Parrots have been emerging as one of the best pets for people to adopt. Considering they’re extremely lively, loveable, and are all-around colourful and beautiful creatures. It makes sense why so many people are interested in the matter. You might not know that there are over 19 different species of Macaws, two of which are extinct.
Read about different types of Macaws briefly explained by Pritish Kumar Halder
Types of Macaws
Scarlet Macaw
The Scarlet Macaw is a gorgeously red, yellow, and blue parrot with a prominent color of red throughout its body. As far as looks are concerned, most people tend to seek out a Scarlet Macaw for being as lovely looking as one is. Like many other Macaws, a Scarlet Macaw is a considerable parrot and tends to be around 3 feet long and 2 to 3 pounds in weight. As long as you have the proper amount of room necessary to raise a parrot, you should be golden with raising a Scarlet Macaw.
Like many other Macaws, a Scarlet Macaw is native to South America and has an average lifespan of 50 years. As for their personality, a Scarlet Macaw is a very sassy parrot that’s filled with energy and personality.
Spix’s Macaw
If you take a look at a Spix’s Macaw and then a Scarlet Macaw, you wouldn’t even be able to think they were a part of the larger species of Macaws. Regardless of this, Spix’s Macaws are beautifully blue parrots and are sometimes referred to as the little blue Macaw.
A Spix’s Macaw is generally a bit smaller than a Scarlet Macaw. And is around 2 feet in length, and usually weighs just under 1 pound. Although they’re smaller than many other Macaws, they’re still a colossal parrot and require a lot of extra room and space. Like many other Macaws, a Spix’s Macaw is native to Brazil and has an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Personality-wise, Spix’s Macaws are energetic and noisy parrots that want nothing more than to play and enjoy life.
Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw is an all-blue, stunningly gorgeous parrot that captivates everyone who looks at one. Besides having a predominantly dark blue overtone, a Hyacinth Macaw also has a yellow outline over its eyes and mouth. Hyacinth Macaws are usually around 3 to 3.5 feet in length and weigh 2.5 to 4 pounds. Making them one of the world’s largest Macaws. Make sure you purchase a large enough cage and have the proper amount of room necessary for them.
For their native region, Hyacinth Macaws are native to South America and have an average lifespan of 50 years. Although they appear frightening by their massive size, a Hyacinth Macaw is usually referred to as a gentle giant. They’re incredibly loving and calm parrots compared to many other species of Macaws.
Blue and Yellow Macaw
For a more traditional looking parrot in the sense of what a pirate parrot looks like. A Blue and Yellow Macaw tends to fit this description best. Besides having a blue and yellow appearance, a Blue and Yellow Macaw is 2.5 to 3 feet in length and weighs around 2 to 2.5 pounds.
With their large size comes with the apparent requirements to properly raise them. Ensure you take the time necessary to clean up after them frequently and have everything on hand when you do. Otherwise, you run the risk of them causing a massive mess since they’re so large. They’re native to South and Central America and typically have a lifespan of 30 to 35 years.
Red and Green Macaw
For a color variation to the Blue and Green Macaw, the Red and Green Macaw is a beautiful parrot with everything you hope to have in a parrot and more. They’re native to Central America and are most commonly found in forests and woodlands. Size-wise, Red and Green Macaws are usually around 3 feet in length and weigh approximately 2.5 to 3 pounds.
Like many other Macaws, they’re a gigantic species, meaning you’ll need to have enough food and living space for them. Otherwise, issues will arise. They tend to have a very long life and can live up to 70 years old on average. Despite their large size, Red and Green Macaws are extraordinarily tame and affectionate creatures and are typically very easy-going.
Red-Shouldered Macaw
For a more attractive looking Macaw, a Red-Shouldered Macaw is an almost entirely small-green parrot with a red hint on their shoulder. The parrot is native to the tropical lowlands, savannah, and swamplands of Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, and parts of Peru. As for their size, a Red-Shouldered Macaw is one of the smallest Macaws. But still is around 12 inches in length and is approximately 5 to 6 ounces in weight.
Although they’re a smaller Macaw compared to others, they’re still a relatively large parrot compared to some species. They also have an average lifespan of 40 to 50 years. Most people associated red-shouldered macaws with being intelligent and charming parrots. Making them an excellent species to consider adopting.
Military Macaw
Although they have a bit of a frightening name, a Military Macaw is a stunningly multi-colored parrot that’s native to scattered parts of Central and South America. They’re typically found in lowland forests, and adjacent cleared areas, wooded foothills, and canyons.
Military Macaws generally have a lifespan of 60 years and are 3 to 3.5 feet in length, and are 2 to 2.5 pounds weight-wise. Personality-wise, Military Macaws are the total opposite of what their name might make them sound like, they’re tame and good-natured parrots.
Blue-Throated Macaw
For another slightly-different color variation of a Macaw, we have the Blue-Throated Macaw, a parrot native to Bolivia. Appearance-wise, a Blue-throated Macaw is a blue and yellow looking Macaw with a strong sense of blue around its throat. They have a stunning lifespan of 80 years, making them a lifelong partner for any human who is interested in adopting one. Size-wise, they’re around 3 feet in length and weigh about 2 pounds or so, making them a fairly large parrot.
As for their personality, Blue-throated Macaws aren’t boisterous and loud parrots like many other Macaws. They’re typically shy and reclusive, but still require a large amount of space due to their naturally large size.
