Chirper : Macaws

Macaws are one of the great treasures we have in aviculture. They are very intelligent and everyone has a different personality. Macaws are the largest parrots in the world and arguably the most beautiful. Hand-fed baby macaws have grown in popularity because of their endearing pet qualities and their ability to talk or "mimic" human speech.

Originating from South America, the macaw is a striking and impressive bird. A large variety of Macaw species are available as pets, ranging from the smaller Macaws such as the Red Shouldered Macaw (30cm in length) and Yellow-Collared Macaw (38cm in length) to the larger Scarlet Macaw (85cm in length). Macaws are very intelligent birds and require an owner who is willing to provide the necessary stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.

Of the conure species, the Sun Conure Aratinga solstitialis is the most desirable because of its particularly friendly and cheeky nature. It has bright yellow plumage, tinged with orange and green. In the wild, Sun Conure flocks frequent the savannahs of southern Surinam. This flock-type social structure makes the Sun Conure a particularly animated bird that communicates through actions rather than words. Sun Conures do however have a high pitched squawk and can be very noisy pets. Continuing obedience training is necessary to prevent this from becoming a problem

This includes providing lots of toys on which they can chew. Macaws deprived of such toys often become very destructive, using their large, strong beaks to chew on their cage and other household items. Macaws have an excellent talking ability, however constant training is also required to prevent this beautiful parrot from becoming excessively loud. The Macaw is a very sociable parrot and will most often develop a strong bond with its owner, making it a wonderful pet for those experienced in the care and training of a companion parrot. As with any parrot species, a hand reared male macaw from aviary bred parents always makes the best pet.