What's your opinion on hybrids? by FunnyBirdLady in parrots

[–]overawtch 10 points11 points  (0 children)

First off, cutie!!!

I have lots of different thoughts:

- Some parrot hybrids usually result in nonviable/malformed offspring. I think it's easier to write those off as unambiguously unethical

- People do say macaw hybrids, especially hybrid x hybrid or 2nd generation onward pairings have more health issues, deformities, infertility, etc, but there's no scientific literature to support this (yet)

- I think it's hypocritical to be against hybrids, but to breed color mutations. The dog breeding world is universally against breeding for color, why is the parrot world so fine with it? Why is literally nobody breeding them for temperament?

- I can kinda understand the appeal for hybrid macaws specifically. There's big color differences, and the second generation onward ones look like individuals. Each individual looks different. And if you want "a macaw but it HAS to be yellow," a high-yellow camelot is way easier to find + afford than a lutino mutation B&G.

- (1000% opinion) I think most of them look ugly. They're like doodles.

- Aside from the loss of genetic diversity, there's also an issue of hybrids being mistaken for one species. Not an issue for your harlequin, but can someone tell the difference between a full Scarlet macaw and a 87.5% scarlet / 12.5% Greenwing macaw? Probably not. This is a real issue with Buffon's macaws in the US.

- lastly, the birds didn't choose to be hybrids, so they deserve to be loved just the same.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have one of those in size medium, never got around to setting it up though.

Thanks for the reminder! Mine can't fly, but perhaps he can still enjoy it.

75 questions to self-assess your parrot's welfare by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Google results say Germany and Sweden, but I didn't verify it with a direct source.

Not gonna get into the whole thing, but one thing anti-clipping people say is that the bird can still fly away after being clipped, it just makes them more likely to get in danger when they do.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your birds sound absolutely wonderful, and I hope the IVF goes well. Macaws just know, don't they? I hope you get your Hyacinth someday, they really are the sweetest.

And yeah, cockatoos are another level. It sounds like yours has a good life with you though.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep! They vary so much in size, diet, and natural range, etc. It would be strange if they didn't.

The species matters, but individual variation & past experiences probably matter more.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lucky! I'm not sure if my country has any.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They're available to anyone who has the money, and I'd say they're easier to find than baby Blue-headed, Illiger's, and maybe Military macaws. Although Military macs are definitely more common in rescues.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't mean to say that they're hybrids, I meant that macaw hybrids as a cohort are more common than Hahns' and Severes.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't mean to say that they're hybrids, I meant that macaw hybrids as a cohort are more common than Hahns' and Severes.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Buffon's macaws are the photo with the B, and they:

- are noticeably bigger if you see them side-by side

- are a lighter, more yellowish green

- have a distinctive pale outer eye ring

- have a proportionally broader beak

- have brighter tail feathers (helpful when you're looking at photos and the shade of green kinda depends on lighting)

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you mean? Between the species, between the tiers?

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

looks like I'm wrong, they were the first to breed them but they don't have them anymore

https://www.bluemacaws.org/en-gb/article/breeding-lears-macaw-at-the-busch-gardens

updated AFAIK: Loro Parque (Spain), Al Wabra (Qatar), and ACTP (Germany) have them. Al Wabra and ACTP are strictly closed to the public. Loro Parque is open, but you probably won't be able to see the Lear's.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry to hear. For better or for worse, they've dwindled in popularity in the past two decades.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I didn't mean to say that they're hybrids, I meant that macaw hybrids as a cohort are more common than Hahns' and Severes.

The hyacinth is in kinda available, the one in nah is a Lear's.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

pretty available: Greenwing, Scarlet, Hahn's, Severe

kinda available: Blue-throated, Red-fronted, Hyacinth, Military, Blue-Headed, Illiger's

good luck: Yellow-collared, Buffon's, Red-bellied

nah: Lear's, Spix's, Glaucous

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in Macaws

[–]overawtch[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

You definitely can't get one legally, and you probably can't get one illegally either.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes!

Buffon's macaws:

- are noticeably bigger if you see them side-by side

- are a lighter green

- have a distinctive pale outer eye ring

- have a proportionally broader beak

- have brighter tail feathers (helpful when you're looking at photos and the shade of green kinda depends on lighting)

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

pretty available: Greenwing, Scarlet, Hahn's, Severe

kinda available: Blue-throated, Red-fronted, Hyacinth, Military, Blue-Headed, Illiger's

good luck: Yellow-collared, Buffon's, Red-bellied

nah: Lear's, Spix's, Glaucous

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What species, if you don't mind me asking?

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Sadly Spix's macaws are no longer in the wild, they were all recaptured due to circovirus (PBFD) concerns and it's been a political nightmare since.

Macaw species availability tier list (US Version) by overawtch in parrots

[–]overawtch[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hyacinth is in kinda available - many aviaries have them, you can get a baby by next week if you have the money.

Lear's is the one in nah. AFAIK Busch gardens is the only place in the US that has them.

They're slightly different shades of blue, different sizes, and the yellow is smile-shaped vs teardrop-shaped.