Whats your experience with a Greenwing and / or a Harlequin macaw?

[Merv]

I just find it very hard to decide which one to get...
I've seen both and think they're both very beautyfull birds.
Although my prefrence leans slightly to the greenwing (more natural looking and i think there's beauty in that).

I have a client who has both of them.
I've seen both birds and played with them a bit.
As for now these are my thoughts:

Greenwing:
Very loud (They're supposed to be the quieter macaw i heard?)
Very very pretty
Loves cuddles, and i love to give them
Very playfull

Harlequin:
Not so loud (one i experienced was quieter than the GW)
Good looking, but not as much as the GW.
Very playfull
Kinda nippy and actually hurts me a little more than i'd like.. pretty quick to bite.

These are just some of the pros and cons i find most important.

So what is your experience? Which one is your favorite and why?


Oh by the way, the birds i've seen are not the birds i'll be buying. I'll be getting a young one handfed by breeder.

 

[itzjbean]

Remember that each individual bird will be different. Generally speaking the more easy-going, even tempered personality goes to the Greenwing. Since Harlequins are a mix of greenwing and blue and gold you are likely to get more 'spunk' and playfulness from the Harlequin but again, with the mix you could have some more greenwing personality traits blending in so it really will depend on the individual bird. It will depend also very much on how they are raised, of course they will need socializing from a young age but both have the capacity to be great birds!

I do love both their colors....so vibrant, but especially that turquoise/teal on the greenwing....

 

[chris-md]

If you wanna attempt to look at it through species attributes, There’s honestly not going to be a big degree of difference here, to the point it’s almost useless to try to compare them. This comparison is one where you really can’t go wrong either way.

Itsjbean is right, it’ll come down to the temperament of the individual bird.

Here’s your answer: if getting to know a bunch of babies is not an option for you, you might as well flip a coin or throw a dart to choose between - or base your choice on what color you like best. Otherwise, go play with some babies to get to know the individuals because as a species they’re gonna be a little too similar to qualitatively compare.

I’m personally smitten with harlequins, more for their color and green wing parent. But I’m a fan of the green wings as well.

 

[Merv]

Yes i understand each bird can be diffrent but there are some behavior traits that a species is known for.
But as far as i understand both GW and Harlequin are pretty much the same as far as behavior goes.

 

[Scott]

I had a Greenwing for about 15 years. Rocky was a young male with engaging personality. First time we met, he went to the floor, behind my legs, and gently pinched the back of my ankle. That was the first and last time he ever used his beak in such manner. Truly a gentle giant! He was hand-fed and allowed profuse scratching and touching. Only issue was noise - jet engine loud. At the time I lived in an area with sparse neighbors, but moved to a dense neighborhood. Had 12 birds at the time and didn't want to offend the neighbors with incessant noise, potentially leading to legal action forcing a drastic purge or forced move. So I reluctantly found him a great home. I miss him very much!

 

[riddick07]

Greenwing every time if I had the choice of a baby macaw. They actually don’t end up in the shelter I’ve worked with much so I’ve only meet about 6 or so. I loved most of them. The hybrids aren’t a favorite of mine. I’ve only met a few I actually liked and there’s a decent amount in the shelter.

 

[Merv]

I had a Greenwing for about 15 years. Rocky was a young male with engaging personality. First time we met, he went to the floor, behind my legs, and gently pinched the back of my ankle. That was the first and last time he ever used his beak in such manner. Truly a gentle giant! He was hand-fed and allowed profuse scratching and touching. Only issue was noise - jet engine loud. At the time I lived in an area with sparse neighbors, but moved to a dense neighborhood. Had 12 birds at the time and didn't want to offend the neighbors with incessant noise, potentially leading to legal action forcing a drastic purge or forced move. So I reluctantly found him a great home. I miss him very much!

Now this is what i find interesting, i hear and read that greenwing macaws are the more quiet ones of all macaws.
Was the screaming all day long? or just a couple screams a day?
I had an illiger's macaw for a month (I temporary shelter birds and rehome them), and he would just be noisy all day while my b&g only screams in the morning.
Now i understand that each bird can be diffrent but overall what can i expect from a greenwing?

 

[chris-md]

Until Scott comes back to give his specifics: Scott said the bird was a “young male”...depending on how young, many parrots can go through a noisy phase as youngsters. ekkies are a bit notorious for this.

 

[Kiwibird]

Not just macaws specifically, but in general on the topic of noise- I've noted that while obviously a whole lot louder, larger parrots seem to vocalize less often throughout the day than smaller parrots. It seems the big guys tend to be noisiest mornings/evenings with minimal daytime noise while the little guys chatter all day long. Just an observation, not sure why that would be.

 

[Scott]

I had a Greenwing for about 15 years. Rocky was a young male with engaging personality. First time we met, he went to the floor, behind my legs, and gently pinched the back of my ankle. That was the first and last time he ever used his beak in such manner. Truly a gentle giant! He was hand-fed and allowed profuse scratching and touching. Only issue was noise - jet engine loud. At the time I lived in an area with sparse neighbors, but moved to a dense neighborhood. Had 12 birds at the time and didn't want to offend the neighbors with incessant noise, potentially leading to legal action forcing a drastic purge or forced move. So I reluctantly found him a great home. I miss him very much!

Now this is what i find interesting, i hear and read that greenwing macaws are the more quiet ones of all macaws.
Was the screaming all day long? or just a couple screams a day?
I had an illiger's macaw for a month (I temporary shelter birds and rehome them), and he would just be noisy all day while my b&g only screams in the morning.
Now i understand that each bird can be diffrent but overall what can i expect from a greenwing?

Until Scott comes back to give his specifics: Scott said the bird was a “young male”...depending on how young, many parrots can go through a noisy phase as youngsters. ekkies are a bit notorious for this.

I had Rocky from roughly 7 yrs through about 22 yrs. Generally screamed mid-morning and late afternoon, a bit before sunrise. Didn't notice markedly different habits over the years. He was louder than the two B&Gs I had during most of the period. So no, not all day, and often changing his location was a help.

 

[DiscoDuck]

My experience is deep with a Green Wing Macaw. I may start a new thread since it has been long time since I have been here. I am in a very unique position to give you some real time first hand information about this life long commitment.

Anyways. I have met and talked to thousands of people on the street with my bird in tow.. haha Im rusty with posting images here, never the less. My one point of caution with everyone who doesn't already have a Parrot, that they should consider the length of time these pets live for and if they dont already have children who are grown and left the nest. A Parrot, specifically the Macaw may not be a good match.

As I write and if you want to follow. Keep in mind these are my opinions. While I have an extremely well acclimated celebrity as a side kick. I am fortunate to be able to aspire to a bucket list type of item. To go to the VA companion pet program and educate.

Ok sorry. there is no short version I can write to you about right now. THe reason I am on here is to start a thread about my Boy Rudy!

 

[DiscoDuck]

Ever seen a Macaw eat snow? or any parrot for that matter!

Ever seen a tropical bird eat snow? ah yep.. they will eat anything!