Greenwing VS. Blue Throated VS. Scarlet

Which Macaw is better as a pet?

  • Blue Throated Macaw

    Votes: 7 53.8%
  • Greenwinged Macaw

    Votes: 6 46.2%
  • Scarlet Macaw

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13

Praenuntius

New member
Jul 11, 2015
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From my understanding, Blue Throateds are the most quiet, Greenwing is the most friendly, and Scarlet is the loudest.


I did research on all of these, so I know the basics that you would read on a normal info-page on these Macaw's. Anything else I should know about these three? Narrowed my interest to these three. :red1::red:
 
Honestly, I'd stay away from the Scarlet if you don't have big mac experience. They tend to be the beakiest of the bunch. Very pinchy birds.

The easiest to handle is probably the blue throat. I've played with several of these guys and they've all been mush macs.

I'm partial to greenwings myself, for obvious reasons... provided you know how to train one, of course. They can occasionally have dominance issues, which usually relate to how they are raised. Teaching a greenwing to use his beak to express himself (accidentally or otherwise) tends to be a really bad idea...

My greenwing is one of the sweetest birds known to man...

So is Zoe. (BTM)

Either way.

Don't pick based on a poll. Go and interact with them. Fall in love with one... choose that one.

Everything else is hot air.
 
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Honestly, I'd stay away from the Scarlet if you don't have big mac experience. They tend to be the beakiest of the bunch. Very pinchy birds.

The easiest to handle is probably the blue throat. I've played with several of these guys and they've all been mush macs.

I'm partial to greenwings myself, for obvious reasons... provided you know how to train one, of course. They can occasionally have dominance issues, which usually relate to how they are raised. Teaching a greenwing to use his beak to express himself (accidentally or otherwise) tends to be a really bad idea...

My greenwing is one of the sweetest birds known to man...

So is Zoe. (BTM)

Either way.

Don't pick based on a poll. Go and interact with them. Fall in love with one... choose that one.

Everything else is hot air.

Of course I wouldn't pick one based off a poll. I'm interested in seeing the opinions of others. I was leaning towards blue throateds while posting this. Mainly was wondering if there is anything else I should know about the three.

I also really appreciate the summary of them. Kinda saw that coming with Scarlets. Thanks!
 
If I were picking today I'd choose from BTM, RFM, GW & B&G. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. They all can be super sweet and funny.

Although I think the scarlets are one of the prettiest parrots ever I wouldn't choose one.
 
I don't own a macaw, but I have noticed on this forum, other forums, people on youtube ect... those BTM's are escape natural artists. EVERYONE it seems who has one has serious problems with them dismantling their cages and getting out (and causing trouble). Haven't heard so much about GW or scarlets being abnormally bad with that issue, but it seems to be an inherent trait of BTM's. All individuals have the potential to be that way of course, but some are particularly notorious for it as a species and BTMs are one of those species.

I grew up with a cockatoo who was a little escape artist and it is a super frustrating/irritating trait to have in a bird (IMHO). Constantly replacing cages, having to padlock EVERYTHING shut on the cage (multiple padlocks), worrying if your gone at work/running errands the bird will get out and destroy the house ext... Having that trait be known to be extremely common in a species would STRONGLY impact my decision to not get that species personally. If I had to choose between the 3, I'd probably look at the greenwings. They seem to be more in line behaviorally with the birdie personality type I appreciate personally (friendly, yet independent and good candidates for not needing to be watched every single second their out).
 
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You mean aside from Maggie snapping the door hinge off her macaw cage, or ripping the latches off her treat cups?! :D Bending the locking mechanism so that you couldn't close it? That sort of stuff?!

Macaws, (and that means all of them), are very mechanically inclined.

That being said, BTM's are the MOST mechanically inclined.

My red front also removes cage doors. (She just unbolts hers, as opposed to breaking hinges. You can put those back on and switch to aircraft quality lock washers. Fixed her little wagon...)
 
From what I have read on here, I would consider a red front macaw as well....

Honestly I have a red front, and I've pet sat/hand fed BTMs...

Frankly, they are very, very close in personality.

I love them both, obviously.

Red fronts are half the cost of a BTM, and just as mushy, so I got the red front.
 
Honestly, all macaws have a propensity for mushy, IF they get handled, and if they get out time, and if they get the proper amount of socialization.

They are high maintenance. These are attention oriented birds who are very affectionate and playful, but don't take kindly to being ignored/not being included in the fun. They are the most toddler like of the bunch, in both the good ways (affection/play) and the bad ways (Tantrums/button pushing.)

All macaws go through a testing phase. That to me is the hardest time in macaw ownership... getting through the testing phase with them.

One thing you never do with a macaw is show fear. If they figure out that they can get what they want by bullying you... that's when you have problems.
 
Bird man, your comment about teaching them to communicate with their beaks....with my B&G I've always beak wrestled with him and when he bites too hard i say no and it seems to go well. 99% of the time when he's out he's got my fingers in his claw mouthing them. Is that okay? Would you not do that with a GW? Sorry for hijacking the post ;-)
My two cents, my B&G is a total character of nonstop energy. He's like a border collie in bird form.
 
I've never seen a big mac that didn't enjoy beak wrestling with your fingers.

And my fingers, as well as my daughters fingers, are constantly in and around my Greenwing's beak...

And she's a big 'un.... Snapped the hinge on a Kings double macaw cage clean in half.

She's that gentle with us.
 

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