Macaw

There are approximately 17 unique species of Macaw birds in the wild and in captivity today. All these birds are part of the Psittacidae family, which translates to “true parrots.” This parrot family further splits into two subfamilies: the Psittacinae and the Arinae, or Old World and New World parrots, respectively.

Old World parrots include the Grey Parrot, the Cape Parrot, and the Senegal Parrot, which are found primarily in Africa. In contrast, New World Parrots include six genera of Macaw birds that live and roam in Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, and other nations in Central America and South America. These birds include the scarlet Macaw, the blue and gold Macaw, the green-winged Macaw, the red-shouldered, or Hahn’s, Macaw, and the harlequin Macaw.

Unlike their Old-World cousins, these all have bright feathers in varying shades of green, blue, yellow, gold, and red. While these colors are very vibrant and attractive to humans, these colors allow Macaw birds to camouflage themselves in the green leaves of the Amazon rainforest and other forests that they call home.

An Amazing Bird: 4 Macaw Facts

• These birds are long-lived; their lifespan can reach up to 60 years or more, even in the wild.
• They are playful birds and will use their feet, beaks, and tongues to explore new objects.
• The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest of all flying parrot species. It can reach up to three feet long and weigh up to four pounds.
• There are over 17 different species of this bird, many of which are at risk for extinction.

Where to Find Them

The blue and gold and hyacinth species of these birds are native to Central America and South America. They can be seen in the wild in such countries as Mexico, Honduras, and Brazil. Their unique feathers and bright coloring help them blend into the Amazon rainforest and their other natural habitats.

These birds generally live in monogamous pairs but also form families of up to 30 in one flock. They generally settle into the crevices within tall trees or live on cliffsides for protection. They have also been known to dig out depressions in riverbanks or other hills made from soft earth.

Scientific Name

In general, all 17 of these species are found in the Psittacidae, or true parrot family. Further, they are part of the Arinae, or New World parrots, subfamily, and the Arini tribe of Macaws and parakeets.

The six genera of living Macaws are as follows:

• Ara, which includes the scarlet (Ara macao) and the green-winged Macaws (Ara chloropterus).
• Primolius, a genus that includes smaller, mostly green Macaws such as the blue-headed (Primolius couloni) and the yellow-collar Macaws (Primolius auricollis).
• Orthopsittaca, the genus of which the red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus) is a part.
• Diopsittaca, a genus that contains only the red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis). This species has two subspecies, including the noble Macaw and the Hahn’s Macaw.
• Anodorhynchus, which includes the Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus).
• Cyanopsitta, a genus of which the Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only living member.

Due to their cheerful nature, their vibrant coloring, and their ability to learn words, many birds of this species are popular pets. This status has led breeders to create some hybrid species in captivity. For example, the harlequin is a new breed that is a cross between the blue and gold and the green-winged species. Harlequins generally have personality and coloring elements from both species.

Size, Appearance & Behavior

These are generally playful and happy birds. Their owners have described them as clowns or jokers. They are highly social creatures both in the wild and in captivity. Many do well with families where they have more humans to interact with regularly. If they are hand-fed from an early age, then they will become attached to their owners.

In the wild, these are curious birds. Scientists and enthusiasts have observed these birds playing with new objects. They will often toss new things into the air and catch them with their beaks or their feet. They will also lick and taste the object to try and get more information about it.

While these birds bond in pairs, they also typically seek to form larger flocks of 30 to 40 or more birds. Increased numbers serve to protect themselves from humans, snakes, larger birds, jaguars, and other threats. Macaws often shriek or let out loud noises to communicate with or to warn their flock mates. In captivity, they like to learn words and will practice new vocabulary until they master it.

As you can imagine, the average size, weight, and wingspan vary widely from species to species. The largest macaws include species from the Ara genus, such as the green-winged macaw, as well as the hyacinth macaw from the Anodorhynchus genus, which has a wingspan between three and four feet and weighs up to 3.7 pounds.

The smallest species is the red-shouldered Macaw (scientific name Diopsittaca nobilis), which is also known as the mini-Macaw. These birds weigh only 5.8 ounces and are only 12 inches long. The Hahn’s Macaws and noble Macaws that make up this species are almost identical in appearance. However, the Hahn’s has a black upper mandible.

Nests

These birds normally nest in the knots or crevices in tall rainforest trees. Some species also make their homes in rotted-out trees on the savannas and plains in South America. Other species will opt to nest on rocky cliffs for protection, while some will choose to dig out an area in a riverbank.

