Military macaw There are several varieties of this small to large sized parrot. The more common are: Blue and Gold - largely blue upper surface and tail. The neck and chest are a bright yellow, while the cheeks have a black band that runs down to the chin. The crown and forehead are green while the white cheeks have rows of black feathers, this bird measures 34 inches. Scarlet - feathers are a rich mix of red, blue and yellow with some green markings and a lg. bare cheek, while the upper beak is white and the lower beak is black, this bird measures 33 inches. Hahn's Macaw - this is a mini-macaw, predominantly green body, red plumage is on the shoulder and underwing, with a greenish blue forehead. This bird measures 12 inches

Traits: If properly cared for, the Macaw can live 40 to 90 years depending on the species. The Macaw is clever and can be taught to do simple tricks and sometimes fairly complex ones. They love having their cheeks rubbed and their necks scratched. Although they are capable of limited speech, macaws are not great talkers. The words or phrases that they utter are usually quite loud and sometimes distorted. As with many large birds, Macaws are gentle and confident even when handled by stranger. Macaws make friendly, clever pets. Respectful treatment is recommend, as their beaks are extremely powerful. Macaws tend to bond with one person or territory and need to a great deal of socialization and stimulation to stay a happy, healthy member of your family.

Feeding: A macaw should eat a staple diet of fresh pellet formula or a fortified parrot seed diet. Pelleted diets are recommended because each pellet contains balanced nutrition. Besides a variety of pellet or a seed mix diet, offer chopped dark green and yellow vegetables and a variety of fresh fruits in addition to a protein source like mature legumes, hard cooked chopped egg, and grated cheese. Avoid the following foods: Iceberg lettuce, and cabbage, (these can cause severe diarrhea); caffeine (contained in chocolate and soda); avocado and parsley, (these can be poisonous). Raisins and bananas should be given in moderation (these can cause constipation). Remove fresh fruits and vegetables within 2 hours of offering to prevent spoilage. If the bird gets too much liquid from the fresh fruits and vegetables, the droppings could become runny and discolored. Stop the fresh fruits and vegetables for a day to see if this is the reason. Birds require fresh water each day. Wash and rinse their water cup out thoroughly prior to adding fresh water to reduce bacteria growth. Powdered vitamins (only necessary if on a seed diet) can be lightly sprinkled on the fresh food, but putting it in the water can encourage bacterial growth.

Housing: When choosing a cage for your bird, remember width is more beneficial to the bird than height. Macaws should be able to stretch their wings and still have room for a variety of toys without hitting them, therefore, they larger the cage the better. Ideally, the cage for a macaw should measure a minimum of 24" length by 48" high and 36" wide. Perches are an essential part of the cages and should be chosen to suit the feet of the bird. A variety of perch sizes, shapes, and diameters will help exercise the bird's feet and toes. Place perches strategically to prevent droppings from contaminating water and food dishes and to prevent the tail from hanging in dishes or on the floor.

A variety of toys, such as bells and wooden blocks in the bird's cage, these will assist you in entertaining your bird. Be sure that when choosing toys that they be intended for a large parrot and not for something small for cockatiels or parakeets. Always have a cuttlebone or mineral block available to supply calcium and prevent beak overgrowth. To aid the bird in keeping itself clean, we recommend lightly misting it with warm tepid water on a weekly basis. Place your bird's cage below eye-level in a bright area free from drafts and direct sunlight.