Are Scarlets really prone to moodiness?

Hey all!

I have a bit of an interesting question. I would like to open up by saying: I was always under the assumption that the personality of any animal was usually a direct effect of how they were raised and socialized as opposed to something they were "born" to be... even if raised in perfect conditions.

Anyways, I have always heard that Scarlet Macaws are among the moodiest Macaw species out there. I've heard it from every person I worked with bird-wise (rescues, breeders, and my bird friends). They didn't really say why it was that way... but they always said that the Scarlets were always the ones that were prone to being a bit... mean or mood-swingy.

In fact, a local breeder here told me she would never want me to buy one of her Scarlet Macaw babies because they are mean by nature (then why list them for sale... amirite? I guess for breeders?).

Is there any truth to this? As far as looks went (before I started researching parrot breeds) I ALWAYS loved Scarlets and Blue and Golds. The rumors of the Scarlet's personality issues scared me away from them and of course the jovial attitude of the Blue and Gold was exactly what I wanted!

I'm sure they can't be all that unhinged, moody, temperamental, and dangerous or else no one would have them as pets... but why is there such a stigma against them?

I've always wanted to ask, but, wasn't a part of a parrot forum before!

Unfortunately true.....they're nippy and can be psychotic....lol.....but they're one of the ones I've been wanting to have for many years.

MikeyTN said:

Unfortunately true.....they're nippy and can be psychotic....lol.....but they're one of the ones I've been wanting to have for many years.

Click to expand...

They kinda remind me if a rhea.
They look beautiful, adorable and you can't help but love them, then you realize they are devils from h*ll
I met a scarlet once at a show who they let everyone pet. She was a bit nippy, nothing hard (it was a gentle bite), but when she got scared she clapped her wings and tried to take off a kids finger.
They didnt let us pet her anymore.

Yup... scarlets are known for their nippy behavior! I used to dream of having a scarlet, then learned more about them and decided they weren't for me!


I also know someone who has a scarlet and swears that he's a cockatoo in a macaws body!!! He's just that loveable and hands on!



Training can go a long ways into having a happy and healthy bird.

Wow! Really good to know it isn't just an old wives-tale or something. It's also good to know there are exceptions to the rule, too!

Thanks for the input guys! (and EESH about the Scarlet vs Child's hand... that could've ended badly!!)