Hyacinth vs Greenwing Macaw?

[Birdman666]

One is a big, expensive blue bird, with a mushy personality when properly socialized.

The other one is a big, less expensive, but still pretty expensive, red bird, with a mushy personality when properly socialized.

One is considered even more of a status item, than the other, if you the type of person who brags about the exclusive nature and expense of their pets...

Hy's bite harder when they get really mad.

(You don't want to make them really mad.)

Greenwings generally get mad perhaps a tad more often.

(You pretty much don't want to make them really mad, either!)

Hys are specialized feeders. Greenwings are not.

Hys need stainless steel cages. Greenwings generally do not, though some of the larger "Bolivian Greenwings" can also pop cage welds on wrought iron cages.

Hys can stop traffic two blocks away when they scream.

So can greenwings.

Hys have these big black eyes that look right through people...

They are the calmer of the two.

Greenwings have goofy eyes that pin in and out like superballs...

Young greenwings can be quite hyper...

 

[June2012]

Reading these posts, I may have given off the wrong vibe... Again. XD

I'm not posting this to GET one, or to figure out which one is RIGHT for me. I'm not old enough, I don't have the experience, etc. etc. I love parrots, and those statements in my post were things I heard from other people. A GW being a poor man's Hy is what I've heard through PEOPLE. I have a bunch of parrot stores near me and so, I visit often. I was speaking to the lady up front and they had a GW (not for sale). I asked about him and the first thing she said was that he's a poor man's Hy. Wait, what? A lot of pet stores pull up a GW, if they have one, and claim that if you can't afford a Hy, get a GW. I know pet stores aren't reliable, they aren't the most educated folk, but they *are* supposed to be one of the gentle giants of the Macaw world. That other one is a Hy.

I posted this to see how they're different. The Scarlet is said to be more beaky, the GW & Hy macaws are said to be big cuddles, the B&Gs are said to be very comical, and such. I hope you all don't think that I'm some child that's going to make her parents spend $11000 on a bird, $2-4000 on a decent cage, etc. I'm sincerely curious as to why the GW and Hy macaws are said to be so similar in personality. I understand that each individual is different, and that ALL parrots are great when trained properly, but there has to be something general about a species/breed. In general, do they have any personality differences?

I hope I don't sound angry or frustrated, but I don't want to give off the vibe that I'm crazed over a macaw and need one NOW. (Honestly, I do want one NOW, but realistically, I'm not there yet so...) I'm just sincerely wondering any differences between the two?

 

[June2012]

One is a big, expensive blue bird, with a mushy personality when properly socialized.

The other one is a big, less expensive, but still pretty expensive, red bird, with a mushy personality when properly socialized.

One is considered even more of a status item, than the other, if you the type of person who brags about the exclusive nature and expense of their pets...

Hy's bite harder when they get really mad.

(You don't want to make them really mad.)

Greenwings generally get mad perhaps a tad more often.

(You pretty much don't want to make them really mad, either!)

Hys are specialized feeders. Greenwings are not.

Hys need stainless steel cages. Greenwings generally do not, though some of the larger "Bolivian Greenwings" can also pop cage welds on wrought iron cages.

Hys can stop traffic two blocks away when they scream.

So can greenwings.

Hys have these big black eyes that look right through people...

They are the calmer of the two.

Greenwings have goofy eyes that pin in and out like superballs...

Young greenwings can be quite hyper...

What do you mean by their eyes?

 

[thekarens]

Look at pictures and you'll know what he means. Hys eyes are solid dark. I've heard them referred to as shark eyes, though I don't see them that way

 

[June2012]

Look at pictures and you'll know what he means. Hys eyes are solid dark. I've heard them referred to as shark eyes, though I don't see them that way

Ohhhhhhh. Obviously, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

 

[Birdman666]

Look at pictures and you'll know what he means. Hys eyes are solid dark. I've heard them referred to as shark eyes, though I don't see them that way

Shark eyes are cold, dead and threatening.

Hy eyes are these giant black pools of intelligence, that just take in and process everything...

