What's The Macaw Bird?

Native to Central and South America, macaws — which include the scarlet macaw, the blue-and-gold macaw, the blue-throated macaw, the Buffon's macaw, the green-winged macaw, the hyacinth macaw, the military macaw and the red-fronted macaw — are the gentle giants of the parrot species. They’re the largest parrot species and popular pet birds. These social birds can create quite a racket when they want to, and the large beaks of macaws can be intimidating.

The hybrid macaws — which include the miligold macaw, the ruby macaw, the shamrock macaw, the bluffon's macaw, the calico macaw, the catalina macaw, the camelot macaw and the harlequin macaw — are offspring of the crossing of two macaw species (e.g., is the catalina macaw is the result of a scarlet macaw paired with a blue-and-gold macaw). First-generation hybrid macaws are crossings between two naturally occurring macaw species. There are also second-and-third generation hybrid macaws. Second-generation hybrid macaws have one parent that is a naturally occurring macaw species and one parent that is a first-generation hybrid macaw. A few third-generation hybrid macaws are the result of crossing hybrid macaws.

Some aviculturists are against hybridization. When a naturally occurring macaw species population is threatened, the primary effort is to breed the species to help it survive and, in such cases hybridization could potentially undermine this effort.

Whether you get a naturally occurring macaw species or a hybrid macaw, you’ll need a lot of space and time to keep your macaw happy, but you will be rewarded with a comical, friendly and affectionate pet.