All parrots are individuals, like people, and need to be treated as such.  The profiles I have listed have been developed through my personal experiences with the birds and not through articles I've read.  Many birds have been given "Bad Raps" because somewhere along the line someone has had a bad experience with a particular breed of parrot.  This "Bad Rap" has been picked up by others that have written articles and carried through.  This is totally unfair.  Example:

"The Scarlet Macaw is nippy, they get nasty and are difficult."  The Scarlet DOES require daily interaction with it's people.  If they don't get it, they get upset and angry.  If you have made a decision to get a parrot, why would you NOT interact with it.  They are flock animals and need that interaction.

"The Military coloring is not as outstanding as the other large Macaws.."   Militaries are beautiful birds.  See my "Military Profile"   Scarlets, Greenwings and Blue & Golds's, while more vivid in coloring, cannot compare to the calming affect of the Military's color.  A color you never tire of. 

Read all articles available on parrots.  You will find a diversity of opinions.  Absorb the articles and opinions, then using your own common sense, come to your own conclusions.

All mature parrots have a breeding season twice a year.  Usually Spring and Fall.  With some birds, you'd never know it.  Some can become more possessive of their special human and your attentions, others go a little nutty (hormones ).  Depending upon the individual bird, you may have to let them be during this time.  Take your cue from the bird.  Learn to read the body language.  If you fail to respect the bird and persist with your wants, you could get bitten - but they do give you proper warning.  If you are bitten, it isn't because you have a "Bad" bird", but because you failed to recognize the signs.  Once the season is over, you'll have your pet back.  Small price to pay for an excellent companion for the remainder of your natural life.  Once the bird has passed breeding age, you no longer have to deal with the breeding season.

POINTS TO REMEMBER  - 

• All macaws will be vocal in the AM after awakening and PM before bed.  This is normal.  In the wild they call to one another in the AM before flying to their feeding grounds.  In the PM they call to one another to let each other know where they are roosting.
• The larger parrots are not suitable for apartment living.  Unless you have VERY understanding neighbors.
• All parrots make excellent companions; but never purchase a large parrot, then hand them over to a child as a pet.  They are an adult's pet.  Young children should be supervised when interacting with the birds.
• All parrots need at least 2 hours a day out of cage time.  This time should be spent on a play gym and interacting one on one with their families.
• Parrots should have at least 3 toys in their cage (must leave room for them to stretch their wings).  These toys should be changed every week.  Once you accumulate a variety of toys, you merely have to rotate them weekly.
• All parrots chew.  They can be taught what to NOT chew, but it's best to limit their out of cage time to a play gym with attached toys.
• All parrots will "mouth" your hands, this is how they check things out.  Their beaks are like our hands.  The trick is to teach them not to bite down hard.  Best thing to do is not let them mouth your hands.  Give them a "hand held" toy instead.
• Parrots are long-lived.  Provisions should be made for their care, since they could outlive you.

LIFE SPAN -  SOME PARROTS CAN LIVE AS LONG AS 100 YEARS

SCARLET MACAW - Considered to be one of the most beautiful of the Macaws.  Orange red body, head and chest.  Teal blue on the primary flight feathers and tail. Either a broad or narrow yellow band across the wings.  Thick feathering across the nares.  Face has no feathering.

FEATURES

• BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
• VERY INTELLIGENT
• WILL TALK
• LARGE MACAW - ABOUT THE SAME OR SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE BLUE & GOLD
• LIKES TO BE PETTED.  WILL TOLERATE SOME CUDDLING
• LIKES TO PLAY, BUT NO ROUGHHOUSING

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• DO NOT PLAY ROUGH WITH THIS BIRD.  CAN TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE.  USE A TOY ESPECIALLY RESERVED FOR "TUG OF WAR" IF YOU WANT TO ROUGHHOUSE WITH THEM
• REQUIRES DAILY INTERACTION
• REQUIRES A LARGE CAGE AND LARGE TOYS
• LIFE SPAN - CAN LIVE AS LONG AS 100 YEARS

CATALINA MACAW (SCARLET/BLUE & GOLD HYBRID) - Tempers the personalities of both Macaws, producing an extremely,  beautifully colored Macaw,  that makes an excellent companion.  Although not rare, they are not commonly seen.

