What's your favorite macaw?

[FarbinJones]

Hey guys, as the title suggests, what's your favorite breed of macaw? I'm strongly considering getting one so I can have a good [bird] friend for life. I know it's mostly about training, but which macaws tend to be friendly and cuddly as well?

this will be my first bird, I know macaws aren't the ideal first bird. But I also don't want to have to pass one down to my future children that may not even want it.

 

[Pampa]

I don’t have a macaw, but if I had the money, space and was a younger woman the blue and gold seems to have a nice rounded temperament.

 

[Owlet]

I don’t have a macaw, but if I had the money, space and was a younger woman the blue and gold seems to have a nice rounded temperament.

I have to disagree, blue and golds are nice but I've found them to be very bratty and demanding. I have heard green wings are suppose to be the more gentle but personally I haven't interacted with one much. Of course it really comes down to the individual bird and how it was raised and how much you're willing to work with it. Personally I have a soft spot for Catalinas.

 

[Scott]

Macaws and other parrots are differentiated by unique "species" rather than "breeds."

Love them all, but my sentimental favorite is the Green Wing!

 

[texsize]

As far as looks go I thing the Catalina or Harlequin hybrids ore the most beautiful.
But If I was going to buy one I would go with a miniature macaw of some kind. That beak on full sized macaws is just too intimidating for me.

 

[noodles123]

OP- Have you had a bird before?

 

[chris-md]

For macaws, I understand you can’t beat the temperament of the red fronted macaw, second only to the green wing.

But understand, “cuddly” is training also. Not innate. But also not something you really should be doing, so as to avoid hormonal behavior.

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

I happen to think the scarlet ones are some very pretty birds, but that's just looking at pictures etc, I have never seriously looked into one, or have any idea what sort of temperament they have, if it's your first bird as you say, remember that your probably going to spend thousands of dollars on this type of bird, and that vet Bill's are expensive, birds that size also have a reputation of being expensive to keep toys around for as they have enormous beaks and destroy them quickly...as to cuddly, no bird really meets that definition in my book, and all have the potential to turn bitey in a second, birds with beaks as big as macaws can do serious damage with a bite, just food for thought for you...getting a serious bite has been known to permanently make people nervous and mistrusting of a bird, it's pretty intense.

 

[chris-md]

I’ll also point out that choice of bird shouldn’t come down to “
I don’t want to have to will it”.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, so any bird could be a confiarte for rehome to do death. That shouldn’t be a factor.

How old are you?

 

[noodles123]

The whole cuddle thing is sex---no one is saying it directly, but you are leading your bird on if you cuddle it and sooner or later it will be mad that you are a tease and lash out, or self-destruct, or pluck its feathers, or scream, or get depressed, or start laying infertile eggs (a huge health risk, whether fertile or not). Most like it, but it isn't healthy because it is a trigger.
A large part of owning a parrot is keeping it out of the cuddle/hormone zone, as that is what is safe/healthy for both the owner and the bird.
If you cuddle a baby bird, you end up setting it up for behavioral failure because the expectation is established before puberty---then, at puberty, the expectation remains, but the significance of the act changes.

If you want something that cuddles, do not get a bird, as cuddles are likely high on the list of the many reasons they are re-homed due to behavioral issues.

I ask if you have had a bird (and now I see that you have not) because they require a TON of lifestyle changes for anyone (especially someone living with other people).
You can't use most pots/pans/poppers/toasters/ovens/griddles/skillets/poachers/drip-trays emit fumes that kill them (due to PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon)...and you can't ever clean with standard household cleaners or use candles (even unscented) or air fresheners around them...no Perfume, markers, polish, incense, vaping, burned food, acetone, essential oils...the list goes on....
This is not something that applies on a room-by-room basis--- it is a whole-house requirement. Air circulates, so a shut door won't protect a bird---escpecially from the PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon found in so many household items (even blow driers and curling irons).

 

[chris-md]

Um, noodles? It was said directly...

 

[noodles123]

Um, noodles? It was said directly...

You said it in a "Downton Abbey" way (lol)...I mean, it was said in a discrete way...but if OP is a new owner, he may not know what was meant by hormones etc. Thanks for your tact and wisdom---not disregarding your input, just trying to be super overt--NOT being sarcastic either! I just want to make sure that it didn't go under the radar. In the example below, there is A LOT of snark, and you were not snarky!!!BUT.. the clips are funny anyway lol--LOVE DOWNTON ABBEY, so any excuse to reference it....

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkbBXE9ZNAk"]Maggie Smith's BEST quotes as The Dowager Countess | SEASON 3 | Downton Abbey - YouTube[/ame]

PS: SPOILER ALERT IF YOU PLAN TO WATCH THE SHOW AND HAVE NOT!!!

 

[Minor_Arcana]

I’m not sure about the temperament, but my favorite macaw is definitely either Catalina or Camelot.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Freedom says I am contractually obligated to say not only B&G's, but *her* specifically, or she will scream and whine and carry on. So Blue and Golds are OBVIOUSLY the best, duuuuuh.




(Tho hys are also swell characters. )

 

[riddick07]

My dream macaw was a green wing. After working in rescue I literally only met one green wing I liked & he was not a beginner bird since he would test you quite a lot. Even though all macaws do this but he was just a very strong willed bold stubborn macaw. Aptly named Zeus! You either needed to be picked out and well liked by him or very confident in handling macaws. He could sense hesitation a mile away & you were screwed if he sensed he could boss you around.

My favorite macaws in general are blue & golds. They are quite funny playful clowns. They can also be smart sneaky little brats. From my experience scarlets tend to be more irritable & use their beaks but I’ve met quite a few that I loved & were great fun. The best macaw I’ve found in my experience is the one that decides it wants you over everyone else. My macaw decided that he liked me at the shelter and he was bonded from the day I brought him home. My mother has one that is the same way with her. I have a friend with a macaw that chose their daughter and she can do anything with that bird including stuffing it up her hoodie lol

The only red fronted macaws I met were giant @holes but of course there are nice ones out there. Hyacinths are only for the truly dedicated. They tend to be highly bonded demanding birds that are extremely intelligent & easily bored. They will manipulate you easily too with those big gorgeous liquid puppy eyes. One I knew ripped bars off her cage when she was bored of her toys. They are awesome macaws but you have to be really really sure before buying one (expensive babies too).

Mini macaws can be fun but they were too small for me and I never really met one I liked much.

 

[wrench13]

Blue throat macaw. But seriously OP,think long and hard about getting any parrot at what I am sensing is a fairly young point in your life. Any parrot is a major life changer, if you want to be a good parront. Anda macaw is a MAJOR MAJOR one. It would not be unusual for a macaw to gothru over $100 or more just in chew toys every month. Hell my Salty goes thru that much, and he is a small amazon. Macs need HUGE cages, constant supervision out of the cage, a LOT of veggies, fruit, nutsand seeds. They are loud, like jet engine loud and most apartment complexes are going to have issues with that.
Hey, if your life position allows you to have one ( like you are independantly wealthy) gofor it. I would think long and hard,verylong and hard,before jumping in. Harsh maybe, but I amlooking out for both you and any macaw you might get.

 

[chadwick]

Blue throats and red fronts are personal favorites. And if your looking for macaw in a smaller package the illigers.


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