Chestnut-Fronted Macaw
The Chestnut-fronted Macaw is another predominantly green parrot but has a hint of red and chestnut color on its front. They’re an overall gorgeous looking parrot that’s native to Northern South America and is found all over this large section of the continent. They have an extended lifespan of 30 to 80 years, depending on their health concerns and how they’re brought up. They’re traditionally a bit smaller than most Macaws and are roughly 18 inches in length and weigh around 12 ounces.
Great Green Macaw
As you can tell by their name, a Great Green Macaw is an excellent predominantly light green parrot with shades of blue and red. They’re native to Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador, meaning they’re all-around South America. Although most Great Green Macaws have an average lifespan of 50 years, some can live closer to 70 years, making them an excellent parrot to consider adopting for that reason alone.
They’re tremendous with a length of around 3 feet and weigh roughly 3 pounds. If you find a Great Green Macaw in the wild, they’ll typically be in pairs and are in family groups of three.
Blue-Winged Macaw
The Blue-Winged Macaw is precisely what it names sound like, a green Macaw with a blue shade on its wings. Besides blue, the parrot also has hints of red and yellow throughout its entire body. It’s native to Brazil and is primarily found in evergreen forests.
The Blue-Winged Macaw typically has a lifespan of 50 to 60 years. With some living much longer depending on how well they’re taken care of. As for their size, they’re relatively small for being a Macaw and are 14 to 17 inches in length and usually weigh around 9 ounces.
Lear’s Macaw
For a more attractive looking Macaw, the Lear’s Macaw, also known as the Indigo Macaw. It is a dark blue parrot that’s native to Brazil. They typically inhabit shrublands and live in colonies, making them found in large groups. They usually have a lifespan of 50 years, making them an almost lifelong partner, depending on how old you are.
Besides their dark blue look, they’re roughly 2.5 to 3 feet in length and weigh around 2 to 2.5 pounds. As for their personality, Lear’s Macaws are confident and noisy creatures that love to spend time with their owners.
Red-Fronted Macaw
Like many other Macaws on this list, the Red-Fronted Macaw is almost entirely green, but as you can assume, their face is almost entirely red in the front. They’re native to Bolivia and are typically found in the small mountainous South-Central area of the country. Size-wise, Red-fronted Macaws are relatively large parrots and are roughly 2 feet in length and weigh around a pound.
Like you can imagine with a Red-fronted Macaw, they’re incredibly mischievous and animated parrots. Making them a very curious parrot.
Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw is one of the most compelling and unique looking parrots in the world. Their large beak and greyish blue look makes them one of the most sought-after parrots.
They’re native to Paraguay and are traditionally found in subtropical gallery forests. Like many other Macaws, Glaucous Macaws are relatively large parrots and are around 3 feet in length while weighing roughly 2.5 to 4 pounds.
As for their personality, a Glaucous Macaw typically gives off the vibe as a frightening and dominating creature, but the reality is quite the opposite. They’re actually incredibly gentle and loving, making them one of the best parrots to consider adopting.
Golden-collared Macaw
Whenever someone sees the word gold, they tend to get a bit of an interest in the matter, and this should be thought of when it comes to a Golden-collared Macaw. Their body is almost entirely green with a gold collar, making them an excellent choice to consider in the parrot world. They’re native to Central America and are generally thought of to be a bit smaller than most Macaws.
They’re around 15 inches in length and usually weigh 8 to 10 ounces. Making them one of the most miniature Macaws. Despite being smaller than most Macaws, they have around the same lifespan of 50 years. Personality-wise, Golden-collared Macaws are affectionate and mischievous creatures, meaning they love to get into stuff that interests them.
Red-Bellied Macaw
Like many other Macaws on this list, the Red-Bellied Macaw is a green and blue parrot that has an area of red on them, which is located on their belly. They’re native to South America and can be found in the tropical Amazonian across the continent. They’re usually 18 inches in length and weigh around 11 ounces, with some being lighter or heavier depending on their sex and diet. Generally speaking, having a Red-Bellied Macaw as a pet is incredibly rare since there are not many of them left in the wild, but this isn’t to say this is impossible.
Blue-Headed Macaw
Like the many other Macaws on this list, the Blue-Headed Macaw is an almost entirely green Macaw, but as you can tell by their name, they have a blue head. They’re native to Eastern Peru, North-Western Bolivia, and far Western Brazil. They typically have an average lifespan of 40 years, making them a fantastic parrot to have if you’re looking for a pet to be a significant part of your life for a long time. Besides their lifespan, they’re usually 15 to 16 inches in length and weigh around 10 to 11 ounces. Although they like to spend time by themselves, they still enjoy a substantial amount of time spent with their human counterpart, as long as it’s done on their time.
Cuban Macaw
For a slight change of native region compared to the several other parrots on this list, we have the Cuban Macaw. This beautifully red, yellow, and blue parrot is one of the most beautifully unique parrots globally. As you can expect with their name, they’re native to Cuba, but unfortunately, they became extinct in the 19th century.
Deforestation, hunting, and capturing them led to their extinction, meaning the species could never recover from it. Size-wise, they were 18 to 20 inches in length and weighed around 12 ounces or so. Although it’s challenging to say what their personality is like, it’s easy to infer, they were highly intelligent and social creatures since they typically were found in groups.
Martinique Macaw
For another group of extinct Macaws, we have the Martinique Macaw, an orange-bellied Macaw thought to have been endemic to the Lesser Antillean island of Martinique, in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
No one knows for sure when they went extinct, but most tend to think they disappeared sometime during the 17th century. Their species was hypothesized due to a 1630s description by explorer Jacques Bolton who described seeing blue and orange Macaws.
Most theorize they were 15 to 20 inches in length and weighed around 12 ounces. Personality-wise, it’s challenging to say how they were as a species.
