The Hahn’s or Red Shouldered Macaw, along with the less available Noble macaw, is often referred to as a mini-macaw. The Hahn's averages thirteen inches in length, making it the smallest member of the macaw family.
While its coloring is subdued compared to its larger South American cousins--- the scarlet, blue and gold, and green-winged macaws--- the Hahn’s is a quite handsome parrot. Like all macaws, it has a long narrow tail and a large head. Bright green feathers cover the body, with dark or slate blue feathers on the head just above the beak. The wing and tail feathers are bright green above and olive-green below. The leading edges of the wings, especially on the underside, are a brilliant red. Their eyes are orange, and the skin around the eyes is white and bare, just as in the larger macaws.
Because of their size and coloring, the Hahn’s is sometimes mistaken for a conure, another small parrot from Central and South America.
Personality
These medium-sized parrots can make great companions, and unlike some parrots, are easily socialized to bond with several people, which also make them an appealing choice for families. The Hahn’s has many of the personality characteristics of the larger macaws, yet are much easier to handle and house. They are extremely inquisitive, intelligent, playful and interactive.
Like all macaws, the Hahn’s has an excellent ability to mimic, but their voice quality is not as clear as their larger counterparts, and macaws seldom develop the talking ability of the African Grey parrot or any number of the Amazon family of parrots. Watch a video of a talking Hahn's.
Many owners of multiple species of macaws report that the Hahn's are the most gregarious and trainable of the group. In terms of playfulness, these little macaws are hard to top.
Lifespan
The mini-macaws have a shorter life-span than their larger counterparts. They live an average 20-25 years, as opposed to the 60-80 year lifespan of some large species.
Care
Although the Hahn’s is approximately the size of a cockatiel, it is a more active parrot with a slightly larger beak, making a sturdy and spacious cage a necessity; any cage designed for a small to medium sized parrot would do nicely.
Diet should be varied, with a medium-sized pellet, medium hookbill seed mix, fresh fruits and vegetables, and some grains.
Like all macaws, the Hahn's relishes the chance to chew wood, so a good variety of toys should be available. Because these parrots especially enjoy hanging, swinging, and climbing, a swing or rope is another must for a happy pet.
If you like the macaw personality, but don't have the space or experience to comfortably handle a large bird, the Hahn’s is a delightful choice.
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