How to Tame a Blue Macaw and Red Macaw
Macaws generally choose a partner and spend many hours together, sharing meals and grooming one another, as well as taking care of their young. Unfortunately, these majestic birds are towards being extinct in their habitat.
Habitat destruction caused by humans as well as the trade in cage birds and poaching are all major threats to this beautiful bird species.
Great Green Macaw
The great green macaw (Ara ambiguus) is the largest parrot in Central America and one of the most striking birds in the canopy of the rainforest. Its green plumage is highlighted by the red on its forehead and blue on its lower back, and tail feathers. Its wings and tail are long and pointed which allows it to move easily through the forest canopy. The large, strong beak can break open nuts and seeds. The great green Macaw is a fugivore and, consequently plays a significant role in sustaining healthy ecosystems of the rainforest. Seed dispersal helps species of trees like the maiz biological tree Dipteryx Oleifera to flourish and provide food for other animal species.
These magnificent birds live in pairs or small groups, and spend most of their time flying high in the forest canopy, searching for fruits, nuts, and seeds. Nests are typically found in hollow tree cavities that are lined with branches or grass. The female will lay two to three eggs which she will then incubate for a period of 26-28 days. When the chicks hatch, the male assists in feeding them.
Captive great-green macaws make excellent companion pets. They are intelligent, playful birds. It is important to keep in mind that these birds require plenty of space, time, and attention to thrive. They are prone to bite and can cause damage if they are bored. They are also susceptible to certain health issues, such as proventricular dilatation and macaw wasting disease.
The great green macaw is declining like many other tropical species. Their habitat is being degraded by mining, logging and agriculture as well as cattle ranching. The illegal wildlife trade and hunting for food is also affecting their numbers.
The only way to ensure their survival is to protect their habitat. The creation of corridors between protected areas will allow these animals to move freely and gain access to a variety of different foods sources. In the end, protecting the natural habitats of these beautiful birds will aid in protecting other species that share their habitats.
Blue and Gold Macaw
This beautiful bird is among the most loved parrots that are kept in captivity all over the world. It is intelligent, affectionate, and very active. It requires a lot of interaction and training but can be a great pet if it is properly trained. However, macaws are also notoriously aggressive if not properly trained and provided with clearly defined boundaries. It is important to hire an experienced trainer who knows how to handle large bird and can teach tricks. Dave and Jamieleigh from BirdTricks have come up with an excellent video that shows how to hand tame the Blue and Gold Macaw. They provide some tricks, tips, and techniques to help anyone train the macaw to ensure it is fun and friendly to play with. Click HERE to watch their video.
A parrot in the family, blue and gold macaws are neotropical birds that are native to forest (especially in varzea areas) and woodland and savannah habitats found in tropical Central America and South America as well as Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. They have mostly blue dorsum and tail feathers with accents of gold or yellow and a gradient of green on their heads. Their wings and wing coversts are blue with green highlights. Their feet are zygodactyl with two toes facing in the direction of forward and backwards. This adaptation allows them to grasp branches effortlessly.
They are monogamous, pair for life and stay together during breeding season. They build their nests in tree cavities that they excavate with their strong beaks. They usually lay two to three eggs and incubate them for 25 days. After hatching, the altricial chicks are fed through regurgitation by both parents until they can take care of themselves.
They are intelligent birds that communicate a variety of emotions by using a variety of vocalizations. They also exhibit a variety of courtship behaviors, including cocking their head, flirting with raised wings and blushing. They also show their emotions by shaking their tail feathers, bowing, prancing and bouncing.
They are playful and love to chew toys. It is recommended that owners offer an assortment of sturdy safe, bird-friendly toys that are able to withstand their powerful jaw muscles. This will help keep the teeth healthy and prevent them from developing excessive plaque and tartar.
Red-shouldered Macaw
It is often referred to as Hahn's Macaw, this small bird is one of the most intelligent macaw species available. It bonds well with its human counterparts and is a strong talker who can master a variety of tricks. It's also more peaceful than other macaws. This makes it a good choice for people who may be worried about a noisy parrot. It can be small and nippy, but it usually gets used to it and can be extremely playful as a mature parrot.
This bird is native to savannahs swamplands and tropical lowland habitats throughout Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana and South-eastern Peru. Its bright green color is perfect to disguise itself in the forest. It lay between two and five eggs and incubates them for 24 days. After about two months, the chicks are ready to grow. This species typically couples for life and is usually seen in pairs.
It is primarily hunting to find flowers, berries fruit, seeds, nuts and leaves in its natural habitat. They are also known to consume bugs. They also gather on clay cliffs which are believed to help eliminate any toxins they may have ingested from their usual food sources.
Like other macaws, Hahn's Macaws are at risk of self-mutilation and feather plucking, nutritional disorders, proventricular dilatation disease, and overgrown beaks. A balanced diet, regular vet inspections, and a proper cage care can help prevent these issues.
This bird can live up to 50 years in the wild. It is not usually sold in large pet shops however, it is available in avian-specialty stores as well as from breeders of birds. It is intelligent to a high level, but it can be difficult for a beginner to train. It is a very good talker and can be taught to whistle, clap and dance.
Hahn's Macaws are extremely noisy and are not recommended for apartments living. These birds need a spacious cage with plenty of perches, several large food bowls and plenty of opportunities to exercise daily outside their cage. They are also extremely strong chewers and require a cage that is sturdy and is secure.
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
The Blue-and-Yellow Macaw is an enormous, beautiful tropical parrot. Like other Macaws, is monogamous and pairs for life. It is also susceptible to mimicry which makes it a good companion bird.
This species is native South America and can be found in a variety of habitats. Cloud forests, savannas and rainforests are all possible habitats. IUCN has declared the Leia Blue macaw and red macaw and Yellow Macaw endangered and conservation efforts have been launched to protect this beautiful bird.
The birds are able to breed at the age of 3 or 4 years. It is believed that they will pair for the rest of their lives and will remain together until one of them dies. The Blue-and-Yellow macaw lays between two and three eggs in each nest. The female is the one who incubates eggs, while the male aggressively defends the nest. Once the chicks hatch they become altricial and must rely on their parents for food until they can feather themselves and feed themselves.
In the wild, Macaws are social birds and will spend their time in groups of other parrots and Macaws. They are extremely intelligent, and can learn a wide range of sounds. The Blue-and Yellow is a master flyer. It can be observed performing amazing aerial maneuvers, and soaring through forest canopy.
The Blue-and Yellow Macaw is a beautiful and charismatic creature. It is an excellent option for anyone who is seeking a pet that will provide companionship and entertainment.
This gorgeous, large tropical parrot is native to South America. It is monogamous and can be a mate for life and has a strong tendency toward mimicry. It also has a strong attraction to humans, and is able to learn the meaning of a variety of words and phrases.
The Blue-and-Yellow Macaw attains breeding age at 3 to 4 years old. Blue-and-yellow Macaws are known to be a couple for the rest of their lives and are found in small groups. The Blue-and-yellow can be found in a variety of habitats such as cloud forests, savannas rainforests, and jungles. The Blue-and-Yellow prefers make nests inside cavities in trees, which they create by using their powerful beaks. Females lay a couple of eggs, and incubate the clutch for about a month.