These birds have deep old souls... and it just radiates through those eyes.

You have to sit down and play with one to really understand...

Whereas, Greenwings are pretty much goofballs... their eyes are going all the time.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hy Eye



GW Eye


Some mutant birds' eyes (no...those are zoanthids, LMAO)

 

[Anansi]

Reading these posts, I may have given off the wrong vibe... Again. XD

Perhaps. Sometimes you just have to be a little more careful when you toss about terms like "poor man's Hy." I know it's just something you heard, but you just have to consider how something like that could be offensive to people on multiple levels. It's insulting to GW's and their owners, and it also implies a sense of elevated status and privilege to be accorded to the owners of Hyacinths.

Not much of a leap from there to begin thinking that you might want a Hy more for the perceived prestige rather than for the love and companionship you might get out of such a relationship.

I'm not saying this is the case with you. I actually think you might simply have been a little careless in your wording and that you have a genuine love for parrots as well as an enthusiastic thirst for knowledge about them. I just wanted to explain why your questions were taken in the way that they were. You know, for future reference.

I know pet stores aren't reliable, they aren't the most educated folk...

Uhmm... yeah. See above. Doubtless there are pet store employees reading this as well.

Please don't be discouraged from asking your questions. Your enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, and you are now part of a community that welcomes such passion for parrots. Just be mindful of the things you say and how they could be taken.

 

[Flboy]

Hy Eye

Ah, 2001 A Space odyssey!
Hello HAL!

 

[Flboy]

June2012, I salute you, you take a licking and keep on ticking! More maturity than I can claim in my 64 years!

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Hy Eye



GW Eye


Some mutant birds' eyes (no...those are zoanthids, LMAO)

My conures definitely have "soulful eyes". Parrots have such beautiful eyes.♡♡♡

 

[Solo]

I understand that there are generalizations about different Macaw personalities, but I think you are taking it abit to heart. Each bird is different..yes..but all Macs are very similar. Non have the exact same experiences in their lives and will affect their future personality and temperament. They aren't like dogs where some were bred to herd..some to hunt..etc etc. They're temperament and personalities are not going to be so predictable, IMO.

I agree with some other members on the forum that the wording of your statements could use some improvement to properly convey your views and questions. Also the mass amount of responses to others questions where you seem to have the 'perfect' response and yet you possess zero parrot experience could be seen as offensive. If I'm out of line here please let a mod step in. I don't mean to offend, merely offering my opinion on ways you could improve site interaction and stay neutral.

 

[Doublete]

I agree with the above... But her recent responses to this thread were commendable. She's a kid. She will learn a lot from this site so when she is ready to adopt she will have a good knowledge base. Don't wanna discourage the younger generation... I was one not long ago...

 

[kq_fan]

So about the poor mans bird thing, no parrot is a poor mans pet! They are exotic pets! They are not a hamster! I don't buy anything for myself except the necessity's because all my money goes to my fids! Im fine with that, Toys, food, fruits, vegetables, play stands, and much more! Vet visits! The cheapest bird is a budgie but they still aren't cheap! If they are then you may not be getting them what they need... I have smaller birds but they aren't cheap! Eesh Cost is one of the sadly many reasons there are birds rehomed!

Im sorry, I just had to say that.

 

[kq_fan]

They are priceless! IMO they are worth thousands! They are so valuable to me! All of them are so important to this world!

 

[Anansi]

Agreed wholeheartedly. Our birds all mean so much more to us than whatever amount we paid, because the bond formed is truly priceless.

But that said, I think we can all forgive June2012's unfortunate choice of words, as I truly do not believe that she meant anything by them. She's young, and spoke without considering how her words might be taken. We've all been there at one point or another.

So now that it's been addressed and she likely sees where she went wrong, let's focus instead on the intended reason for her thread: curiosity as to any perceived differences between Hyacinth and Greenwing macaws.

