Severe or Chestnut-fronted Macaws
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The Chestnut-fronted Macaw or Severe Macaw (Ara severa) is one of the largest of the mini-macaws. It reaches a size of around 18 to 19 inches (~45 to 49 centimeters) of which around half is the length of the tail. The body size is about the same as a Congo Grey, but slimmer in build. The average weight is around 360 g.
This is the only mini-macaw to have feathers on the bare patches on its face which makes it look like the larger types of macaw.
The Severe Macaw is mostly green in color with patches of red and blue on the wings. The head has a Chestnut brown patch just above the beak. The beak is black and the patches around the eyes are white with lines of small black feathers. Their lifespan is listed as anything from 30 to 80 years of age.
They can be found over a large part of Northern South America from Panama south into Brazil.
Like most other Parrots Severe Macaws can be "nippy" or "beaky". This should not be encouraged. They can learn to speak and can readily learn a reasonable vocabulary. (Adapted from: Source: Wikipedia.org)
Severe Macaws as Pets
This bird is more easily trained than the larger macaws, and is more often recommended as a house pet than the other macaws. As with many of the mini macaw members, the Severe must be well socialized as a youngster to prevent him from becoming a "one person bird".
They are a playful, animated bird, but can become very noisy. They are very , curious and easily excitable. They have the potential of becoming excellent talkers - which would help in diverting their vocal tendencies into words instead of noise. They can become nippy, if it is not discouraged when young. Training is important to teach them manners and acceptable behavior. Training and discipline will make the difference of this parrot becoming a beloved member of the family or a discarded problem.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Macaw ownership generally presents multiple challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined macaws will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires.
They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation. Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a macaw and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet macaw.
Overall, it is important to guide parrot behavior, but even more so if your feathered family member is a magnificent and powerful macaw.
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:
- Macaw General Information
- Procuring your Parrot
- Ohio, Chillicothe: Jeff & Norma Steinbrook - Exotic Kingdoms Aviary, 1049 Baum Hill Rd. Chillicothe, Ohio - Tel. 740-626-2790 between 10am & 6pm or Call Cell # 740-649-9673 - e-mail Address is loveparrots@horizonview.net - Breeder of: African Grey's Congos & Timnehs, Amazon Parrots: Double Yellow Head, Mexican Red Head, Orange Wing, and Yellow Napes; Cockatoos: Sulphur Crest (Eleanora's) & Umbrellas, Cherry Head & Nanday Conures, Macaws: Blue & Golds, Greenwings, Scarlets, and Severe's Mini Macaws - Will Ship Weather Permitting
- Click here for Recommended Breeders
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Housing Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
Taxonomy:
Genus: Scientific: Ara ... English: Macaws ... Dutch: Echte Aras ... German: Eigentliche Aras ... French: Aras
Species: Scientific: Ara severa severa ... English: Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Severa Macaw ... Dutch: Dwergara, Severa Ara ... German: Rotbugara, Rotbugzwergara ... French: Ara à front châtain
CITES II - Endangered Species
Distribution: Orinoco River in Venezuela to Brazil
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots ... PetCo Caresheet.
Sub-species:
Lafresnaye's Macaw aka Lafresnayes Macaw
Distribution: Eastern Panama, Western Colombia, Ecuador, Eastern Peru, Northern Bolivia, Mato Grosso in Brazil
Taxonomy: Genus: Scientific: Ara ... English: Macaws ... Dutch: Echte Aras ... German: Eigentliche Aras ... French: Aras Species: Scientific: Ara severa castaneifrons ... English: Lafresnaye's Chestnut-fronted Macaw ... Dutch: Lafresnaye Dwergara ... German: Lafresnaye Rotbugara ... French: Ara vert, Ara sévère de Lafresnaye
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
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