The Pueblos especially prized the Scarlet Macaw. It was not until the early 20th century that reports of macaws breeding in captivity were released. That is changing as imports decrease and the demand for these wonderful birds increases. Today most of the birds sold as pets are captive bred. Today there are 17 living species divided into 3 genera.
All macaws share the same physical characteristics.
They all have long tails, slim bodies, and broad heads. The most easily recognizable of the three groups are the large macaws like the Greenwing and the Blue and Gold macaw because of their large size and vivid coloration. This genus, Ara , contains 13 of the 17 species and most of the pet macaws come from this group. The remaining species are birds that should not be considered as pets since they are very rare and need the attention of breeders in order to survive as a species into the future. Macaws are smart birds, and need attention and toys to keep them busy.