Macaw Facts

One of the Macaw facts states that these majestic birds live up to 50 years and have one of the longest life span among birds. Macaws are the most colorful birds dotting the rain forest skyline and probably the most noisiest birds in the rain forests. They are natives to the rain forests of Central and South America and feature in most TV documentaries showcasing the wildlife in the rain forests.

The Macaws belong to the parrot family and are one of the most intelligent birds. They are popular as pets and can be found in many American homes, they are especially popular with kids. Heavy deforestation and poaching has led this species to the verge of extinction and many species like the hyacinth and blue throated macaws are facing extinction. Some species of the macaw like the Spix's and the Glaucus macaw are already believed to be extinct. Scarlet macaw although not endangered is a vulnerable macaw species for the pet trade.

Some interesting facts state that the hyacinth macaw has a wingspan that reaches more than 4 feet that is 127 centimeters. On an average the macaw size can vary from 30 cm to 85 cm, so if you are thinking of keeping them as pets better buy big macaw cages.

They have one of the strongest beaks and can easily break nuts and seeds, it is said that a macaw beak is so strong it can break a whole Brazil nut. Their diet consists of nuts, flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, small insects, etc. some of their bizarre eating habits include foraging areas where cattle roam and eat nuts that pass through the cattle's digestive system. They are also known to eat clay soil found on the banks of the river.

Macaws are known to make unique loud noises to communicate with each other and identify themselves. This is important as they live in flocks consisting of 15 - 30 birds. They also use loud squawking noises to mark their territory. One of the reasons for their popularity as pets is that some macaw species can imitate human speech.

They are the quintessential family bird species, macaw mate for life and they raise families together. The male will fly large distances in the rainforests to gather food for the family while the female will stay back and care for the eggs or the young ones.

Here is a list of names of the different macaw species:

• Blue and Gold (Ara ararauna)
• Blue Throated (Ara glaucogularis)
• Red Fronted (Ara rubrogenys)
• Red Bellied (Ara manilata)
• Green Winged (Ara Chloroptera)
• Yellow Collar (Ara auricollis)
• Scarlet (Ara macao)
• Cuban (Ara tricolor)
• Coulon's (Ara couloni)
• Glaucous (Anodorhynchus glaucus)
• Hahn's (Diopsittaca nobilis)
• Hyacinth (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
• Lear's (Anodorhynchus leari)
• Military (Ara militaris)
• Spix (Cyanopsitta)
• Illiger (Ara maracana)
• Severe (Ara severa)

Macaws as Pets

The blue and gold macaw is one of the most adored and most popular pet birds across the American continent. It is a fairly large bird and measures approximately 33 inches from head to tail. The wings and the head are coated in blue and green color and the front plumage of this bird is yellow.

They are very noisy birds and aren't good pets if you live in an apartment building, you will have your neighbors dialing 911 all the time. In an urban setting their shrieks can be mistaken for human distress sounds. Many species of the macaw are on the endangered birds list so be careful when you visit an exotic bird pet shop.

Macaws are naturally inclined to pluck and they can inflict nasty wounds if not handled correctly. They have strong beaks and can easily break off your fingers.

They can be easily trained to mimic human sounds and are a great joy to have around the house. They are very intelligent and energetic birds and hence can be taught tricks quite easily. These birds need constant stimulation so if you want to keep them as pets better get them some toys they can play with.

One of the most interesting facts is that they bond very strongly with their owners as they bond with their mates in the wild. So you better be willing to reciprocate with lots of care and attention if you planning to keep a macaw as pet.