Male vs. Female - Illiger Macaws

[CRYROLFE]

Hi guys,

Just wondering how much difference does it make if I get a male or a female Illiger Macaw? The breeder has asked a lot of her clients this and all say their bird is affectionate....males and females.

I am still debating on the Eclectus/Macaw battle and I already know I want a male if I get the Eclectus. I am going to visit 2 babies on Wed after work.

 

[moni.k]

Well, I don't have a male eclectus OR an illiger's macaw. However, I have been around both and what a tough decision! They are so different in personality, looks, noise level, etc.

Eclectus: personally I love their look. I am so drawn to their hairlike feathers, once you see them in person you won't be able to take your eyes off. They are just the most beautiful birds I have ever seen. My female is definitely not quiet unlike what most websites say about eclectus and their quiet disposition. However, I am working with her on it. So please be aware of exceptions. I just so happened to come across one she also LOVES toys and clicker training (also an exception to what most say) She isn't as animated as an illiger's and will rarely be half as hyper as any of the mini macaws. But personally I love it, she is so chill and I can eat, study and work around her without being too worried (of course under supervision). People call eclectus boring, but their personality is very calm, soothing and just an absolute joy to have. I must warn you, that they are not known to be the most affectionate birds, although they do share love in other ways. If you have a quiet, calm and steady home I recommend the male eclectus as they do have a tendency of getting stressed in a loud/busy environment.

Illiger's macaw: where do I begin! They are just the most animated birds I have seen!! Much more hyper and energetic than conures IMO. But they are just the cutest little ball of energy. Illiger's have been known to be a bit more nippy than the male eclectus (which are more submissive birds), however all birds can and will most likely go through a nippy stage anyways. Macaws like any can and will be loud, they will do their flock calls and shrieks of joy through out the day (says the girl with one extremely loud eclectus :54. I love the color variations of the illiger's, they are much more colorful than their other mini macaw cousins (especially with the little red on their forehead of belly:09. I think overall what gets me the most with the illiger's are their personality. They love to dance, swing, do tricks and overall enjoy making their parents smile. Who could resist these little fellas.

In the end, you and I can compare these birds as much as we would like, but we both know they are amazing birds that will make you happy either way no matter what you choose. What matters most is which bird is right for you and will thrive in your home and your living situation. Good luck and keep us posted on your final decision!

Oh and I also hope that one day I will be able own an illiger's macaw of my own :09:, they are on my wish list of birds I'd love to have one day.

 

[CRYROLFE]

Well, of course I want both! I also want a Cape...but alas. I am still leaning towards an Illiger. I LOVE the breeder and she is very good with her babies and they get tons and tons of attention since she doesnt have too many.
There are 3 little jokers available and I really love one in particular.
I recently lost my little Hahns suddenly and we had her for 7 yrs so I'm assuming that an Illiger will be very similar in personality but maybe a bit more intense.

What do you think about male or female w/ the Macaw?

 

[chadwick]

I have a female and I love her to death very docile and lovable loves to be cradled in your arms...

 

[noblemacaw]

I have had both a male Solomon Island Eclectus and a male Illiger's macaw. Both parrots I loved very dearly but they have endeared me to them in different ways.

My Eclectus was very different than my Illigers and Noble macaws. He brought balance to my flock because of it. Outside the home he was very regal and loved people. I use to take him for pet therapy and people always loved him. Joaquin use to help people feel better and he was always well behaved. At home I swear he was part Macaw. Silly and playful he would play wildly and pull jokes on the cat and dog.

My Illiger's Macaw Diego was very bonded to me and I loved him dearly. He was very outgoing and playful and learned tricks very quickly. He had a large vocabulary and always used it in context. While relaxing and watching TV he would ly on my neck and make small comfort noises. He was pure macaw and could be very naughty as well. I loved that about him because he always made me laugh.

These are two very different species of parrot so I could not advise one over the other. I miss my boys every day and I cannot bring myself to get another of the same species.

I lost my Noble Macaw (sub species of your Hahn's) and am still grieving hard for him. My experience was when I had both the Illiger's and Noble they both brought me so much joy I think getting an Illiger's you will not be disappointed.

I think for you to get the Eclectus would be to totally move away from mini macaws. Maybe that might be alright if that is the direction you wanted to go for now with the plan on getting another mini macaw later. It seems like the Illiger's are what you are leaning to because of having access to babies right now.

