How to Post a Macaw Wanted Ad and Get Replies in the United States
To post a macaw wanted ad that gets replies in the United States, name the species you want (or whether you can house a large or a mini macaw), give a realistic budget and your location, and describe your home, cage and experience. Say that you will meet the bird in person before paying, and never send a deposit or shipping fee for a macaw you have not seen.
Owners placing a macaw look for a home that fits their bird, so a specific, honest ad does better than "any macaw, cheap".
Key points
- Say which species or size you want; a Hahn's macaw and a hyacinth need very different homes.
- Give a budget that matches the species: The Vet Desk puts breeder prices at about $2,000 to $4,000+ for a scarlet and $5,000 to $12,000+ for a hyacinth.
- Describe your cage, home and experience so owners can judge the fit.
- Never pay a deposit, shipping or crate fee before you have met the bird.
- Ask only for US-bred birds, and remember that a northern-subspecies scarlet needs a federal permit to be sold across state lines.
What should a macaw wanted ad include?
- Species or size: name the species you want, or say "mini macaw (Hahn's, yellow-collared or severe)" or "large macaw".
- Age: baby, adult or either. Say whether you would take a hybrid such as a Catalina or Harlequin.
- Budget: a realistic price or rehoming fee for that species.
- Location: your city or region and how far you will travel to collect.
- Your home: house or apartment, neighbors, who is home during the day and other pets.
- Your cage: its size. VCA Animal Hospitals gives at least 3 by 3 by 4 feet for mini macaws and 4 by 5 by 5 feet for large macaws.
- Experience and vet: birds you have kept and the avian vet you will use.
- How you will buy: in person, with vet records and a written agreement.
An example: "Wanted: adult mini macaw, Hahn's or yellow-collared, within 60 miles. Experienced with conures, 3 x 3 x 4 ft cage ready, avian vet lined up. Rehoming fee up to $400; will visit and collect in person." You can post your wanted ad free on PetzLover, and owners reply through its messages. Keep your phone number out of the ad text.
Which macaw should you ask for: large, mini or hybrid?
Ask for the bird your home can keep for decades. VCA gives large macaws 30 to 40 inches, 900 to 1,700 grams and 50 to 60 years, and mini macaws 12 to 20 inches, 150 to 300 grams and 30 to 40 years. The Merck Veterinary Manual warns that macaw screaming can irritate neighbors, and mini macaws are loud too: the World Parrot Trust compares severe macaw calls to a braying donkey.
- Mini macaw: the realistic choice for a smaller home without close neighbors.
- Large macaw: needs a big room, a strong cage and someone home much of the day.
- Hyacinth: the largest and most expensive, with a cage that The Vet Desk puts at $1,000 to $3,000.
- Hybrid: Catalinas and Harlequins are crosses of large macaws and need everything a large macaw needs.
Being open to an adult or a hybrid widens the replies you get, and an adult's voice and temperament are already known.
What budget should you put in a macaw wanted ad?
| Bird | Typical breeder price | Typical adoption or rescue fee | Cage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macaws in general | $500 to $5,000+ | Varies | Varies with size |
| Scarlet | $2,000 to $4,000+ | $600 to $1,000+ | $400 to $1,000 |
| Hyacinth | $5,000 to $12,000+ | $600 | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Mini macaws | No figure given | $350 at Phoenix Landing | Smaller: at least 3 x 3 x 4 ft |
| Large macaws | See species above | $500 at Phoenix Landing | At least 4 x 5 x 5 ft |
Write a number or a range in the ad. A budget far below these ranges for a large macaw tells owners you have not priced the bird, and a first avian vet visit typically adds $70 to $300.
How do you avoid scams when looking for a macaw?
Wanted ads attract fake sellers. The FTC warns that people selling exotic pets that do not exist advertise on social media and ask for payment by wire transfer, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency, and the Better Business Bureau has warned about fake sites offering macaws at bargain prices.
- A hyacinth or scarlet offered far below the ranges above.
- A seller who will only ship and will not meet or do a live video call.
