Red shouldered Macaw
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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• Scientific Name: Diopsittaca noblis,  Formerly Ara nobilis nobilis, 
• Common Name/s: RED SHOULDERED MACAW,  HAHN'S MACAW.
• Sub Species in country / area of origin: 3. Including Ara nobilis cumanensis - Noble's Macaw. A. n. noblis and A. n. longipennis.
• Origin / Distribution: Eastern Venezuela and northern Brazil, South America
• Habitat In Wild: Lowland open forests and surrounding areas and palm groves. May forage in plantations.
• Status In Wild: Secure, as long as habitat is preserved and trapping is stopped.
• Status In (Australian) Captivity: Rare
• Age To Sexual Maturity: About 3 years
• Adult plumage: Attained at by the time they leave the nest.  
• Best breeding years (estimate): 5th year onwards
• Lifespan (estimate): approx. 25 or more years
• Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic
• Mutations: No
• Availability: Specialist breeders
• Temperament: Their small size makes them excellent pets and are more easily housed and managed. Often referred to as a "mini macaw". Not as colourful as the larger macaws. Can be noisy birds that may annoy neighbours. A single bird kept as a pet will require a lot of attention from its keeper.  Hahn's Macaws are social birds and the owner has to make up for the interaction and socialisation they would normally get from other birds in its social group.
• Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $6500 but can vary widely.
• Description Of Adults: Smallest of the Macaws. A predominantly green bird with a red patch on each (shoulder) wing.

1. Length: Approx. 280 - 300 mm (or approx. 11 - 12 inches)
2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
3. Weight: Approx. 225 - 350 gms (or approx. 8 - 12 ozs)

Aviary Notes:

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements:  Refer to " Macaws " web page for general details on the housing of Macaws or read on for specific details for this parrot.

The Red shouldered Macaw or Hahn's Macaw are a more social bird than the other species of Macaws and have been bred as a colony in a large aviary.

Needs a good supply of fresh branches to chew.  They are the smallest of the macaws and prefer an aviary of about 3 - 4 metres long.  Can be housed and bred in a suspended cage if they have access to an aviary during the non breeding season.  An aviary of longer than 3 metres will allow these active birds room to fly and keep fit.

As per the other macaws, they like to bathe in a suitable sized water bowl or under a sprinkler.

A single pet bird is often housed in a cage of about 1000mm wide x 1000mm deep and up to 2000mm high.

Diet / Feeding:  Refer to " Macaws " web page for general details on the feeding of Macaws or read on for specific details for this parrot.

The natural diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetable matter along with nuts, berries, flower and leaf buds.  Insects and insect larvae may form part of their natural food intake.

The aviary diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables along with nuts, seeds, sprouted or soaked seeds, leafy green vegetables and greenfoods such as chickweed and dandelion.  Many parrots will eat insects such as grubs and mealworm larvae, pupa and mealworm beetles.  Supplementary feeds, calcium food additives and mineral and vitamin supplements as directed by veterinary advice.

Commercial Parrot pellets can form part of a balanced food intake.

The feed bowls should be fixed in place or made unmovable.  Loose bowls will often be upturned or played with as a toy or play item.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.  Dimensions are typical / average and can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds preferences.  Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.  If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice.  Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season.  Try and keep that one for their exclusive use.  Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed.  If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.

• Nesting months:
• Log / Nest-box:
  • Length / depth 450 - 500 mm (or approx. 18 - 20 inches)
  • Log internal diameter approx. 225 mm. (or approx. 9 inches)
  • Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 225 mm square (or approx 9 inches square)
  • Diameter of entrance hole approx. 75 - 80 mm (or approx. 3 inches)
  • Inspection hole (square or round) 100 mm (or approx 4 inches)
  • A removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
  • Location and height of log / nest-box = Usually at mid height under the sheltered portion of the aviary, but may be higher but not too close to the roof to cause heat problems in the hotter months.
  • Angle of log or nest box = Usually vertical or near vertical but can be on any angle through to horizontal.
• Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
• Who incubates the egg/s: Hen / cock / both share.

It is important to have a strong "chew proof" ladder (10 gauge wire mesh is often used ) on the inside of the nest box, below the entry hole to allow the birds to climb down to the floor of the nest instead of jumping.  The internal ladder is essential in nest boxes that are in a vertical or near vertical position.  The ladder also allows the birds to easily and safely exit the nest.  With nests placed in a horizontal or near horizontal position a ladder may not be required.
Nest boxes/logs should be placed middle height to high up in the aviary under cover.  Many prefer the nest box / log opening to be in a darker / shaded part of the aviary that provides a degree of privacy.  At least one perch should be at each end of the aviary and one perch should be close to the nest and be about the same height as the nest opening.  The perch closest to the nest opening is the perch most often used during the breeding season.  The cock bird will use the closest perch to the nest so he can protect the nest, the hen and their offspring.  The same perch configuration applies to suspended cages.
More details on parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of parrot nestbox/log photos can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 1 - 3.  Eggs per nest 3 - 4.  Incubation approx. 24 - 26 days.  Fledge approx. 9 - 12 weeks.  Independent About another 3 - 4 weeks.

Hahn's Macaws are a more prolific breeder than the larger macaws.  Being the smallest macaw, Hahn's Macaws are the easiest macaw to be bred indoors.

These birds can become aggressive at breeding season and may attack the keeper.  Nest boxes are best positioned so the nest inspection can be carried out from outside the aviary.  Nest inspection is best done when the adult birds are out of the nest.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues: Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

• Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site. Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
• Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

• Australian Aviculture

• Australian Birdkeeper

• ABK Vol 12 Issue 12. Dec-Jan 2000 Page 616-618
• ABK Vol  6 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1993 Page 492-493 (Red shouldered Macaws)

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