Males vs females?

alcmene

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Jan 16, 2014
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Alabama
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sun conure- Lucy
cockatiel- Mr Peabody
What is the difference in personality between genders in macaws? Especially after reaching sexual maturity. Thanks!
 

Dinosrawr

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Aug 15, 2013
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Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Avery, a GCC born on March 5th, 2013 & Shiko, a blue IRN born on February 25th, 2014
I'm honestly not sure if there's ever a distinct difference between the sexes of birds, or at least in macaws, that always holds true. I think it would depend on species and simply how the bird was raised prior to reaching sexual maturity. I can't say even between my two birds (which are only a GCC and IRN) that Shiko behaves the way he does because he's male, or Avery because she's female.

But hopefully someone who has been around many macaws and many variations in species and biological sex will be able to determine that for you.
 

RavensGryf

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Jan 19, 2014
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College Station, Texas
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Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
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English Budgie
I do know there are definitely gender behavior differences in certain species, and not so much in other species.
I am not sure about macaws. Hopefully a macaw person will see this.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I do know there are definitely gender behavior differences in certain species, and not so much in other species.
I am not sure about macaws. Hopefully a macaw person will see this.

Agreed.

Male greenwings, can occasioally have dominance issues...

Males of the beakier speices i.e. Scarlet's. Buffons, and m;itaroies caj be a bit more territorial.

Other than that, not much. Males tend to show off more. They masterbate more during breeding season. Other than that, not much really.

As long as they get handled or socialized.
 
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alcmene

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Jan 16, 2014
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Alabama
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sun conure- Lucy
cockatiel- Mr Peabody
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I'm honestly not sure if there's ever a distinct difference between the sexes of birds, or at least in macaws, that always holds true. I think it would depend on species and simply how the bird was raised prior to reaching sexual maturity. I can't say even between my two birds (which are only a GCC and IRN) that Shiko behaves the way he does because he's male, or Avery because she's female.

But hopefully someone who has been around many macaws and many variations in species and biological sex will be able to determine that for you.

Some species absolutely have definite differences between the sexes. Male amazons specifically come to mind...
 
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alcmene

New member
Jan 16, 2014
112
0
Alabama
Parrots
sun conure- Lucy
cockatiel- Mr Peabody
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
I do know there are definitely gender behavior differences in certain species, and not so much in other species.
I am not sure about macaws. Hopefully a macaw person will see this.

Agreed.

Male greenwings, can occasioally have dominance issues...

Males of the beakier speices i.e. Scarlet's. Buffons, and m;itaroies caj be a bit more territorial.

Other than that, not much. Males tend to show off more. They masterbate more during breeding season. Other than that, not much really.

As long as they get handled or socialized.
I'm specifically wondering about blue throats and hyacinths. What do you think about sex related differences in those 2. Especially after reaching maturity. Is one or the other gender calmer? Noisier? Beakier? More apt to bite? Cuddlier? Etc, etc
 

Dinosrawr

New member
Aug 15, 2013
1,587
8
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Parrots
Avery, a GCC born on March 5th, 2013 & Shiko, a blue IRN born on February 25th, 2014
I'm honestly not sure if there's ever a distinct difference between the sexes of birds, or at least in macaws, that always holds true. I think it would depend on species and simply how the bird was raised prior to reaching sexual maturity. I can't say even between my two birds (which are only a GCC and IRN) that Shiko behaves the way he does because he's male, or Avery because she's female.



But hopefully someone who has been around many macaws and many variations in species and biological sex will be able to determine that for you.



Some species absolutely have definite differences between the sexes. Male amazons specifically come to mind...


Hahaha, yes, this is true. Hormones play an interesting game. I guess I was trying to say that it's really hard to predict in some birds whether or not the sex will impact that individual bird at sexual maturity, and that maybe it's nurture vs. nature that becomes more important in the end.

But I was mainly just trying to bump your post so someone would see it :) So I apologize for not really knowing a whole lot about the big guys. That's what the real macaw people are for :D
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I'm honestly not sure if there's ever a distinct difference between the sexes of birds, or at least in macaws, that always holds true. I think it would depend on species and simply how the bird was raised prior to reaching sexual maturity. I can't say even between my two birds (which are only a GCC and IRN) that Shiko behaves the way he does because he's male, or Avery because she's female.

