Last Updated on June 26, 2023
Macaws are the most popular and beloved parrots for bird enthusiasts worldwide. They are famous for their vibrant colors, playful personalities, and high intelligence level. Are you a macaw lover? Do you want to know how long do macaws live? Then this article is for you.
Macaws are long-living birds. The average lifespan of macaws varies according to species. Larger birds can live up to 50-70 years, while the smaller species reach a maximum age of 30.
However, macaws’ lifespan depends on care level, nutrition and diet, health conditions, and housing. There are 15 species, each having a different life span. The different lifespan of macaws also varies in captivity and the wild. Let us discuss the lifespan of macaws in detail.
How Long Do Macaws Live in the Wild:
Macaws are the most popular birds in the world. Larger macaws have a long life span compared to smaller species. On average, the life span of different macaws is 20-50 years in the wild. Some species of macaws can live for centuries.
Although Charlie is the longest-living parrot in the world who enjoyed 114 springs of her life, she was a female blue and gold macaw and an England inhabitant.
While most birds can live twice their age if proper healthcare and diet are offered, different species have different life spans.
Hyacinth Macaws:
Hyacinth macaws can enjoy up to 50 years of their life in the wild, but if proper care and diet are offered, they can spend 60 years or more in captivity.
Blue and Yellow Macaws:
Blue and gold macaws live almost 30- 35 years in the wild. They can live almost twice their age in captivity if conditions are favourable and proper care is offered.
Scarlet Macaws:
The life expectancy for scarlet macaws in the wild is 40 years, while in captivity, they can live up to 70 years with proper care & diet.
Military Macaws:
Military macaw’s life expectancy is uncertain in the wild, while they can spend 70 happy years in captivity.
Spix Macaws:
Spix macaws are the most critical species of parrots. They were declared extinct in the wild in 2019. However, in 2015 there were 110 parrots reported in captivity. The actual life expectancy of Spix macaws in the wild is uncertain. The last wild bird is said to reach 20 years of age. However, the longest-living Spix macaws in captivity are reported to reach the age of 34 years.
How Long Do Macaws Live in Captivity:
Various factors can boost a macaw’s life expectancy in captivity, like diet, exercise, socialization, veterinary care, and less predation. Macaws can live up to 50-60 years in captivity, depending on the species and their care.
The average life expectancy for macaws in captivity is around 30-40 years. However, Some macaw species, such as the blue-and-gold macaw, have been known to live up to 80 years in captivity with proper care.
Factors Affecting Macaws Lifespan:
Several internal & external factors can increase & shorten the longevity of macaws both in the wild and in captivity. However, in captivity, the life expectancy of macaws increases twofold because of favourable healthcare conditions, proper diet and care, proper veterinarian checkups, and comfortable housing.
Healthcare and Veterinary Checkups:
Proper health care and veterinary checkups are essential for keeping pets healthy. Sick birds require high-calorie diets to fight illness and recovery. Adequate nutrition and a balanced diet are necessary for birds to live a healthy and active life for a long time.
Furthermore, proper veterinary checkups are vital to identify any health issues. Different vaccinations also help to keep macaws away from developing various diseases; keeping them healthy increases their longevity. They also need a partner for better stimulation and socialization in captivity.
Diet and Nutrition:
Diet is one of the most critical factors in macaws’ life expectancy. A proper nutritional diet keeps them healthy because it strengthens the immune system.
Poor & unbalanced diets can lead to many issues like obesity, malnutrition, and weaker immune systems, which make them prone to develop different diseases and reduce their life expectancy.
Predation:
Macaws are large birds that are less prone to natural predators. However, some of the natural predators of macaws are larger birds of prey like eagles, hawks, falcons, snakes, and monkeys, which feed on their fledglings. While some the animals like snakes, monkeys, and other mammals steal & eat their eggs in the wild.
Habitat Loss:
Habitat loss is one of the most critical factors affecting the lifespan of macaws. Habitat loss, climate change, and poaching for pet trading can reduce macaws’ lifespan in the wild.
Gene Mutation:
There are about 400 different parrot species that exist in the wild. Each has additional genetic material and traits, making macaws more adaptable to the environment. The particular physiological adaptations in the macaws enable them to survive in a changing climate.
These adaptations make macaws more resistant to developing diseases, help fight environmental changes, and increase longevity. Parrots are the longest-living birds.
Stressful Environment:
A stressful environment hurts a parrot’s overall health and lifespan. For instance, small cages with little space and no outside cage activity can lead the bird to stress.
Macaws are pretty social birds, so keeping them ensures staying in pairs and avoiding neglecting them prevents stress. So keep your bird in a spacious cage at a comfortable place in your home.
Spend a lot of time with him in communicating and training. This will increase their lifespan and keep them happy.
Facts About How Long Do Macaws Live in Natural Habitat
While in the wild, macaws have a lifespan of 20-50 years (average), which may extend to seventy (70) years in captivity.
Naturally, these birds can live longer, rising to twice the quoted number of years. The conditions in the wild may not support the elongation.
While in the wild, macaws have to fight daily for survival. They fight for food, safety, and protection as they navigate to resist attacks from predators (snakes, eagles, and other giant animals) and threats or dangers.
Macaws also suffer severe habitat destruction due to heavy deforestation and human activity. Though, poaching of birds for the pet trade is the primary cause of shortening macaws’ life expectancy in the wild after predation.
Are Macaws Longest Living Birds?
Macaws have an impressive lifespan. They can live up to 20- 70 years in the wild and in captivity. Their life span in the wild is shorter compared to captivity. The longest living parrot on the earth is charlie blue and gold macaw is still alive and aged 114 years.
But according to the Guinness Book of World record cookie, Major Mitchell’s cockatoo is the oldest pet that lived for 83 years. However, parrots are the longest-living animals after turtles and jellyfish.
Why Do Most Macaws Die?
Macaws are at higher risk of developing respiratory disorders, psittacosis, and avian-borna virus in the wild and captivity. However, heavy agricultural poisoning, heavy metal toxicosis, predation, and severe habitat loss are leading to their shorter life span in the wild.
FAQs
Can Macaws live more than 100 years?
Usually, parrots have a long lifespan. Different macaw species have varied life spans. Their average age varies from 20-70 years, both in the wild and in captivity.
How long do pet Macaws lIve?
Pet macaws can live up to 60 years in captivity with proper healthcare and diet.
What is the Oldest Living Macaw?
Large parrots have longer lifespans than smaller ones. However, the longest-living blue and gold macaw has enjoyed 117 springs of her life.
Conclusion:
This article has comprehensively answered the question “How long do macaws live,” highlighting the factors contributing to their life expectancy. Also, we highlighted the basic techniques that caregivers/owners could adopt and follow to ensure their macaws live healthy throughout their lifespan and eliminate premature death.