Severe Macaw Complete Guide: The Mid Sized Macaw (Care, Cost, Personality)

If a Hahn’s Macaw feels too small and a Blue and Gold Macaw feels too large, the Severe Macaw might be your answer. As one of the largest mini macaws (or smallest large macaws, depending on classification), the Severe combines the classic macaw personality with a more manageable size and volume. This guide walks through everything you should know before buying a Severe Macaw, including realistic price, care, and honest comparisons to larger and smaller macaws.

What is a Severe Macaw?

The Severe Macaw (Ara severus), also known as the Chestnut Fronted Macaw, is a true macaw native to a wide range across northern South America including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. They live in tropical rainforests and wooded savannahs, typically in small flocks. In the pet trade they occupy the middle ground between the small mini macaws (Hahn’s, Yellow Collared, Illiger’s) and the large macaws (Blue and Gold, Scarlet, Military).

What does a Severe Macaw look like?

• Length: 18 inches
• Weight: 300 to 400 grams
• Body colour: Bright green
• Forehead: Distinctive chestnut brown patch (source of the alternative name)
• Facial patch: Featherless white patch typical of macaws
• Wings: Green with red and blue edging on flight feathers
• Tail: Long green with red undertail
• Beak: Black

Personality and temperament

Severe Macaws are classic macaw personalities scaled down. They are curious, playful, mischievous, and highly intelligent. A well hand raised Severe bonds deeply with its primary human and typically tolerates other family members better than larger macaws do. They are known for being one of the more entertaining mid sized macaws, engaging in play behaviours that resemble larger macaws in miniature.

The trade off is that Severe Macaws can be more nippy than the very docile Hahn’s Macaw and require consistent training in their first two years to prevent territorial biting from becoming a habit.

Are Severe Macaws good talkers?

Moderate. Severe Macaws typically develop a vocabulary of 20 to 40 words and phrases, sometimes more. Their voice is clearer than larger macaws but still recognizably macaw in character. They are not in the league of African Greys or Yellow Naped Amazons, but they talk more reliably than most people expect from a macaw. See our Military Macaw vs African Grey comparison for how macaws generally compare to top talking species.

Are Severe Macaws loud?

Moderate to loud. Severe Macaws are louder than Hahn’s Macaws but noticeably quieter than Blue and Gold Macaws or Scarlets. Their contact calls can carry through most apartment walls but are manageable in a townhouse or house with understanding neighbours. Not the ideal apartment bird.

How much does a Severe Macaw cost?

Hand raised Severe Macaws cost $2,500 to $4,000 in the US in 2026 from a working aviary. They are less commonly bred than Blue and Gold or Hahn’s Macaws, which keeps prices firm despite their smaller size compared to the largest macaws.

Care requirements

Cage size. Minimum 36 by 30 by 48 inches. Larger is strongly preferred. Bar spacing no wider than 3 by 4 inch. Their beak strength requires a heavy powder coated or stainless steel cage.

Diet. 60 to 70 percent quality pellet, 20 to 30 percent fresh vegetables and small amounts of fruit, 5 to 10 percent nuts and seeds. Macaws tolerate slightly higher fat content in the diet than smaller parrots.

Out of cage time. At least 3 hours per day of interaction and free flight in a bird proofed room.

Enrichment. Rotate three foraging or destructive chew toys weekly. Severe Macaws are heavy chewers for their size.

Sleep. 10 to 12 hours of dark quiet sleep per night.

How long does a Severe Macaw live?

Severe Macaws typically live 30 to 50 years in captivity with proper care. This is a shorter commitment than a large macaw (40 to 80 years) but longer than most people expect. For the full lifespan picture across parrot species, see our how long parrots live guide.

Severe Macaw vs Hahn’s Macaw vs Blue and Gold

Choose a Severe Macaw if: you want a mid sized macaw with real macaw presence but at a more manageable size and cost than a Blue and Gold. You have detached housing or understanding neighbours. You have some experience with medium parrots.

Choose a Hahn’s Macaw if: space and noise are serious concerns and you want the smallest true macaw. Beginner macaw territory.

Choose a Blue and Gold Macaw if: you have the space and noise tolerance for a full sized macaw and want the classic large macaw stature.

Where to buy a Severe Macaw

Because Severe Macaws are less commonly bred than the more familiar Blue and Gold or Hahn’s, expect a waitlist from most specialty breeders. Working aviaries that also breed related macaw species are your best starting point. At Mo’s Birds we hand raise several macaw species. Browse the macaws category page, check the current babies page, or contact Mo directly for waitlist information on Severe Macaws specifically.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Severe Macaw a mini macaw?

Classification varies. Some breeders classify Severe Macaws as the largest mini macaw; others classify them as the smallest large macaw. Their size (18 inches) sits between the standard mini macaws (12 to 16 inches) and large macaws (27 inches and up).

Are Severe Macaws good for beginners?

For experienced small parrot owners moving up to a macaw, yes. Not recommended as an absolute first bird due to their strong beak, training requirements, and 30 to 50 year commitment.

Do Severe Macaws talk?

Moderate. They typically learn 20 to 40 words and phrases, occasionally more. Male Severe Macaws tend to talk slightly more than females.

What is the difference between a Severe Macaw and a Chestnut Fronted Macaw?

Same species. Ara severus is the scientific name. Severe Macaw is more common in the US pet trade; Chestnut Fronted Macaw is more common in field guides and ornithology literature.

Are Severe Macaws apartment appropriate?

Not ideal in a shared wall apartment. Their contact calls carry farther than Green Cheek Conures or Cockatiels. Manageable in a townhouse or house with understanding neighbours.

What is the monthly cost of owning a Severe Macaw?

$100 to $170 per month for food, toy replacement, and vet fund contribution. Emergency vet visits sit on top of this.