Hybrid Macaws & Mutations

FREE GUIDE

Stop Your Bird's Aggression Now!

Download your free guide "Why Birds Bite and What to Do About It"

    I will never sell your information for any reason

    Save This Article As PDF to Read Later

    Related Web Resources:  Macaw InformationPhotos of the Different Macaw Species for IdentificationCommon Health Problems / DiseasesMacaw Diet / Nutrition

    Camelot Macaw Hybrid
    Harlequin Macaw Hybrid
    Camelot Macaw Hybrids

    Hybrid crosses occurred in captivity where different species of macaws were allowed, or intentionally set up, to interbreed.

    More than 35 different macaw hybrids occurred …

    • First Generation (F1) Hybrids: ~15 known hybrids
    • Second Generation (F2) Hybrids: ~16
    • Third Generation (F3 or more) Hybrids: ~5

    Practice of Hybridization

    Cross-breeding a bird with a different species of birds produces hybrids. Many aviculturists frown upon this practice as they feel that it is detrimental to the purity of bloodlines.

    Hybrids are typical macaws, with the only difference from true species being their genetics and their colors. They tend to have intermediate characteristics between the parents’, though the appearance seems to be influenced more by the father’s genes.

    Common hybrids include:

    Stop Bird Biting!

    Download our free e-book:

    Why Does My Bird Bite and What To Do About It

      • Harlequins (Ara ararauna x chloroptera) and
      • Catalinas (known as Rainbows in Australia, Ara ararauna x macao).
      Harlequin Macaw Hybrid

      Mutations

      Color Mutations are still considered “pure” birds. They occur in nature, although rarely and if they do, they often don’t survive long, if the “new color” is too vibrant and they are easily visible by predators.

      Color mutations in captivity are perpetuated by breeding like colored birds to like colored birds (of two birds that carry the color gene). The resultant offspring will often be the color that is desired.

      Camelot Macaw Hybrid

      Hybrid Macaw Types

      First Generation Macaw Hybrids

      Hybrid macaws are often named by combining the species names of their parents, such as:

      Pairing: Parent 1 x Parent 2 = Produce offspring named …

      Stop Bird Biting!

      Download our free e-book:

      Why Does My Bird Bite and What To Do About It

        milligold hybrid macaw

        However, sometimes breeders named their hybrid offspring based on physical characteristics. Typically this is based on the color of their plumage – such as “Verde” or “Emerald” macaws that are essentially green-plumaged, or “Ruby Macaws” are named for their ruby-red plumages; or the Calicos appear to have been named for the plumage’s tri-colored characteristics (Red, Green and Blue).

        Parent 1 x Parent 2 = Produce offspring named …

        Harlequin Macaw Hybrid

        Second + Generation Macaw Hybrids

        Naming with 2nd Generation Hybrid Macaws can be quite basic:

        Stop Bird Biting!

        Download our free e-book:

        Why Does My Bird Bite and What To Do About It

          Parent 1 x Parent 2 = (produced offspring named)

          • Green Wing Macaw x Miligold Macaw (Hybrid between Blue & Gold and Military Macaws) = Camilla Macaws
          • Blue and Gold Macaw x Ruby (hybrid) = Blue and Gold x Ruby Macaws (?)
          • Calico Macaw (hybrid) x Blue and Gold Macaw = Blue and Gold x Calico Macaws
          • Camelot Macaw (2nd Generation hybrid) x Catalina Macaw (hybrid) = Camelina Macaws  (Came + lina)
          • Catalina Macaw (hybrid) x Blue and Gold Macaw = Catablu Macaws (Cata-blu)
          • Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) x Shamrock Macaw (hybrid) = Harlequin x Shamrock Macaws
          • Hyacinth Macaw and a Scarlet Macaw x Hyacinth Macaw and a Scarlet Macaw = Hyacinth x Scarlet Macaws
          • Catalina Macaw (hybrid) x Hyacinth Macaw = Hyalina
          • Miligold Macaw (hybrid) x Catalina Macaw (hybrid) = Milicat Macaws (Mili + cat)
          • Ruby Macaw (hybrid) x Catalina Macaw (hybrid) = Rubalina Macaws (Rub + alina)
          • Shamrock Macaw (hybrid) x Scarlet Macaw = Shamlet (Sham + let)
          • Shamrock Macaw x Catalina Macaw = Shamalina Macaws (Sham + alina)

          Creative Naming: They either combine names or come up with names that are mostly based in physical characteristics of the hybrid young. (hybrids = 1st generation unless mentioned otherwise).

          Parent 1 x Parent 2 = (produced offspring named)

          Camelot Macaw Hybrid
          • Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) x Blue and Gold Macaw = Harligold Macaws
          • Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) x Catalina Macaw (hybrid) = Maui Sunrise Macaws
          • Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) x Green-wing Macaw = Jubilee Macaws
          • Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) x Ruby Macaw (hybrid) = Quatro Macaws
          • Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) x Scarlet Macaw = Tropicana Macaws
          • Shamrock Macaw x Catalina Macaw = Shamalina Macaws
          • Miligold Macaw (hybrid) x Scarlet Macaw = Starlight Macaws
          Harlequin Macaw Hybrid
          Camelot Macaw Hybrid Chicks
          Camelot Macaw Hybrid
           Hybrid Macaw

          Beauty Of Birds strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please contact us. THANK YOU!!!

          Save This Article As PDF to Read Later
          Photo of author

          Team Beauty of Birds

          Beautyofbirds.com's team of experts includes veterinarians, biologists, environmentalists and active bird watchers. All put together, we have over half a century of experience in the birding space.

          You can meet our team here.
          Team Beauty of Birds is separate from the “Parrot Parent University” parrot training course and its instructors.

          Stop your bird from biting today. Download your free e-book to learn how...

          Is your bird aggressive towards you or another family member? Are you tired of the biting and lunging episodes?

          Join our exclusive community of bird parents and get your comprehensive 58-page free e-book "Why Your Bird Bites and What to Do About It"

          Simply enter your details below!

            4 thoughts on “Hybrid Macaws & Mutations”

              • We don’t know if anybody has…

                We don’t know if anybody has bred these mutations yet (together).  Whoever does, will be able to name the resulting hybrids.  Sibylle

            Comments are closed.