Macaws are large, colorful parrots that are popular as pets. There are 17 species of macaws, ranging from the huge hyacinth macaw to smaller species like the severe macaw. Some macaw species are extremely rare in captivity due to their protected status, difficulty breeding, or high cost. So which macaw species is the rarest pet? Here’s an overview of some of the rarest macaw species kept as pets.
Hyacinth Macaw
The hyacinth macaw is the largest species of macaw and can make an impressive, interactive pet. However, this Brazilian parrot is critically endangered in the wild and was heavily poached for the pet trade in decades past. As a result, hyacinth macaws are now protected and it’s illegal to capture them from the wild in Brazil. There are only around 5,000-10,000 hyacinth macaws remaining in the wild. Buying a hyacinth macaw from a breeder can cost $12,000-$15,000. Due to their protected status, difficulty breeding in captivity, and extremely high price tag, hyacinth macaws are exceptionally rare as pets.
Glaucous Macaw
The glaucous macaw is one of the rarest macaws, with only 16 individuals remaining in the wild. This large, pale blue macaw is native to central South America. Glaucous macaws are critically endangered and face threats from habitat loss and trapping. There are no conservation programs currently for glaucous macaws, making their situation dire. Aviculture experts have had little success breeding glaucous macaws in captivity. Since it’s illegal to export wild glaucous macaws, virtually none exist in the pet trade. The extreme rarity of glaucous macaws makes them one of the rarest types of macaw to own.
Lear’s Macaw
Lear’s macaw is a striking bright blue and yellow macaw named after British poet Edward Lear. These macaws are endangered in the wild, with around 1,200 individuals left in northeastern Brazil. Due to serious population declines from habitat loss and trapping, Lear’s macaws are now protected from capture. Aviculturists have had some success breeding this species in captivity. But only around 400 Lear’s macaws exist in captivity worldwide. Purchasing a Lear’s macaw can cost $10,000 or more. Their protected status and challenging breeding make Lear’s macaws one of the rarest pet macaw species.
Red-fronted Macaw
The red-fronted macaw is an attractive, medium-sized macaw with a red forehead and wings, green body, and white eyering. Red-fronted macaws are endemic to a small region of east-central Bolivia, where habitat loss threatens wild populations estimated at just 1,000-10,000 birds. Most captive red-fronted macaws come from a limited number of successful zoo and avicultural breedings from birds captured years ago. No new red-fronted macaws can be exported from Bolivia. Buying a red-fronted macaw can cost $1,500-$2,000. But their limited availability makes them one of the rarest pet macaws.
Scarlet Macaw
The scarlet macaw is a popular, strikingly colored macaw notable for its bright red plumage. While scarlet macaws are widely kept as pets, those that originate from Costa Rica are exceptionally rare. Costa Rican scarlet macaws represent a genetically distinct population. Commercial trapping severely depleted their numbers, with potentially as few as 200 individuals remaining in Costa Rica. Due to this critically low population, the export of scarlet macaws is now banned in Costa Rica. Captive scarlet macaws of Costa Rican ancestry are limited to tiny relict captive populations and command prices of up to $50,000. This makes Costa Rican lineage scarlet macaws perhaps the rarest type of scarlet macaw in captivity.
Blue-throated Macaw
The blue-throated macaw is a critically endangered species native to a tiny area of northeastern Bolivia. Fewer than 300 remain in the wild. While blue-throated macaws are kept as pets, their availability is extremely limited. These macaws cannot be exported from the wild in Bolivia and there are few breeders working with this species. Prices are around $30,000-$50,000 per bird. The isolated wild population combined with challenges breeding blue-throated macaws in captivity make this species very rare in aviculture.
Golden Parakeet
One of the rarest macaw-like parrots in captivity is the golden parakeet. This vibrant yellow parakeet is not a true macaw but is closely related. Golden parakeets are endemic to the Amazon Basin in Brazil, where habitat destruction threatens wild populations. Due to declines, it is now illegal to export wild-caught golden parakeets. There are few avicultural breeders working with the species and they are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. Finding a golden parakeet can cost $5,000-$10,000. Their rarity in the wild and as captive bred specimens make the golden parakeet highly sought after.
Cuban Macaw
The Cuban macaw lived throughout Cuba and was vividly colored with blue, yellow, and red plumage. The Cuban macaw resembled a scarlet macaw but had a more vivid coloration with a blue face and neck. This species tragically went extinct by the late 1800s due to habitat loss and hunting. The extinct Cuban macaw exists today only in illustrations and a few preserved specimens in museums. No Cuban macaws survived in captivity. Had it not gone extinct, the endemic Cuban macaw would undoubtedly rank as one of the rarest macaws in captivity today.
Conclusion
In summary, the rarest types of macaws seen as pets include:
Macaw Species | Estimated Global Population | Average Price for Captive-bred Bird |
Hyacinth macaw | 5,000-10,000 | $12,000-$15,000 |
Glaucous macaw | 16 | Extremely rare |
Lear’s macaw | 1,200 (wild); 400 (captivity) | $10,000+ |
Red-fronted macaw | 1,000-10,000 (wild) | $1,500-$2,000 |
Costa Rican scarlet macaw | Around 200 | Up to $50,000 |
Blue-throated macaw | Less than 300 (wild) | $30,000-$50,000 |
Golden parakeet | Endangered | $5,000-$10,000 |
Cuban macaw | Extinct | Extinct |
The main factors that make these macaws so rare in captivity include their endangered status in the wild, difficulty breeding, legal protections, and insufficient numbers for maintaining genetic diversity. Most rare species are limited to small founder populations and no new wild-caught birds can be legally exported. Aviculturists often wait years to acquire one of these rare species from a limited pool of captive bred birds. For the rarest macaws like the glaucous macaw, extinctions sadly may occur before successful captive breeding programs can be established. Protecting rapidly vanishing macaw species in their native ranges is crucial for preventing them from becoming extinct in the wild and totally disappearing from the world’s aviaries and zoos.