But hopefully someone who has been around many macaws and many variations in species and biological sex will be able to determine that for you.

Some species absolutely have definite differences between the sexes. Male amazons specifically come to mind...

Yes, male amazons and female eckies are the worst offenders... but those are not macaws.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I do know there are definitely gender behavior differences in certain species, and not so much in other species.
I am not sure about macaws. Hopefully a macaw person will see this.

Agreed.

Male greenwings, can occasioally have dominance issues...

Males of the beakier speices i.e. Scarlet's. Buffons, and m;itaroies caj be a bit more territorial.

Other than that, not much. Males tend to show off more. They masterbate more during breeding season. Other than that, not much really.

As long as they get handled or socialized.
I'm specifically wondering about blue throats and hyacinths. What do you think about sex related differences in those 2. Especially after reaching maturity. Is one or the other gender calmer? Noisier? Beakier? More apt to bite? Cuddlier? Etc, etc


Those are two of the most docile sub species of big macs. And I have handled both males and females of both, and loved them all...

Neither species is particularly beaky.

BTM's take their cage apart bolt by bolt, where Hy's just rip the bars off...

They are both playful, they are both cuddlers, and I really don't see a male female dramatic difference here.

The dramatic difference is size and cost of ownership...

If you get a Hy, stainless steel cages are not optional. And Macadamia nuts and palm nuts are staples of their diets... So the expense of getting the bird is only the beginning. They are amazing birds, but... pricey to get, and pricey to take care of properly.
 
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RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Yes, male amazons and female eckies are the worst offenders... but those are not macaws.

I had a mature Grand Ekkie female, and for the approx 6 years I had her, she NEVER bit hard enough to draw blood no matter what. Can't say that about anyone else I have or had! I know... There are of course exceptions to everything.

Back to macaws, I've seen the you tube video of the Hy biting the bars of it's cage and snapping them like a twig, then crawling out the hole. :eek:
 

EAI

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Jul 25, 2014
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Honolulu, Hawaii
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Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
Yes, male amazons and female eckies are the worst offenders... but those are not macaws.



Back to macaws, I've seen the you tube video of the Hy biting the bars of it's cage and snapping them like a twig, then crawling out the hole. :eek:

Reminder: If I ever get locked up for whatever, find a way to bring a Hy inside to help me escape :D:D:D
 

4dugnlee

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Apr 27, 2014
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Ohio
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Sassy - 13 y.o. Blue Front Amazon, Cisco - 6 y.o. Sun Conure, Peanut - 8 y.o. U2
Fred - 2(?) y.o. Cockatiel, Ginger - 3 or 4(?) y.o. Cockatiel
BTM's take their cage apart bolt by bolt, where Hy's just rip the bars off...

Literally made me laugh out loud!! Thank you for that!!:D
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Well, it's true!

Would you look at that great big puzzle toy? Is that for me?!

That baby BTM I hand fed broke a record for figuring it out. I put him to bed in the cage downstairs after hand feeding. AND BY THE TIME I SAT DOWN UPSTAIRS AGAIN I heard the clank, the flapping of the wings, and the pitter patter of little feet...

And the stairs did not phase him in the slightest! CHARGE!

And just like that, he was back on my lap!

Which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about BTM personalities. (And if you need further confirmation, just look at any picture of Zoe. These are people oriented birds...)
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Yes, male amazons and female eckies are the worst offenders... but those are not macaws.

I had a mature Grand Ekkie female, and for the approx 6 years I had her, she NEVER bit hard enough to draw blood no matter what. Can't say that about anyone else I have or had! I know... There are of course exceptions to everything.

Back to macaws, I've seen the you tube video of the Hy biting the bars of it's cage and snapping them like a twig, then crawling out the hole. :eek:

Yep. Hy's pop cage welds with alarming frequency. Stainless steel cages are not optional with those guys.

As for the female eckies, it has to do with them getting bossy with the males during breeding season... (and occasionally demanding with their owners.) I've had male hot 3 amazons that never got out of line, or became territorial either, but they do have that breed propensity... I had a foster female eckie that was sweet as they come - WITH ME - very selective about calling other people friends.
 
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