- A deposit to "hold" the bird, then crate, insurance or customs fees.
- Photos that appear on other sites in a reverse image search.
- A seller who claims the bird is newly imported.
Use the Report Scam button on any suspicious listing or reply, and report losses to the Federal Trade Commission through its ReportFraud website.
Are there legal limits on the macaw you can ask for?
- US-bred only: the Wild Bird Conservation Act has barred most imports of CITES-listed birds since 1993, so ask for a US-bred bird, ideally with a closed leg band.
- Appendix I species: hyacinth, scarlet and military macaws are on CITES Appendix I, and international commercial trade in them is generally ruled out, so do not seek one from abroad.
- Across state lines: hyacinths and most scarlets may be sold across state lines without an Endangered Species Act permit, but a northern-subspecies scarlet (Ara macao cyanoptera) or a blue-throated macaw needs a federal permit.
- State and local rules: some states regulate federally listed wildlife themselves, and leases or HOAs may limit noise.
What should you do when an owner replies?
- Ask for the species or cross, age, sex and how each is known, plus recent photos and a video with sound.
- Ask why the bird is being placed, how loud it is and whether it bites.
- Ask for the vet records and the date of the last exam.
- Arrange a visit and meet the bird, ideally more than once.
- Pay only at the handover and sign a bill of sale or rehoming agreement.
- Book an avian vet exam within one to two weeks and keep it apart from other birds until then.
For a full checklist, see how to buy a macaw or how to adopt a macaw. Owners answering your ad may have read how to respond to a macaw wanted ad, and you can also browse macaws already listed near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a good macaw wanted ad?
Name the species or size you want, your budget, your location and how far you will travel. Describe your home, cage and experience, and say you will meet the bird in person before paying.
What budget should I give for a macaw?
Base it on the species. The Vet Desk puts typical breeder prices at $2,000 to $4,000 or more for a scarlet and $5,000 to $12,000 or more for a hyacinth, while Phoenix Landing's rescue fees are $350 for mini macaws and $500 for large macaws.
Should I pay a deposit to hold a macaw?
Not before you have met the bird and the seller in person. Deposit requests for birds you have not seen are a common route into pet scams.
Can I ask for a hyacinth macaw in a wanted ad?
Yes. Hyacinths are listed under the Endangered Species Act, but owning one needs no permit and they may be sold across state lines. Expect a high price and a very large cage.
Should I say I would accept a hybrid macaw?
If you would, say so. Hybrids such as Catalinas and Harlequins are crosses of large macaws, so make sure your home suits a large bird.
Is it OK to ask for a macaw to be shipped to me?
It is safer not to. Shipping requests are a common feature of bird scams, and you cannot check the bird's health or temperament first. Offer to travel to collect it.
Helpful guides
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Macaw Wanted" Ad in the United StatesBefore you answer a macaw wanted ad in the US, find out which species and size the requester can really house, verify who they are, and hand the bird over in person.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Macaw in the United StatesBefore you buy a macaw in the US, choose between a large species and a mini macaw, check whether that species is CITES Appendix I or federally listed, and get the species or hybrid cross in writing.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Macaws in the United StatesSelling a macaw in the US starts with the exact species or cross: it decides which CITES and Endangered Species Act rules apply, what price is realistic and which buyers can house the bird.
Pet for AdoptionHow to Adopt a Macaw in the United StatesTo adopt a macaw in the US, decide whether your home suits a mini or a large macaw, apply to a parrot rescue or owner, pass a home check and budget for the fee, the cage and an avian vet.
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Macaw for Adoption in the United StatesListing a macaw for adoption in the US works best when the species sets the criteria: cage size, noise tolerance and a decades-long plan differ between mini and large macaws.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Macaw in the United StatesBefore you take in a rehomed macaw in the US, confirm the species, ask about its history and noise, get the vet records, and plan a weight check and avian vet exam in the first two weeks.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Macaw Responsibly in the United StatesTo rehome your macaw responsibly in the US, state its species and habits honestly, screen each home for the cage and noise that species needs, ask a fair fee and hand it over in person.