Diet

Macaws primarily eat fruit as their main source of nutrition. However, they do also fly to grassy areas in search of seeds or nuts. Their strong beaks are capable of cracking almonds, Brazil nuts, and other similar nuts. Nuts’ higher caloric value and fat content are important to larger species like the hyacinth Macaw.

Types of Macaws

There are many types of macaws, and here are several of the most popular:

• Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus): The Hyacinth Macaws are blue with black beaks and yellow eyerings. They are found in South America. These are the largest types of this bird species, and they are notorious for being difficult to manage as a pet. Therefore, they are not suggested for pet owners who do not know exactly what they are getting themselves into.
• Military Macaw (Ara militaris): Despite how their name sounds, the Military Macaw can be curious, social, and pleasant; however, they still need a lot of attention and are not for the novice pet owner. They have green feathers with a red head, and they can be found from Mexico south to Argentina.
• Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao): The Scarlet Macaw is large with a strong, curved beak and brightly colored plumage. It consists of three distinctive color bands: red on the head and shoulders, yellow on the back and mid-wing feathers, and blue on the wingtips and tail. The face has a patch of black and white skin as well. They can be found in South and Central America.
• Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii): The Spix’s Macaw can be identified by its striking blue plumage. The exact color of the body varies from the brilliant turquoise blue along its breast and abdomen to the duller bluish gray of the head. It also features gray skin, pale yellow eyes, and a black curved bill. From head to tail, an average member of the species measures around 22 inches; the elegant tail feathers are about as long as the rest of the body. This makes it slightly smaller than the typical macaw species. They can be found in Brazil.
• Hahn’s Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis): Hahn’s Macaws are the smallest of the macaws and are known for their keen intelligence. They can learn some speech from a moderate amount of training. They can be found in South America. Their stomachs are a darker green, while their tails and wings are a lighter green color. They have orange irises.
• Hybrid Macaw: Hybrid Macaws are birds that have been bred from mixed macaw parents for their different qualities and traits. This gives them differing color patterns and temperaments. Only owners with a lot of knowledge about the species should take one of these home.
• Severe Macaw (Ara severus): The Severe Macaw is sort of a funny bird that can be very social. They form a tight bond with owners who provide the correct amount of attention and training. They also have great speech capability. They can be found in South America and also in Panama. They have chestnut-colored heads and green feathers with red feathering where their wings meet their chests.
• Yellow-collared Macaw (Primolius auricollis): The Yellow-collared Macaw is also known as the Golden-collared Macaw. These particular birds are known to be very intelligent, which also makes them very good at escaping and contributing to all kinds of avian mischief. While they are mostly green, they have a yellow band that wraps around their necks. They can be found in South America.

Predators and Threats

These birds are at risk from several native species in the Amazon rainforest and the forests of Central and South America. These predators include snakes, monkeys, and larger birds. Specific threats include pythons, boa constrictors, jaguars, ocelots, eagles, and falcons.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Macaws reach sexual maturity between two and 10 years, depending upon the species. At that time, they will typically pair up and bond with another bird in their flock. Most clutches have between one and four eggs. If reproduction is successful, then females will generally wait two years to mate again.

The eggs normally incubate anywhere between 24 and 28 days, depending upon the type of Macaw. Chicks will typically remain in the nest under their parents’ protection for up to three months after hatching. At that point, they will often stay with their parents and siblings for a year and then head off to find their place in a flock.

A Macaw’s lifespan varies significantly based on its species. For example, the blue and gold Macaw will live up to 35 years in the wild. In comparison, the green-winged and scarlet Macaws have a lifespan between 70 and 75 years. Overall, these birds average 60 years in the wild, but some individuals do survive into their 80s and beyond.

History and Evolution

Macaws are known for their brilliant plumage and striking color. But what makes them so colorful?

Many other types of brightly colored birds derive their coloration from their diet within their environment. Macaws are also that way. They can produce those colors through chemical pigments within their bodies and also through structural adaptations of spaced microscopic layers within their feathers.

The bright colors are part of their defensive strategy and work well because macaws tend to stay within their flocks for protection. Would-be predators have a hard time visibly discerning body shapes because of the bright plumage.

Population

The Macaw population varies significantly depending upon which species you evaluate. Some species, like the Spix Macaw, are extinct in the wild. In fact, fewer than 200 of these birds are left in captivity worldwide.

In contrast, there are believed to be at least 10,000 blue and gold Macaws left in the wild. This species is labeled as least concern because its numbers, while still declining, have remained relatively stable over the last decade.

Other species, like the hyacinth Macaw, are endangered and considered “Vulnerable“. There are only an estimated 6,500 specimens of these birds left in the wild. Similarly, there are only about 2,000 scarlet Macaws left in the world.