Thanks for replying to my post, my daughter was so taken with this bird's beautiful orange breast feathers and he reached out from the bars of his cage and rubbed her hair she wasn't the one being so curious, it's me nosey mom. I just didn't realize that there were hybrid birds but this bird is beautiful and it sounds like they will make wonderful companions. Katz thanks for the history and Vin is beautiful. I suppose I should have thought twice before asking the question. Thanks again Karen

Naaaaa, ALWAYS ask, that's what this board is for.  So far, no war....whew!  Those hybrids take my breath away with their stunning beauty!  I don't think there's anything wrong with buying a bird because it's beautiful, nothing at all.   Your daughter should do what she wants,  we only get one chance to live this life.  Might as well make it good.

Tiva

You had every right to ask--and defense is one thing you do learn as a hybrid mom--so I apologize. I want to add some background for you also. Hybrids do appear in the wild--catalinas are not uncommon in central America and I am guessing there would be more if ranges crossed for more of the birds--The last Spix in existence tried to save his gene pool with a Hahns--in the wild-- but man in his infinite wisdom decided to take the eggs(guess hybridization is wrong to some even when its Mother Natures plan?) so that bird and any part of him is gone forever.      Katz

I too am a proud owner of a hybrid macaw. This is a pic of Cleo.my Catalina Macaw. My friend , who is a long time bird breeder tried to talk me out of getting her stating all the  negative reasons everyone else here has stated. We've had her 3 years and she is an absolute gem.We have a B&G & a Military and she is by far more colorful. Loves to be cuddled, never bites, tries to sing  along with me but ,oh my, she can't carry a tune. LOL!! She has an extensive vocabulary and talks in context. My breeder friend  ( for her own personal reasons)just doesn't beleive they should even be bred. I didn't know that they were common in Central America. Anyway just wanted to share this with you and your daughter. You will not be disappointed with your Catalina Macaw.

What a beautiful bird! When Vin takes up that nosey pose he generally asks me if I am eavesdropping?? I figure its one of the few things he is mixed up on--he is the eavesdropper!  Never misses a thing--looks like Cleo doesn't either!       Katz

I know what you mean Katzden. Cleo is always right in the middle of everything thats going on.Most macaws like to play on top of their cage buts she loves hanging on to the sides of her cage either inside or out , makes no difference, strikes up that pose and talks non stop...everything is a question!!. Another oddity she does is she will hang from the side of her cage by her beak and beak only , tuck her legs under her and do her macaw yell. and flip her wings like she's shrugging her shoulders. Have no idea why she does this but it must mean something. They certainly are entertaining !!!

I have a Catalina Macaw that is a cross between a Scarlet and a Blue and gold. I also have a Blue and Gold and a Scarlett and my Catalina is the best talker and is just as sweet as my other two.

Hello Karen, i own a Hybrid Macaw. she is a Harlequin Macaw, and her name is...Terra. she is a cross-between a Green-Winged Macaw, and a Blue/Gold Macaw. Her Mother is the Green-wing, and her Father is the Blue/Gold Macaw, and she is absolutely breathtaking!!! I have posted a pic of Terra, but this pic is a painted pic of her. her breast is actually more redder than the pic. if you need any more info on hybrids, contact me anytime. Donna.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, AND BY THE WAY, YOUR MACAW LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I OWN A HARLEQUIN MACAW, AND OMG SHE IS ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING, AND YES THESE BIRDS ARE THE MOST GORGEOUS BIRDS IN THE MACAW FAMILY!11 B/G WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE TIL I GOT MY HARLEQUIN!!! DONNA.

This is a friends hybrid and not intentionally bred. It's a beautiful macaw with spectacular colours....        Too2

I have no real opinion on hybrids.

They can be lovely but BEWARE.

Beware of choosing ANY species just because of the way it looks. Birds species are so incredibly different from each other that picking whats prettiest can be a VERY bad idea. Loving to look at a bird and wanting one in your home are VERY different things.

You will adore a happy well adjusted bird that fits in with your life but NO ONE keeps an ill behaved incompatible pet "because its so pretty".

(As a macaw owner I have gotten a few "wows" from visiting NON bird people when they see my bird. But big destroyed cages, big poops and big displays of my macaw's sense of humor generally result in a dismayed, "How can you live with that nutty thing???" LOL) 

 

Add in also that feather damage issues CAN occur. Hope not, but they can and do even in the BEST of circumstances. If its a sweet pet you adore, its not a biggie, but if your primary love was its apearance its a real problem.

 

I LOVE macaws. But I am a little strange in that I am fascinated by they way they move and the soft burbles they make when relaxed. For that reason, even stark naked macaws are just amazing to me.  But as far as recommending them as pets, there are MANY other parrots out there just as fun and loving and a LOT less work.

 

just my .02

Randa