Please let us know what you decide to do. I have so many Illiger's stories I have written about Diego and my other parrots if you want to read them let me know.

Noblemacaw

 

[CRYROLFE]

I would LOVE to read all about them!!!! I have access to two different breeders. One I know personally (the Illiger) and the other I've heard good things ....she has 2 boy Eclectus and there are 2 Illigers to pick from. Both are just weaned and ready to go! I am leaning towards the Illiger since I feel comfortable w/ Macaws and then hopefully get an Eclectus 2nd. I am planning on visiting the 2 Eclectus boys on Wed so I may think differently then.

Thanks so much and stay tuned!!!

 

[noblemacaw]

Here is one story I wrote about Diego my Illiger's macaw. This was when I first brought him home.

The Parrot and Airport Security

Since Diego came from a breeder in San Diego it was decided I would travel out there and fly back home with the baby parrot. To fly back home to Minnesota with Diego in the cabin with me I had to pay an extra 80 dollars for the privilege. At that time I thought it would be better to go out to San Diego to get him rather than have him shipped to me. The adventure of flying out to get Diego took place exactly one year after the towers fell in New York City. In September 2002 Diego was four and half months old and only knew me for four days.

Airport security was very strict because of 9/11. Everything had to be x-rayed and people had to walk through a metal detector before you could get to the gate the flight was assigned to. Diego was in an airplane approved carrier which had a small blanket covering it. I had put my purse, carry on and shoes into the bin so that the items could be x-rayed and inspected but I kept the carrier with me because I did not want Diego to be irradiated. The security person working the metal detector passengers walked though gave me a dirty look as she held up her hand to stop my process though the metal detector.

“You gotta put that carrier though the x-ray.” She told me.

“I have a baby parrot inside. I don’t want him to be irradiated.” I held my ground.

“Step back and take the parrot out.” She informed me. “Have carrier go through the x-ray and walk through the metal detector with the parrot.”

I stepped out of line to stand aside to do as airport security ordered. I take the blanket off the carrier and gently extract a very frightened parrot. Quickly I held the parrot up to my neck holding my hand over his eyes to help calm him. Speaking softly to him seemed to help and Diego wiggled up as tight as he could get in the hollow of my neck.

As I was setting up the carrier to go through the x-ray Diego had worked his way inside my shirt. After I walked through the metal detector I went over to the x-ray machine to gather my things. Diego’s tail feathers were sticking up out of the collar of my shirt and I could feel his talons scratching my chest as he burrowed deeper inside my shirt. Once I got all my things I opened the carrier so I could put Diego back inside of the dark comfort of it. My left hand was holding the lump inside my shirt so I tried to use my right hand to work the parrot back out of my shirt however the little freak had worked his head in my cleavage and was now stuck between my breasts which were harnessed by my bra.

No matter what I did I could not remove his head out of my cleavage because it was too tightly wedged in there. Finally I took my right hand and shoved it up the bottom of my shirt to come in from underneath in the attempt to push his head up and out. As I did that Diego started to scream bloody murder and the sound resembled a woman screaming in terror. Everyone who was able to hear the parrot screaming looked in my direction. People watched as I had my left hand shoved in through the collar of my shirt holding the body while my right hand was working up though the bottom of my shirt exposing my belly and probably my bra for all to see.

Finally I was able to work Diego out of my bra and get him out from inside my shirt. He was terrified, the eyes were dilated and he was panting in exhaustion. Now was not the time to exam him so I quickly put him back in the carrier and went to my gate to wait for the boarding of the flight. After arriving at my gate I set all my stuff on the floor and put Diego’s carrier on the seat. Quietly and slowly I take off the blanket and look inside the carrier. Diego stared up at me and was breathing normally.

Through the small door on the top of the carrier I opened it and inserted my hand and slowly began to pet him. He cuddled into my hand and I talked softly to him. At that point the baby parrot seemed calmer in the attempt to put the trauma he experienced behind him.

It took him three weeks for him to forgive me enough to cuddle wrestle with me. When he rolled over onto his side and used his talons and beak to grab at my hands in play while making those cute little parrot noises I knew I had won him over.

 

[noblemacaw]

Here is one story about Joaquin my Solomon Island Eclectus.

