Hyacinth Macaw: A bird for the wealthy

Facts about the Hyacinth Macaw

•  A Hyacinth Macaw grows to about 3.3 feet in length, making it the longest (not the heaviest) parrot.
• Hyacinth Macaws can make a strange quacking sound.
• Hyacinth Macaws lay only one or two eggs at at a time.
• Hyacinth Macaws are not able to breed until they are seven years old.
• Hyacinth Macaws are rare, both in the wild and in captivity.
• The beak  of a Hyacinth Macaw is so powerful, it can crack open coconuts!

Hyacinth Macaws are extremely expensive, especially for breeding pairs. I read this on the Internet: “A proven healthy young pair of producing Hyacinth Macaws will cost no less than $40,000 USD while an older healthy pair will run no less than $25,000 USD. I have personally witnessed a proven young pair from a reputable breeder bring in $58,000 plus 15% auction fee on an estate auction in Florida.”Also, a bird this big will need a huge cage that can cost several thousand dollars. Hyacinth Macaws need a diet with lots of nuts in it, as well as plenty of large pellets. This can also be a large expense.

If you are able to spend many thousands of dollars throughout a Hyacinth Macaw's long (about 60-80 year) life span, and devote a lot of time to this potentially dangerous bird, a Hyacinth Macaw may be a good pet. But they are not good pets for most people!