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I'm thinking about buying a 4 month old military macaw. My concern is that when she flaps her wings there is a strange almost hollow type sound kind of like the sound human bones make when they pop in/out of joint. Has anyone heard of this and should I be concerned?

No, it's common

Can you explain what it is then? I have a B&G that is 6 months old and her wings do not make this noise.

Articulations are divided into synarthroses, in which the osseous components are united by fibrous tissue or cartilage and diarthroses. Diarthroses are frequently involved in pathologic changes involving any of their anatomic structures: the fibrous joint capsule (where the sound comes from,) synovial membrane, hyaline articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and intra-articular ligaments (and also the menisci in the joints). Joint sounds may be caused by exertion and luxation.

Normal synovial fluid lubricates the synovial tissues in a joint through boundary lubrication, including a glycoprotein expressed from the cartilage during weight bearing. The synovial fluid also nourishes the articular cartilage. Any joint exercise alters the volume and composition of the synovial fluid (as a result of an increased permeability of the synovial membrane relative to blood components) and increases the intraosseous pressure in the involved bones.

In other words while your baby is growing this excursion (or exercise) is strengthening their muscles and will allow these popping sounds to go away with time and proper nourishment. This is a normal sound while they are still juveniles. If this continues into adult a nutritional re-examination will have to be performed.

Hope this helps,
Dutch

Wow! That was probably the best explanation to any question I've ever asked in my life. Thank you so much, I feel a lot better about considering purchasing her now.

Now one more question. I do have a 6 month old B&G. Does anyone know much about Military's? I have read mixed reviews about them. Some say that they are harder to keep friendly and some say that with proper socialization and handling they are just as loving, etc as a B&G can be. And also if I do decide to purchase her should I make sure that it is a female like my B&G is so that I don't have problems later? Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure I make the right decision.

Dear Jenny,

The Military Macaw has a very interesting history, it was actually used in Combat by the Inca and Aztec Civilizations. The Blue and Yellow (what we call the Blue and Gold) was "like a god of Fertility & Love" and the Military "like a god of War." But a normal person would put all that aside and love them for what they are to you.... your beautiful companions!

There is no logical data to say one is more or less social than the other. All of these stories are like fish tales, sounds good to people who don't fish but stinks anyway. I would recommend either or both of them as pets so long as you constantly work them (on a daily basis.) Macaws make lousy interior decorations but great companions that with daily love and affection you will be amazed by their loyalty, devotion, and intelligence. Both are on the same par value here.

YES, make sure they are both the same sex so you won't run into any problems later down the road. Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red make beautiful colors for your furniture-carpet and drapes but on a Macaw please try to keep their original species intact. They have survived for over 80 million years like that, why do men when they come into the picture mess everything up?... lol

Hope this helps, and enjoy your new companions!
Dutch

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings” James Matthew Barrie 1920

Thank you again for your response. That is interesting that they were used by the Inca's, I was not aware of that.

I will definately make sure they are both female. If the military is not female then I will not get him. I do not believe in producing hybrid birds or mix breeding dogs for that matter. It's sad to me that we humans play god in those areas just to make something better, etc. I think things should stay the way God made them. I have two horses, two dogs and two birds at home, they are all pure bred.

Thank you again for your help.

I don't think you have to go that far. Macaws usually respect one's spaces and if you had separate cages I think you'd do just fine. Socialization is a clue here. Properly socialized and played with (daily) macaws of two different species & sexes won't pounce on each other to breed (unlike humans) LOL.

I've had singles like yours that even socialize on a parrot stand during the day without showing tendencies to breed. You just have to watch out for things like; mutually feeding, mutually grooming, and wanting to go in each others (the other) cage. These are good signs of potential breeding (pair bonding for breeding) instincts.

Also separate caging, I mean two separate cages on different sides of the room (not sharing a common wall.) I think you will do just fine.

Dutch


“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings” James Matthew Barrie 1920