Hybrid Macaws & Mutations

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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:

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

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.

• Blue and Gold Mutation Photos

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 …

• Blue and Gold Macaw x Buffons Macaw = Bluffon’s Macaws ( Bl + uffon)

• Buffons Macaw x Green-wing Macaw = Buffwing Macaws(Buff + wing)

• Hyacinth Macaw x Scarlet Macaw = Hyacinth x Scarlet (hybrid) Macaws

• Military Macaw x Blue and Gold Macaw Miligold Macaws (Mili + gold)

• Military Macaw + Buffons Macaw = Miliffons Macaws(Mili + ffons)

• Military Macaw + Hyacinth Macaw = Milicinth Macaws(Mili + cinth)

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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 …

• Blue and Gold Macaw x Green-wing Macaw = Harlequin Macaws

• Blue and Gold Macaw x Hyacinth Macaw = Caloshua Macaws

• Blue and Gold Macaw x Red-fronted Macaw = Maui Sunset Macaws

• Blue and Gold Macaw x Scarlet Macaw = Catalina Macaws (US) or Rainbow Macaws (Australia)

• Buffon’s Macaw x Scarlet Macaw = Verde Macaws

• Buffon’s Macaw x Hyacinth Macaw = Emerald Macaws

• Green-wing Macaw x Military Macaw = Calico Macaws

• Green-wing Macaw x Scarlet Macaw = Ruby Macaws

• Military Macaw x Scarlet Macaw = Shamrock Macaws

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Second + Generation Macaw Hybrids

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

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 x Harlequin Macaw (hybrid) = Fiesta Macaws

• Camelot Macaw x Scarlet Macaw = Capri Macaws

• Green-wing Macaw x Calico Macaw (hybrid) = Cameo Macaws

• Catalina Macaw (hybrid) x Green-wing Macaw = Flame Macaws

• Catalina Macaw (hybrid) x  Military Macaw = Militalina Macaws

• Catalina Macaw (hybrid) x Scarlet Macaw = Camelot Macaws

• 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

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4 thoughts on “Hybrid Macaws & Mutations”

1. Macaw colors

We own a blue and gold macaw and am wondering what chrome color is

• Sorry, we have never heard…

  Sorry, we have never heard of a Chrome mutation.

2. Verde x Calico

What’s the crossed name for Verde and Calico?

• 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

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