The Hyacinth Macaw is a stricking bird to say the least, it is also the largest of all parrots. The HM is beautiful, intelligent, and not recommended for any private parrot owner. Hyacinths do much better in zoos and aviarys that can cater to their needs. A Hyacinth can live up to 80 years and be a very demanding bird, in which most individuals can’t care for, and a bite from one of these birds can seperate you from a finger or two. Hyacinths are smart and can imitate speech, tricks, yet they, like many large parrots tend to bond to only one or two people. They also prefer bonding with certain sexes of human….they either like a male or female. Many people buy hyacinths for sheer beauty and quickly learn that they do not do well in home settings, thus making me NOT recommend a hyacinth for any private home. These birds need space that only a zoo or aviary setting can accomplish.
Yes, I’m a bit biased about ‘tiels, but they are so cute.
I posted this video to contrast cockatiel speech with the previous talking budgie. While budgies and other parrots can form words thru speech, a cockatiel mostly forms words thru whistling. While some cockatiels are able to form actual words, most are formed thru a whistle…..enjoy!
Budgies make wonderful talkers, and this one is exceptional.
very funny video from the BBC
Blue and Gold Macaw
Like all large parrots, The B&G (Ara ararauna),is quite an investment that lives up to 80 years. It is the opinion of this blog that no novice or halfassed collector should own a large parrot. Young B&G’s are very sweet, but large birds like this reach puberty and change personality like the average teenage daughter. The only way to counteract this is to be a constant companion and do your best to counteract the hormones.
I do this blog for mostly smaller birds because large birds are a fancier’s nightmare, and require expertise. You may have a cool bird at first, but it will all change upon sexual maturity!
It can reach 76–86 cm (29.9-33.9 inches) long and weigh 900 to 1300 g (2-3 lbs). It is vivid in appearance with blue wings and tail, dark blue chin, golden under parts and a green forehead. Its beak is black, and very strong for crushing nuts. The naked face is white, turning pink in excited birds, and lined with small black feathers.
B&G’s are quite popular in aviculture due to their beauty and imposing nature, but the sad reality is that most people cannot handle such a large, intelligent bird. they require much more effort and knowledge from owners than more traditional pets such as dogs or cats. They are intelligent and social, so for someone who can provide for their needs, they make good and loving companion parrots. Blue-and-yellow Macaws bond very closely to their owners. They tend to be more aggressive during mating season, typically 6–8 weeks in the spring time. To own such a majestic bird reqires a lifelong commitment, a will of inheritance, because the bird will outlive you, and perhaps your children.
Even the most well cared for Blue-and-yellow Macaw will “scream” and make other loud noises. Loud vocalizations, especially “flock calls”, and destructive chewing are natural parts of their behavior and should be expected in captivity. Due to their large size, they require plentiful space in which to fly. According to World Parrot Trust, an enclosure for a Blue-and-yellow Macaw should not be smaller than 15 metres (50 feet) long.
In summary, a B&G is NEVER TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, and NEVER bought on impulse, it would be cruel for both you and the bird. Proceed with caution!!
galah cockatoo
the very first galatiel
The Galah (pronounced /ɡəˈlɑː/), Eolophus roseicapilla, also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo or Pink and Grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.
It is endemic in Australia (including Tasmania), where its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behaviour make it a familiar sight in the bush and increasingly in urban areas. It appears to have benefited from the change in the landscape since European colonisation and may be replacing the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo in parts of its range.
The term galah is derived from gilaa, a word found in Yuwaalaraay and neighbouring Aboriginal languages.
The Galah is about 35 cm (14 in) long and weighs 270–350 g. It has a pale grey to mid-grey back, a pale grey rump, a pink face and chest, and a light pink mobile crest. It has a bone coloured beak and the bare skin of the eye rings is carunculated. It has grey legs. The sexes appear similar, however generally adult birds differ in the colour of the irises; the male has a very dark brown (almost black) irises, and the female has a mid-brown/red irises. The colours of the juveniles are duller than the adults. Juveniles have greyish chests, crowns, and crests, and they have brown irises and whitish bare eye rings, which are not carunculated.
Galahs are highly social and very long-lived; though they are sometimes kept as pets, this is not something to be undertaken lightly as they bond socially with their owners and may well outlive them, and like most cockatoos, are noisy and require a great deal of attention and care. They are however very easy to keep and maintain as pets. Both male and female galahs are great talkers, but the male is thought to be the better talker. They’re very loving and affectionate birds that have a tendency to purr like cats as a sign of their affection. They form a very strong bond with their owner and like to think of themselves as ‘part of the family’. However, they do like their privacy at times and are quite happy to simply be around the family rather than be handled all hours of the day. Here in the states, Galahs are not cheap to pruchase, as I’ve seen examples go for as much as $2500 dolars. With that said, galahs are wonderful, friendly birds that share many positive tempermenr traits with cockatiels, without all the high maintenance fuss of a large cockatoo. It has also been proven that Galahs are capable of interbreeding with cockatiels. One example of a “Galatiel” exists in Australia, and is concidered priceless. The Galahtiel looks like a large cockatiel with some pink features.
—-finding a better way to clean up poop is an obssession
—-the carpet withing a 10 foot radius of your cage is ruined
—-many of your favorite shirts are destroyed
—-your bird toy budget is more than your life insurance payment
Carrots for parrots 