 

[Doublete]

Back to the topic...
I've never handled a macaw... So to me all I see is a really expensive powerful bird and a pretty expensive powerful bird which will both cost mega bucks for upkeep!!! Lol
But I'd love to see for myself the personality differences between all types of macaws (all being well adjusted birds for fair comparison)

 

[June2012]

Reading these posts, I may have given off the wrong vibe... Again. XD

Perhaps. Sometimes you just have to be a little more careful when you toss about terms like "poor man's Hy." I know it's just something you heard, but you just have to consider how something like that could be offensive to people on multiple levels. It's insulting to GW's and their owners, and it also implies a sense of elevated status and privilege to be accorded to the owners of Hyacinths.

Not much of a leap from there to begin thinking that you might want a Hy more for the perceived prestige rather than for the love and companionship you might get out of such a relationship.

I'm not saying this is the case with you. I actually think you might simply have been a little careless in your wording and that you have a genuine love for parrots as well as an enthusiastic thirst for knowledge about them. I just wanted to explain why your questions were taken in the way that they were. You know, for future reference.

I know pet stores aren't reliable, they aren't the most educated folk...

Uhmm... yeah. See above. Doubtless there are pet store employees reading this as well.

Please don't be discouraged from asking your questions. Your enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, and you are now part of a community that welcomes such passion for parrots. Just be mindful of the things you say and how they could be taken.

Yes, I can see. I seem to have a problem when it comes to such. I really should improve... o.o

I know that phrase is very insulting and rather rude, but I didn't want to change the meaning of my post. (GW's = poor Hy one) It was simply what I had heard OVER AND OVER again. It was confusing for me to see such majestic creatures be called such, but I'm not experienced (obviously) in the parrot field. Though, I must admit, it is a demeaning phrase to Greenwings!

Generally, I don't find pet stores to be the *most* reliable source of info. Yes, there are AWESOME pet store employees. I went to Petco and was asking about the budgies there, she was polite, friendly, and gave me a perfect bird care 101 speech. However, you won't find one that easily compared to the nutjob who shoves peanuts and seeds into a bird's beak as a "fully nutritional diet". I am much too young to work or volunteer, so I rely on pet stores for anything parrot. I wish I could say that my impression of pet store employees are educated and polite about what they do, but that just isn't the case.

Being a pet store employee is more than customer service. You're paid to take care of animals or at least know something basic about birds. And I mean BASIC. At least tell your customers to go to an AVIAN vet, not their wing clipping station to see if they look half dead or visit the regular one down the street so the vet can "figure it out". I find this to be incredibly normal with birds. Is that too much to ask? You work at a bird store know something birds. Do your JOB.

I went into a bird store and one of the employees was forcing a conure on a young child. It was clipped and could not fly. It broke my heart from the inside out for it to struggle to get away, but all they did was laugh saying it was a "trick". An animal in distress and encouraging it is more than just a trick, that's abuse.

This post is to NOT say that anyone that works at a pet store is a sick abuser. I would love to work at one, but sadly, I see more uneducated idiotic freaks than a mature human being being with animals that rely on US to care and love them.

I do hope that my words don't come across as harsh. I DO appreciate anyone that knows what they're doing. I absolutely love it when I'm not being told the most worst info about parrots as if scientific fact. ("Vegetables? No no dear. You don't want that, you want sunflower seeds. Why would they love it if it was bad for them?") I find more ignorance in the world, anywhere, than those who are willing to pop up Google and read a reputable source. Why I don't know, but I find that it isn't any different in a pet store.

And thank you to those who replied for being kind and generous in your replies as it seems that I've been shooting a rather, ignorant and rude feel in my original post.

 

[junglenutcracker]

June2012, one of the goals of this forum is to facilitate the exchange of information among its members. Some have more experience than others, but everyone has something to contribute (big or small) and, to me, this is the beauty of this forum —*and the great members you’ll find here.

Stick around ask questions —*it’s a great way to benefit from the wealth of information we collectively hold as members. The fact that you are keen on educating yourself and trying to learn as much as possible is to be commended and, to me, this is what will make you a very good parrot owner at the end of the day...whenever that time comes.

 

[Phungcpu]

Yes they are both very nice but yes do some research or maybe baby sit one for a couple days before getting one.