Can an Amazon and Macaw get along?

[mandolynn]

Ok I know the title sounds a little crazy. Let me specify that the Macaw is a Severe Macaw. The Amazon is a Mexican Red-headed Amazon. My brother got the amazon, named Paco, to keep his Macaw, named Nikita, company during the day. Nikita was used to being around other birds when my brother lived at home. We thought another bird around would help her out of her funk she's been in lately. If Paco sees Nikita he gets all excited, talks, pinpoints eyes, fluffs out tail feathers, the whole amazon thing. Then he gets overly aggressive towards my brother. Which makes Nikita get aggressive toward Paco. So they can't be anywhere near each other. Why do you think Paco is reacting this way? Is there anything we could do? My brother wants to be able have them out of their cages without them trying to kill each other or him. He wants them out whenever he's home, but Paco tries to get to Nikita every time. I don't want one of them to end up in another room and not be able to be out as much.

 

[JerseyWendy]

In all honesty, it doesn't sound promising the way you describe Pacos reactions towards Nikita.

Amazons "can" be infamous for misguided aggression, and he may be taking his frustration out on your brother. Since he can't get to Nikita, but CAN get to your brother, he bites your brother instead.

How long have they shared a space? Paco "may" eventually come around and get used to Nikita, but there are no guarantees.

 

[mandolynn]

My brother has had Paco a few months.

 

[Birdman666]

If the amazon was hunched over, and pinning, while fanning his tail, and walking back and forth in a trance-like state, that is a little thing I call the Amazon line of death dance.

It's a territorial intrusion warning. He's telling that other bird to get out of his territory in no uncertain terms.

If the amazon is upright, and not trance like, but just gets excited? That's a thing called Amazon overload... He's excited about another bird being around and HUMANS need not apply right now... anyone who does will likely get bit.

Either way, it's not good.

I have two large macaws, and two amazons (and have had as many as six fosters) and they get along just fine. But with amazons it is an inexact science.

 

[KBEquine]

Sounds like a love triangle - the macaw is bonded to your brother, who is gone from her a lot, so she is depressed. The amazon comes into the mix, wants to bond with the macaw, meaning he needs to drive your brother out of "his" territory & win his macaw-mate.

Sometimes when you try to do right by your parrot by getting THEM a pet, this happens. I have known of people who will have a companion parrot & then adopt TWO others - a bonded pair. The companion then has a flock when the human is gone, but no love triangle. Sometimes it works, some times it does not. But adding just 1 other parrot sometimes sets up a situation you do not want.
Per the original question - I have a bonded pair of a Panama Amazon & a Green Wing Macaw. Both males, lived together for 20 years. Yes, they can get along. But they don't always get aong.

 

[henpecked]

hey KB good to see you around, how is that Pan doing? So glad they found a good home with you.