Scarlet or green wing?

[Minimaker]

Can anyone tell me if there are any differences in behavior between these two? We're looking into getting one of the two and I'm trying to figure out which would be better or if there is no difference in temperament. It doesn't seem like there would be, but I'd rather know for sure. Also, this might be a stupid question but I'm wondering if one sex or the other is less aggressive?

 

[Birdman666]

Beakiest, and most short tempered of the macaws vs. one of the mellowest and most confident of the macaws.

Absolutely no contest when it comes to pet quality! GO GREENWING!

CHECK OUT JOE'S NEW BABY IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME.
http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/44860-please-welcome-our-new-baby-greenwing.html

My GW macaw is 16 years old, and behaves the same way.

With a macaw I personally don't think the male/female thing matters all that much. (I've had both. Both mine right now are females.) Some male greenwings can develop dominance issues, but generally this is more an overbonding and lack of discipline thing with a macaw.

These are attention oriented birds.

 

[thekarens]

I agree about the GW. I know someone with a Scarlet and scarlets are his favorite, even after having her for years, but she's not a nice easy going bird. He says she's a B.... but she's my B.... He loves her and she's very spoiled, but it takes a certain personality/temperament to have a scarlet.

You definitely should go out and meet some macs and see what you think.

 

[Birdman666]

Scarlet's are one of my least recommended big macs...

I tend to not recommend any of the really beaky species (Scarlet, Buffons, Militaries) to anyone who has not had a significant amount of macaw experience, as these three are the significantly more challenging to keep.

Which, again, doesn't mean they can be bad birds. They are just the beakiest macaws out there...

The big macs I do recommend are GW, B&G, Red Front, Blue Throats, Catalinas (and similar hybrids if you are so inclined) and of course, Hys (but only if you are rich, and can afford the SS enclosures, specialized diet, and toy requirements that go with Hy ownership.)

 

[Minimaker]

Green wing it is then, if we do get one. Good to know, thanks to you for that info. As for the challenge, I'm up for it trust me.

I know other birds are not parrots, but I've handled birds my entire life. Living on a farm equips you in ways you can't imagine for dealing with all kinds of animals. If I had a dollar for every time I've been chased by an angry goose as tall as my hip height, been walloped by a huge hormonal testosterone-fueled turkey on a rampage for coming too near his favorite girl, etc. I learned bird care from the time I was old enough to go gather eggs in a hen house full of clucking hens and roosters who love to spur anyone who messes with their ladies My husband even has a heck of a scar on his shin from getting spurred by a rooster a few years ago. Trust me when I say I've taken my fair share of knocks from birds. And then the sweetest things: raising abandoned chicks and baby ducks and watching them have a ball slurping wet bread in sour milk, watching their little eyes go closed as they fall asleep immediately next to a hot water bottle, watching baby ducks and geese paddle around for the first time when you put them in a sink of water. Times like that I know I'm witnessing pure joy in action. Life is a miracle isn't it

 

[Birdman666]

Macaws are the most toddler-like of the bunch. And I am completely biased, because my most bonded bird at the moment happens to be a greenwing...

 

[Spyro]

So I just have to add my 2 cents;-) I LOVE scarlet macaws! They are right under the hyacinth in my "dream bird" list. We have a baby Catalina who's mother was a scarlet and WOW Scarlet's are just stunning, STUNNING birds! Can't say much for the personality aspect as I don't one, but our half breed is just a love and I'd be wiling to take the chance of having a super beaky bird. I think if time and finances will allow, I would (will?) buy a baby Scarlet someday. Just hard living in Idaho, very limited choices unless you want to ship. I think if you put enough effort into training and socializing, ANY animal is capable of overcoming the breed/species stigma.
Well, anyway a scarlet couldn't be that much more aggressive than my feisty male TAG, haha. If you live in an area where you could visit some babies, and adult birds that would really be the way to go. Good luck choosing!

 

[Birdman666]

Everyone says that about Scarlet's but I still prefer the facial feathers of a greenwing...

NOW IN TERMS OF STUNNING COLORATION?! The most beautiful parrot I have ever been around was the Ruby macaw I fostered several years back...

Prettiest bird I've ever come across, and when she opened her wings with both the green and the yellow mixed in together?! Simply Gorgeous!!!

Also one of the most behaviorally challenging birds I ever worked with...