MACAW PARROTS 

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The Macaw is my favorite of all parrots. There are 16 know species of Macaws that are still alive. Almost all of the Caribbean species of Macaws are now extinct. However, because of the lack of physical evidence, most Caribbean Macaw species can only be classified as hypothetically extinct. Only two species of Macaw have been proven to be extinct. Due to rapid deforestation and illegal trapping many macaws are endangered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild or just extinct.

Macaws parrots are very colorful birds, and even in the same species their colors are as unique as a finger print. There is no direct color not found on a Macaw. Some species of the Macaw parrot have every single color of the rainbow, plus black and white.

Unlike other large birds the Macaw is not a bird of prey, they like fruits, berries and nuts though nuts usually are not found in the wild. Some of the fruit eaten by Macaws lack the right nutrients because they are not the right kind of fruit or are not ripe enough. There are a lot of tropical fruit and fruit seeds that are poisonous when the fruit is not ripe. It is believed the Macaw parrot will eat clay to neutralize the poisonous fruit and seeds to pass through body, without harming the bird.

Some of the Macaw species are known for their impressive size. The largest Macaw in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw weighing up to 4.4 pounds and up to 3 feet long with a wing span of 4 to 4.5 feet. The heaviest Macaw is the Buffon weighing up to 6.6 pounds. Macaw parrots are not all big. The smallest is the Red-shouldered Macaw and is only 12 to 14 inches long.

Macaws are wonderful birds to have, though pricey, ranging any where from $600-$3000 USD.   If you what to buy a bird for companionship, Macaws are great.  If you want a bird that will learn to talk you may be disappointed. Macaws are better at squawking then talking and can take over 5 years to learn to say one word however, if you are persistent and patient with a Macaw it might start talking in as little as 2 to 3 years!   Macaws require big cages, lots of care and are not for busy people.

Upon your death you should always have, in writing, a statement saying who you want to to have your beloved Macaw parrot to go to (for) depending on upon the species, Macaws can live as long as 60-80 years. ~Anthony Benjamin~

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