Blue and Gold Macaw

Family Psittacidae, Ara ararauna

Blue and Gold Macaws, also known as Blue and Yellow Macaws, are well known parrots. In fact, many of the pet blue and gold macaws today are 5th to 10th generation "Americans." For hundreds of years these parrots were taken out of their native habitat in the rainforest to be people's pets. Now most pet macaws are bred in captivity so that the wild population will be safe. Wild macaws are losing habitat every year with the destruction of the rainforest. They are 2.5 feet long and have a wingspan 3.5 feet wide. Their brilliant coloring allows them to spot one another as they fly.

Name: Roxanne

Sex: unknown

Hatched: 1977

Weight: 2-9.0

Why is the bird here? No records before 1993.

Personality: Likes to play, but very territorial in her cage. Learns quickly.

What does this bird do in the show: Display and photo bird. Also says "hello," "cracker," "rarara," and laughs. Sticks her tongue out, waves, lifts her wings, gives kisses and nods "yes" and "no."

Name: Waylon

Sex: unknown

Hatched: unknown

Why is the bird here? Raised for education

Personality: A very sweet bird, he likes hanging out with his trainers.

What does this bird do in shows? A posing bird.

Red and Green Macaw

Family Psittacidae, Ara chloroptera

These macaws are also known as green-winged macaws. Macaw refers to the large parrots. Their beaks can bite with a pressure up to 1000 lbs per square inch. Great for opening hard nuts! Parrots also have xygodactyl feet, meaning they have the same number of toes pointing forward and backward. This allows them to climb, hang, and hold onto objects very well.

Name: Rio

Sex: Male

Hatched: 1996

Personality: He was given to us by Reptile Gardens. He knows how to say Hello, Hi Rio, and he can wave. He also knows how to recycle and separate milk cartons from soda cans.

Name: McCoy

Sex: unknown

Hatched: 2/14/1994

Why is the bird here? Bred for education.

Personality: A very smart, nice parrot. He was named after a staff member's son.

What does this bird do in the show? A posing bird, McCoy takes pictures with the public.

Military Macaw

Family Psittacidae, Ara militaris

These large birds, like other macaws, may live as long as 80 or even 100 years! Their plumage makes them easy to identify, green with a red band just behind the nostrils, with light blue on the wings and tails. They are also sometimes referred to as the green macaw or the blue-green macaw. They are smaller than Blue and Golds or Red and Greens, but otherwise are very similar except in nesting habits. They nest in cliff crevices rather than tree hollows. They eat fruits, nuts and seeds. As they get older, their eyes become lighter and the feathers on their faces change from black to red. Military macaws range from Mexico to Argentina.

Name: Carmen

Sex: Female

Hatched: 1998

Weight: 2 lb

Why is the bird here? Bred for education.

Personality: Very sweet, likes to lick everything. She enjoys flying, climbing, hanging upside down, bathing and eating peanuts.

What does this bird do in the show? She flies loops with Trinidad, another military macaw. She usually finishes first.

Name: Trinidad

Sex: Male

Hatched: 1997

Weight: 2 lb

Why is the bird here? Bred for education.

Personality: Fun, loving parrot. Loves to ring his bell. Enjoys flying and eating nuts.

What does this bird do in the show? He flies in loops around the theatre with Carmen. Enjoys flying and is very strong at it, so he usually flies more loops than her.

Name: Gomer

Sex: Male

Hatched: 5/27/1976

Weight: 1-14.0

Why is the bird here? No records before 1993.

Personality: Loves to chew! The gentleman prefers blondes.

What does this bird do in the show? Display and photo bird. Also says "hello" and "cracker," gives kisses and waves.

Name: Murdock

Sex: unknown

Hatched: 2/2/2004

Why is the bird here? Bred for education.

What does this bird do in the show? A posing bird, Murdock takes photos with people.

Thick-billed Parrot

Family Psittacidae, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha

This endangered species is the only remaining parrot native to the United States. The rest are extinct. Thick-bills live in Arizona and New Mexico as well as in Mexico. The call of this parrot can be heard up to a mile away and they can be found at up to 11,150 feet in elevation. They are 15 inches tall and have a 16 inch wingspan. They are capable of flying up to 60 miles per hour. WBS has a small breeding flock on display in St. Louis.

Name: Quasimodo

Sex: unknown

Hatched: September 1998

Weight: 10 oz

Why is the bird here? He was bred for education.

Personality: Had wing and foot deformities from the beginning, so he requires special handling. He loves to bathe and sing, and often asks our naturalists "Whatcha doing?" He also says "Hello," "bock bock chicken," and "meow!"

Name: Juniper

Sex: Male

Hatched: 1999

Personality: He knows Jimmy Buffet's Tequila song and tells himself that he is a good boy, pretty bird, and to go to his perch.

Name: Arizona

Sex: Male

Date: August 28, 1996

Weight: 12 oz

Why is the bird here? Bred in WBS' captive flock, selected to use for educational programs.

Personality: He has a wide vocabulary and often asks us to sing. He himself can sing the whole "Tequila" song. He loves to ask questions and to play in the sun. He loves to ring his bell.

What does this bird do in the show: This endangered species was the focus of the Milwaukee County Zoological Society's fundraising project in 2004. They raised money using buttons featuring a picture of a thick-bill to help WBS' thick-bill flock. We use Arizona as a teaser before shows.

Red-Lored Amazon

Family Psittacidae, Amazona autumnalis

This small parrot is native to central America and parts of northern South America. They live in moist lowlands and rainforests, where they eat mostly fruits and seeds. They are excellent mimics.

Name: Rodney

Sex: Male

Hatched: 1980

Personality: He's a very sweet bird. He knows how to wave and say Hi Cookie and Hello. He also can mimic a chicken, cat, and guinea pig.

Double Yellow-headed Amazon

Family Psittacidae, Amazona oratrix

This medium sized parrot is mostly green with yellow on their head. They are very good at mimicking various sounds and voices. They are an endangered species in the wild.

Name: Buddy

Sex: Male

Hatched: unknown

Weight: 1 lb, 2 oz

Why is the bird here? He was initially used for education but became very aggressive towards the staff. He was sent to a new home where the family unfortunately chose to leave him in the basement. Then he came to WBS, where he is again used to educate.

Personality: Loves an audience, great singer.

Yellow-naped Amazon

Family Psittacidae, Amazona ochrocephala

This small Central American parrot eats fruits, nuts, berries, seeds and blossoms. They are generally abundant in areas, but are listed as threatened due to deforestation and overhunting for pets in some areas.

Name: Striker

Sex: Female

Hatched: 1988

Personality: Very chatty, Striker likes to hold half of a phone conversation. Went to her first show during the summer of 2004.

African Grey

Family Psittacidae, Psittacus erithacus

The African Grey is the largest African parrot. They are also the most intelligent by some counts. They can learn up to 900 words. They stand 13 inches tall and have a 23 cm wingspan.

Name: Nemo

Sex: unknown

Hatched: 11/3/2003

Weight: 1 lb

Personality: He is learning to mimic sounds and words for shows.

Cockatiel

Family Cacatuidae, Nymphicus hollandicus

Cockatiels are native to Australia, although they are very popular as pets. In the wild they live in open country, where they forage for grass seeds. In captivity they can learn to mimic whistles and simple sounds.

Name: Romeo

Sex: Male

Hatched: 1987

Personality: He plays an important role in World Bird Sanctuary's Girl Scout programs teaching children the responsibilities of having a pet. He whistles to you when you whistle to him. He can say pretty bird and has a good vocabulary.