The Devil Made Him Do It

It was a beautiful spring day so I had every window in the house open to let in the fresh air. It was the time of day when my parrots are normally more subdued napping, eating or just hanging out. I was busy doing laundry this morning so I was walking back and forth through the great room with baskets of laundry when Joaquin decided he wanted attention and out of cage time.

“I want out.” Joaquin announced as I walked by with a basket of laundry.

“Not now Joaquin, I’m busy.” I reply to him.

“I want out now.” Joaquin said in a slightly louder voice.

“You have to wait Joaquin.” I told him. A few moments pass.

“I WANT OUT NOW!” Joaquin screams. “OUT OUT OUT!”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” I yell back at the stubborn parrot. “YOU HAVE TO WAIT.”

Joaquin decided that he had enough of waiting. He just was not being patient at all with allowing me to finish my morning chores.

“HELP ME! HELP ME!” Joaquin screamed loudly his voice carried throughout the house and out through the open windows. His voice bounced off the walls of the other homes. “I NEED HELP! HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP MEEEEEEEEEE!” The normally mild mannered regal parrot was swinging wildly back and forth on his rope swing almost hitting his head on the cage bars. He was out of control.

Exasperated I walked up to his cage with hands on my hips and stood right in front of it staring him down. I didn’t say a word I just stared at him until he stopped acting like he had gone insane. Finally he stopped swinging and stared back at me.
“Are you done having your little fit?” I asked him. Joaquin moved to the front of the cage and climbed onto the perch closest to the door. “Because if you’re not you can spend the whole day locked up.” To give the parrot credit he did look really sorry.

Joaquin quieted down but I gave him a few more moments before I took him out of the cage for his play time. It was not more than a half hour later when the doorbell rang. On the other side of the door was a policeman and he did not look pleased at all. I open the door just wide enough to poke my face out because Joaquin was out on his play gym I didn’t want to take a chance of him taking flight and flying out the door.

“Can I help you?” I ask the officer.

“I got a call from one of your neighbors about a child in trouble.” He moved closer to the opening of the door. “I need to come in and assess the situation.”

“I don’t understand.” I tell him. “I’m here by myself.”

“I still need to come in and check it out ma’am.” The officer was pushing his hand against the door in the attempt to gain entry. I stand back to open the door and waved him in. Right as he stepped into the entry way I closed the door behind him.

“See, I’m here alone.” I told him. “I don’t have any children just my parrots and I.”

The officer looked around the great room and finally notices Joaquin on his play gym. Joaquin stops playing and stares at the officer. He has never seen a man dressed in a uniform before so the parrot froze and is perched perfectly still looking like a statue.

Joaquin tilts his head to the side to study the officer using his parrot vision to stare at him with that eye. Suddenly the large green parrot with the candy corn colored beak said to the officer.
“Your weeeeeird!” His voice was clear as a bell there was no mistaking what he had said even though Joaquin stretched out the word weird.

The officer looked astonished. He probably didn’t believe what he just heard. On the other hand I was ticked off by my parrot’s apparent lack of manners.

“Joaquin!” I was stressing out. “That was not nice. Apologize now!” I had no idea what had gotten into that parrot.

“Sooorrrryyyy.” Joaquin told the officer. I nodded in agreement.

“Thank you.” I told Joaquin and looked back at the officer. He was quiet not saying a word but was staring at my beautiful naughty Solomon Island Eclectus parrot. Suddenly the police officer guffawed loudly.

“That’s not something you see every day.” The officer said. “I take it he was the one yelling earlier this morning?” I nodded my head yes as he continued. “We got a call of a child being abused at this address so of course we had to check it out.”

“I understand your concern officer.” I told him. “Most of my neighbors know I have parrots but the new neighbor that just moved in probably does not. I’ll introduce myself and tell them about the birds as soon as I can.”

“You’re not mad with them making the call?” The officer asked.

“To be honest I would rather have them call in a suspected child abuse situation than not.” I told him. “Besides I did have all my windows open and my birds can get pretty vocal.”

At home Joaquin’s personality can be like that of the two mini macaws adopting their naughty hedonistic ways however outside the home this parrot personality does a one hundred eighty degree turn. Especially when performing his pet therapy duties he is quiet, gentle, and regal he presents like a being with an old wise soul.