me a Severe for good grades in school, and I've always wanted a Macaw. The only problem is we don't know how loud they are, and we already have two amazons. Is anyone able to compare the noise level between a Severe Macaw and a Mexican Red headed Amazon?

Clara - 2017-12-13
Our severe macaw, a 15 year old rescue is adorable, but so loud that our neighbors across the street can hear him even when our windows are closed. They yell mainly in the morning and in the evening, at sunset. It is sometimes overwhelming to put up with his yelling.
Nancy - 2017-12-26
hi i also have a Severe , they are very loud . And they want alot of attention. And they are one person bird. My advice to you is to get a quaker parot . Even tho its smaller the best talker of them and the cheapest. I also have a hanns mcaw . Go with the quaker best for interaction.

Issa Abuzer - 2017-06-01
Hey, I had dealt with African gray parrot it was boring for me it just repeating words, and yesterday I had my first Severe Macaw; he is name is Jacko,very nice and smart, he is well trained,eating from my hand and stand on my shoulder and I can touch his head, however Sometimes he accepted me to touch his head and sometimes tried to bite me,,I don't know why, and this is my problem with him in the time being... anyone can advise me what to do in order to prevent him from such behavior, thanks all in advance

John E - 2017-04-20
I have a severe macaw.hit his bexk in the floor to hard but think his bexk is splintering Not sure if he

Bird McIver - 2015-08-19
Severes are not for everyboduy- it took me four days with gloves on to even get mine to tolerate me! he was given to me, she is an older bird, and it is amazing, the words she knows, and the fact that we can converse. They really do know what they are saying... Now we are besties, and I would really like to find a friend for her.

susan - 2015-09-19
Hello.I have a severe macaw named Dillinger that i have had for 23 years since he was a baby.I say he because i am not sure if it is a boy or girl.Dillinger is super smart and has a pretty extensive vocabulary.Dillinger loves all different types of foods and i only feed him what is nutritional.I have been thinking about selling Dillinger as i do not have that much time to spend with him as i would like to and i know he gets bored and lonely at times.I am not sure if he would enjoy another birds company but he might be very happy with company of another bird.I would like 3000.00 cash for him if i was to part with him.I also would like to be able to check in on him to say hello sometimes if that would be acceptable. If you are interested locate me at animalsrule1960@gmail.com
diane - 2017-01-26
Not a good idea to get your bird a friend, because she could bond with the other bird and not want much to do with you.

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susan - 2015-09-19
Hello.I have a severe macaw named Dillinger that i have had for 23 years since he was a baby.I say he because i am not sure if it is a boy or girl.Dillinger is super smart and has a pretty extensive vocabulary.Dillinger loves all different types of foods and i only feed him what is nutritional.I have been thinking about selling Dillinger as i do not have that much time to spend with him as i would like to and i know he gets bored and lonely at times.I am not sure if he would enjoy another birds company but he might be very happy with company of another bird.I would like 3000.00 cash for him if i was to part with him.I also would like to be able to check in on him to say hello sometimes if that would be acceptable. If you are interested locate me at animalsrule1960@gmail.com
diane - 2017-01-26
Not a good idea to get your bird a friend, because she could bond with the other bird and not want much to do with you.

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Severe Macaw

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

The Severe macaw is one of the "mini" macaws. The baby Severe Macaw pictured above, "Fuzz Button" is one of two very sweet, friendly baby birds!

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

Severe Macaw

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

The Severe macaw is one of the "mini" macaws. The baby Severe Macaw pictured above, "Fuzz Button" is one of two very sweet, friendly baby birds!

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

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