Macaws are New World parrots that belong to the true parrot family Psittacidae. Thanks to their bright color and vocal nature, they are some of the most popular birds in aviculture. They range throughout Central and South America and parts of the Caribbean.
You can find them in rainforests and woodlands, although some species can no longer be found in the wild. Here is a list of 10 incredible macaw facts demonstrating what makes these birds so cool.
Researchers classify macaws as true parrots, which means they belong to the same family as other well-known birds such as the grey parrot and cockatoo. Like parrots at large, they come in various shapes, colors, and sizes that distinguish them from one another.
In the wild, macaws are social birds that live in flocks containing 10 to 30 members. Within these groups, macaws constantly squawk at each other. They can create unique vocalizations to mark their territory or identify their mates.
A macaw’s powerful beak allows it to bite through the tough outer shells of nuts and seeds. In fact, their beaks are so strong that they can even bite through the shell of a coconut.
However, they don’t hold a candle to the largest macaw of them all, the hyacinth macaw. At their largest, hyacinth macaws can reach up to 39 inches long and weigh between 2.3 and 3.7 pounds.