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 f the 328 species of parrots, the Macaw represents 17 living and 2 extinct species, including the largest of all parrots, the Hyacinth Macaw. With a natural habitat extending from Mexico to South America, it has one of the most extensive ranges of all parrots. |
Gregarious by nature, individuals are flock-oriented. They have a very structured routine that includes foraging and preening during the day followed by moving to carefully selected "sleep trees" at night. A popular place to observe macaws in the wild is the Tambopata clay lick in Peru - not only the
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| largest of all known clay licks, but the only one that Blue and Gold Macaws are known to frequent. In total, 6 species of macaws have been counted at Tambopata, including the endangered Scarlet Macaw. Today's macaws available for the pet industry come mainly from private breeders as importation is closely regulated by the C.I.T.E.S. agreement. Of the 17 living macaw species, 11 are threatened with extinction in the wild.
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| Interesting Facts: |
| Species: |
Macaw |
| Habitat: |
Mexico & South America except most of Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina |
| Behavior: |
Friendly, curious and very intelligent |
| Family: |
Psittacine |
| Genus: |
Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Diopsittaca |
| Size: |
From 12" (Hahn's/ Noble Macaw) to 40" (Hyacinth Macaw) |
| Diet: |
Nuts, some fruits/greens |
| Endangered: |
11 of 17 species highly threatened. 6 species regulated for importation. |
| Special Needs: |
Require more fat in diet than other parrots. |
| Owner Challenges: |
Parrots are messy eaters - the bigger, the messier. Providing adequate interaction and stimulation (enrichment). |
| Life Span: |
35 - 80 years, sometimes longer. |
| Average Cost: |
$500 for smaller macaws, up to $2,500 for larger and rarer macaws. |
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PRODUCTS RELATED TO:
Perches & Playstands
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