Macaw
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Some Advantages

• Sociable, outgoing personality
• Highly intelligent
• Adjusts well to change
• Breeds easily
• Loves to perform

Some Challenges

• Not as cuddly as a cockatoo, for example
• May take things apart
• May escape from its cage
• Should be hand-fed to encourage tameness
• Large size requires large cage
• Noise level

Size
Wingspan ranges from 41 to 45 inches, and its length ranges from 30 to 35 inches (including the tail)

Weight
900 to 1,200 grams

Colors
Turquoise blue with yellow underside, green on the crown

Life Expectancy
Genetics and diet play a strong role in the lifespan of a bird. The macaw has been known to live 50 years or more.

The macaw is outgoing, friendly and intelligent, and it easily adjusts to new surroundings. Although the macaw can be content to play by itself (either with toys or by swinging around its cage) this bird thrives on attention from its human flock. A macaw owner should be prepared for a bird that can be loud, high-pitched and repetitive. This is not a bird for a noise-sensitive person, or for someone who lives in an apartment or townhouse.

History and Origin 
The macaw is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam and Trinidad. In the wild, you’ll find the macaw (Ara ararauna) traveling with its own species, but also socializing with scarlet macaws, blue and gold macaws and green-winged macaws in the treetops and on the claylicks. It is bred in captivity in the United States and is commonly available as a pet.

General Information
These are very social birds that must have daily interaction. A macaw that has been raised to enjoy petting will continue to enjoy it, and may even let its owners hold it in their arms. Consider placing the macaw’s cage in a well-trafficked area where the family spends much of it time. The cage itself should be quite large (at least 3 feet wide by 3 feet long and 4 feet tall). There should be enough room to accommodate the macaw’s large wingspan, as well as the length of the tail. Perches should be placed high enough that the macaw’s tail doesn’t scrape the bottom of the cage.

There should be room in the cage for large, safe toys that are rotated regularly. Safe toys include those made of rope and nontoxic hardwoods (like manzanita and eucalyptus), along with sturdy, acrylic toys in bright colors. Soft woods should also be available for a macaw to destroy, such as pesticide-free fruit-tree branches. An inquisitive blue and gold may turn just about any household item into a toy (including potentially toxic keys, coins, pens, and nuts and bolts), so it should never be left unattended when out of the cage.
 Although not as strong an imitator as an African grey or an Amazon, macaws do have the ability to learn to talk. How much they talk depends greatly on the environment where they are raised. Many will talk by about one year old. Beyond talking, their vocalizations are generally louder than the smaller parrots but are quieter than cockatoos and Amazons. These vocalizations can be high-pitched, especially at sunrise, sunset and feeding times, and they can be repetitive.

Health
The macaw's diet should consist primarily of a pelleted food manufactured for large parrots, and can be supplemented with seeds, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy table foods. A macaw on a pelleted diet will not need additional fat because the pelleted diet will provide the required amount. Macaws on an all-seed diet are commonly overweight and even obese. This can lead to many health problems, such as heart disease, fatty tumors and breathing difficulty.

The Ideal Owner
The ideal macaw owner is someone who is dedicated, has researched the species before buying it, and who is probably not a first-time bird owner. The owner should be able to provide a stable home life and consistent schedule for the bird, which will make the bird feel comfortable and secure.