“Hemingway” is a Calico Macaw with the parents being a Green-winged Macaw and a Military Macaw. At only three month old Hemingway is still just a youngster. Hybrid macaws will inherit the personalities of both the parents. In the case of a Calico Macaw like Hemingway, this makes for a very sweet, affectionate, and captivating pet.
Hybrid macaws are bred for color. The Calico Macaw is a first generation hybrid macaw, meaning its parents are two species of naturally occurring macaws.The Green-winged Macaw has been has long been a favorite pet bird for both its beauty and its good personality. The Military Macaw is also a favorite with a good temperament, very trainable and highly intelligent.
Because hybrid macaws are a mixture of more than one type of macaw, the offspring are influenced by the traits and characteristics of both of its parents. Father’s have the dominant gene, so this will generally influence the offspring’s coloration and overall appearance. However the behavior and temperament are more unpredictable.
The parentage of the Calico Macaw is a good mix for a pet bird, a hybrid parrot that is very attractive. With the intelligence and temperament of it parents, it should also be quite trainable, learn to talk and do tricks, and have an amiable nature. As with all macaws, they will require good socialization and consistent training to make good pets.
See hybrid information, breeding combinations, and photos of hybrid macaws on the Hybrid Macaws page.
Scientific name
The Calico Macaw is a first-generation hybrid macaw. It is a cross between a Green-winged Macaw Ara chloroptera and a Military Macaw Ara militaris.
Distribution
This is a captive-bred hybrid macaw. Hybrid macaws are rarely found in the wild.
Description
Calico Macaws are a very colorful hybrid. Both parents of the Calico Macaw contribute to the striking colors of their offspring, though the father’s have the dominant gene and this will influence their final appearance.
Most often the father is a Green-winged (male Green-winged macaws are more common than females). Some of the characteristics when sired by a Green-winged macaw will be a large bird, with the head and beak shape more typical of the Green-winged. These macaws have a green back with a bronze cast similar to the Military Macaw, but will have a deep red chest and belly.
Size – Weight
A full sized macaw similar to the Green-Winged macaw, they can get over 2 lbs. Lengths up to 90 cm (35.5 inches)
Care and feeding
A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.
Social Behaviors
Calico Macaws socialize and bond closely with one person but do well in a family situation also. They are a typical macaw and can be cranky at times. To have a well-rounded bird that enjoys more that one person, make sure it is well socialized with lots of folks.
Breeding/Reproduction
This is a hybrid and it use to be that they were generally not bred, however the breeding of hybrids is becoming more common.
Sexual differences
Potential Problems
Can be noisy (as can all macaws).
Availability
This bird is only occasionally available. There are more and more macaw breeders however, so finding these macaws for sale becomes easier as they become more common.
Featured Image Credit: Jace Hinton, Shutterstock
