Macaw Life Cycle

Macaws are very social birds that live for an average of 50 years.

There are 17 different species of the Macaw, who are all part of the parrot family, according to National Geographic. These birds are very social, traveling in packs of up to 30 macaws. They have beautiful colored feathers that vary depending on the species. Macaws are very colorful birds that are often kept as pets. They make good pets because of their social nature.

Lifespan

Many species of macaws are endangered due to the destruction of their natural habitat as well as the fact that they are being trapped to be sold as pets, according to National Geographic. These birds "have been said to live for up to 100 years," according to Avian Web, however the average lifespan is 50 years, with larger macaws living up to 65 years.

Adolescence

Macaws that have reached adolescence begin to be more troublesome, according to Animal World. Those who own macaws as pets should not allow bad behavior to happen because it will continue on through their lifetime and it's often irreversible. Pets who develop bad behavior become untrustworthy and do not make good pets. They are then used for breeding purposes instead of as companions, according to Animal World.

Mating

Macaws stay with the same mate throughout their lifetime. They choose their partners in the winter. Macaws groom each other and share food. They are ready to start participating in the breeding season when they are seven years old, according to Avian Web. If a macaw is kept in captivity as a pet and does not mate, they will bond primarily with their owner, according to Avian Web.

Nesting

During breeding season the female will incubate the eggs while the male hunts for food to bring back to their nest, according to National Geographic. The female lays eggs in clutches of two or three eggs, according to Animal World. For pet owners creating a nesting site for their macaws, the nesting box should be three times the body length of the bird in height, and once in width and depth, according to Animal World.

Hatchlings

It takes between 18 and 26 days for a Macaw's eggs to hatch, according to Animal World. Bigger Macaws lay an egg every other day, while smaller variations of the bird lay an egg every three days, according to Animal World. Once a macaw has been hatched it needs food such as fresh fruits.

References

• National Geographic: Macaw
• Animal World: Macaw Care Guide
• Avian Web: Macaws