Catalina macaw, Rainbow Macaw (in Australia)is a rainbow-colored parrot that is a very popular pet. In a way that few other parrots can claim, the Catalina combines the most popular parrot traits into one stunningly beautiful package.
Often, it’s the acrobatic colors of Catalina that attract people who adopt them. However, it is the comic characters that attract people.
Catalina Macaws are hybrid macaws, so they don’t have an actual scientific name. These birds are best represented in the taxonomy by the expression Ara ararauna x Ara macao
What is a Catalina macaw?
Catalina macaws are only produced in captivity. This breed was formed by crossing the blue and gold macaw with the scarlet macaw. Therefore, they originate in the homes of bird breeders all over the world.
It is interesting to note that Catalina has a more village-like appearance. This is because breeding genes in aviculture are dominant.
Since females blue-and-gold and scarlet-barred males are the most common, Catalinas will almost always be born with a blue-and-gold mother and scarlet father.
Catalina is the first-generation Macaw hybrid. This means that they are derived from two natural or “correct” planes.
Since this is such a beautiful bird, some breeders use it to breed a number of second-generation hybrid parrots (those from at least one hybrid bird).
It is also common to find second-generation Caltinas that are a cross between two Catalina parents.
Among the colored macaws to which Catalina has contributed its genes are:
- Catablu Macaw: bred with blue and gold macaws
- Camelina Macaw: bred with Camelot the duck (second generation hybrid)
- Camelot Macaw: bred with the scarlet macaw
- Flame Macaw: bred with green parrot
- Hyalena Macaw: She was born with the Sapphire macaw
- Maui Sunrise Macau: Bred with Harlequin Duck (Hybrid)
- Milicat Macaw: bred with a flame parrot (hybrid)
- Militalina Macaw: bred with the military macaw
- Rubalina Macaw: bred with Ruby’s macaw (hybrid)
- Shamalina Macaw: grown with the seedling macaw (hybrid)
Catalina macaw size
Catalina macaws are full-sized macaws. At maturity, they typically weigh 2 to 3 pounds and can reach 35 inches in length from the beak to the tip of the tail feathers.
Catalina macaw lifespan
With proper care, a healthy Catalina bacterium can live between 50 and 60 years. She is definitely a long-term pet that requires a solid commitment.
Catalina macaw behavior
It has been said that owners of hybrid parrots get the best of both worlds from the parent species. Scarlet macaws are known to be curious, feisty, and very active.
In contrast, blue and gold macaws have a reputation for being more laid-back and sociable, and they are great talkers. Catalina owners describe their birds as the perfect blend of the two.
Each bird will have a unique personality. Some of this will be due to his environment when he is young as well as the house he ends up living in.
Catalinas can get cranky and be very demanding on their social needs. Then again, he can be very affectionate and charming, and he brings a lot of fun to his family.
Some Catalina macaws will become birds of one. They have even been known to favor men or women exclusively, and forbid people of the opposite sex.
If the bird is slowly introduced to a variety of people, it is usually very social and will accept almost anyone.
With this approach, pets can make a good family as long as the kids are not too young. Both the parrot and the children should be taught to respect each other as well
Catalina Macaw Colors
Hybrid birds are bred primarily for color traits, so the Catalina macro has a wide range of colors and patterns. There are slight differences from one generation to the next as well.
Most of these birds are primarily red or deep orange on their chests and bellies. Some have gorgeous red-orange heads while others have a gorgeous blue-green crown.
They tend to have blue-green feathers running down their backs and long tails. Many of them have gold feathers edging on their wings and in their tails.
How to care for a macaw
Highly intelligent, Catalina macaws respond well to training and can be taught to perform many tricks. Many can learn to speak and acquire a vocabulary of about 15 words and phrases over their lifetime.
Being social birds, they must spend a good amount of time bonding with their owners to become happy, well-adjusted pets.
If you are looking to adopt a toy Catalina macaw, make sure you have plenty of free time to spend with your new bird. These parrots thrive on interaction and will become depressed and destructive if neglected or ignored.
As with all large parrots, these birds need a large cage that is at least 4 feet wide by 5 feet long. The more space you can provide, the better off the bird will be. It should also be provided with plenty of perches and toys to keep the birds occupied.
Potential owners should think seriously about ownership of parrots. Are you ready to wake up early every morning with a screaming parrot?
Can it accommodate as many needs as a smart, inquisitive pet? If you have any doubts, do a lot of research before rushing out to buy a Catalina or any other macaw.
It is also important to consider the costs of owning a parrot pet. Veterinary bills, quality feed, toys, and cages all add up quickly. If you can’t provide birds to the best of your ability, consider waiting to adopt one until you can. After all, rotten rotten macaws make the best pets.
Like any large parrot, the Catalina macaw should be fed a diet that includes a high-quality seed and pellet mix, along with fresh, fruits and vegetables.
Training a macaw
Catalina macaws need plenty of exercises in order to maintain their mental and physical condition. Those wishing to own a Catalina parrot should devote at least two to four hours a day so that the bird can play outside its cage. This is crucial to prevent boredom and to allow the bird to properly stretch its wings and other muscle.
SOURCE: Grass Roots Gardening