How to Buy a Macaw in the United States | PetzLover

Which macaw is right for you: a large macaw or a mini macaw?

Macaws are not one bird: the largest weighs roughly eight to ten times as much as the smallest. VCA Animal Hospitals puts large macaws at 30 to 40 inches long with a lifespan of 50 to 60 years, and mini macaws at 12 to 20 inches with a lifespan of 30 to 40 years.

Every species is loud. The Merck Veterinary Manual says a macaw's screaming voice can irritate neighbors, and the World Parrot Trust finds the green-winged usually less harsh than the scarlet. Small does not mean quiet: the Trust compares severe macaw screeches to a braying donkey. VCA notes that mini macaws tend to be calmer, and hyacinths considerably calmer than other large macaws, though a hyacinth needs the biggest cage and, in the wild, depends on palm nuts. Mini macaws suit people with less space, not people who want a quiet bird.

Is it legal to buy a macaw in the US, and what does CITES Appendix I mean?

Yes, captive-bred macaws of every common species are sold legally in the US, but the rules differ by species. CITES controls trade between countries, not a sale inside the US. For Appendix I species, the US Fish and Wildlife Service notes that international trade is allowed only in exceptional circumstances, which generally rules out commercial trade.

• Imports: the Wild Bird Conservation Act has barred most imports of CITES-listed birds since 1993, so a young macaw for sale should be US-bred, ideally with a closed leg band.
• Hyacinth macaw: threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 2018; its special 4(d) rule allows sales across state lines without an ESA permit.
• Scarlet macaw: listed in 2019. The northern subspecies, Ara macao cyanoptera, is endangered, so selling one across state lines needs a federal permit; the southern subspecies and crosses between the two are threatened, and their 4(d) rule allows interstate sales without one. Owning one needs no permit.
• Blue-throated macaw: listed as endangered since 2013, so the same interstate permit rule applies.
• State and local rules: some states regulate federally listed wildlife themselves, and landlords and HOAs may limit noise. Check with your state wildlife agency.

What should you know about hybrid macaws like the Catalina?

Different macaw species can interbreed, and hybrids are offered for sale under their own names. The American Federation of Aviculture's Watchbird journal published the Catalina, Harlequin and Shamrock names in 1979, and breeders use several more:

• Catalina: scarlet x blue-and-yellow.
• Harlequin: blue-and-yellow x green-winged.
• Shamrock: scarlet x military.
• Ruby: scarlet x green-winged.
• Miligold: blue-and-yellow x military.

Macaw hybrids can be fertile, and second-generation crosses are sold under further names, so the label alone tells you little; ask which species the two parents were. Under federal CITES rules (50 CFR 23.43), a hybrid with an Appendix I species anywhere in its last four generations counts as Appendix I, so a Catalina or Shamrock is documented like a scarlet if it ever needs to leave the country. Some breeders consider deliberate hybrid breeding unethical, because a hybrid can look like a pure species; if you want a pure bird, see both parents.

Where can you find macaws for sale, and should you choose a breeder or a rescue?

Start with a breeder who lets you visit, keeps each chick until it eats on its own and lets you hear the parents call. An adult from a rescue or private owner is often the wiser first macaw, because you can see its temperament first. Phoenix Landing, a parrot rescue serving Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida, lists adoption fees of $350 for mini macaws and $500 for large macaws.

See how to adopt a macaw and how to take in a rehomed macaw for those routes. On PetzLover you can browse macaws for sale, filter by location, save a search for new listings and message the seller before you visit.

What should you ask a macaw seller before you pay?

1. Which species are the parents? If it is a hybrid, which cross?
2. When did it hatch, and is it fully weaned? Large macaws can take several months.
3. What is on the closed leg band, and is there a microchip?
4. How was it sexed? Ask for the DNA certificate.
5. Which avian vet examined it, and which tests were done?
6. For a hyacinth, scarlet or other listed species: where was it bred, and, for a scarlet, is the subspecies known?
7. Can I see the bird and its parents before I pay, and will you give a written health guarantee?

Put the species or cross, hatch date, band number, sex and price on a signed bill of sale. Our guide on how to sell macaws shows what an honest seller should already have ready.

How much does a macaw cost in the US?

• Macaws in general: The Vet Desk, a pet information site, gives a typical breeder range of $500 to $5,000 or more (updated January 2026). It gives no separate figure for mini macaws.
• Hyacinth: typically $5,000 to $12,000 or more from a breeder, a cage at $1,000 to $3,000 and food at $40 to $60 a month (The Vet Desk, January 2026).
• Scarlet: typically $2,000 to $4,000 or more from a breeder, with a cage at $400 to $1,000 (The Vet Desk, January 2026).
• First avian vet visit: typically $70 to $300 before any tests.

A hyacinth or scarlet priced far below these ranges is more likely a scam than a bargain.

How do you check a macaw's health and avoid scams?

Merck says proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) primarily affects macaws, conures and African greys, and carriers can look healthy. Book an avian vet exam within one to two weeks (the Association of Avian Veterinarians has a Find-a-Vet search) and keep the bird away from other birds until it is cleared; the CDC warns that birds can also carry psittacosis without looking sick.

• A rare species, such as a hyacinth, offered cheaply or for shipping fees only.
• A seller who will not meet you or show the bird on a live video call.
• New charges after you agree: crate, insurance or customs fees.
• Payment only by wire transfer, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency; the FTC advises paying by credit card.

Use the Report Scam button on any suspicious listing, and report losses to the Federal Trade Commission through its ReportFraud website.