BLUE & GOLD MACAW - Striking colors.  Head is blue/green to base, then turing a vivid blue down the back and tail.  Chest and tips of shoulders a brilliant yellow.  Under the tail is a muted yellow.  Face has tiny black feathering.

FEATURES

• THE MOST POPULAR AND WELL KNOW OF THE MACAWS
• VERY PLAYFUL AND FUNNY
• TALKS WELL
• LIKES TO BE PETTED BUT ONLY TOLERATES CUDDLING FOR A SHORT PERIOD.  WOULD RATHER PLAY
• HIGHLY INTELLIGENT - LIKE ALL MACAWS
• EASY TO HANDLE

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• PLAYING CAN GET ROUGH.  YOU NEED TO CONTROL THE PLAY
• CAN BE LOUD
• REQUIRES LARGE CAGE AND TOYS
• REQUIRES DAILY INTERACTION
• LIFE SPAN - CAN LIVE AS LONG AS 100 YEARS

GREENWING MACAW - Second largest Macaw in the world.  Beautiful coloring.  True Red over the head, back, chest and tail.  Teal blue on primary and secondary flight feathers and tail.  Broad green band across wings.  Face has tiny red feathering.

FEATURES

• CALLED ONE OF THE GENTLE GIANTS OF THE MACAWS. 
• HIGHLY INTELLIGENT
• WILL TALK
• VERY CALM BIRD
• WILL PLAY BUT WOULD RATHER BE PETTED
• WILL CUDDLE
• NOT EXTREMELY LOUD

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• DOES NOT LIKE TO ROUGHHOUSE.  WILL THINK YOU ARE BEING MEAN AND WILL BEGIN TO MISTRUST YOU.  EACH BIRD IS AN INDIVIDUAL.  YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.
• REQUIRES DAILY INTERACTION
• REQUIRES LARGE CAGE AND TOYS
• DIFFICULT TO BREED
• LIFE SPAN - CAN LIVE AS LONG AS 100 YEARS

HARLEQUIN MACAW (GREENWING/BLUE&GOLD HYBRID) - Absolutely georgeous.  Highly sought after.  Not common.  Combines all the qualities of the greenwing and the Blue & Gold.

SEVERE MACAW - One of the larger "Mini-macaws".  Primarily green with chestnut brown over the nares.  Red shoulders and red throughout the teal and green tail.  The green has an iridescent glow.  Tiny black feathers line the bare face.  The Severe is about the size of the African Grey, with slender body and a long tail.  Possess all the qualities of the large Macaws.

FEATURES

• MEDIUM SIZED BIRD THAT TAKES UP LESS ROOM, DUE TO  SMALLER CAGE REQUIREMENTS. 
• REQUIRES SMALLER TOYS
• VERY QUICK LEARNER
• WILL TALK
• PLAYFUL
• VERY INTERACTIVE
• LIKES TO BE PETTED.  NOT A CUDDLER

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• ALTHOUGH SMALL, CAN BE LOUD
• REQUIRES ONE ON ONE INTERACTION
• MUST HAVE 2 HRS. OUT OF CAGE TIME
• ALTHOUGH SMALL, NOT A CHILDS PET
• LIFE SPAN - ABOUT 50 YEARS

HYACINTH MACAW - Largest Macaw in the world.  Although all parrots are on the "endangered species list" of the US Fish and Wildlife Commission, these beautiful birds are probably one of the most endangered.  Their coloring is extraordinary.  A purple/blue over the complete bird with brilliant yellow circling the eyes and beak.  The beak is HUGE.  The feet so large they can wrap around my wrist.

FEATURES

• EXTREMELY GENTLE
• LOVES TO BE PETTED AND CUDDLED
• LIKES TO PLAY.  (A WORD TO THE WISE, DO NOT ROUGHHOUSE)
• VERY INTELLIGENT
• TALKS WELL
• IMPRESSIVE
• THE OTHER GENTLE GIANT

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• REQUIRES A VERY LARGE CAGE AND VERY LARGE TOYS
• REQUIRES DAILY INTERACTION
• REQUIRES AT LEAST 2 HOURS OUT OF CAGE TIME
• CAN BE LOUD
• VERY EXPENSIVE
• LIFE SPAN - ABOUT 60 YEARS
• SPECIAL DIET REQUIRES LOTS OF NUTS IN ADDITION TO PELLETS, FRUITS AND VEGGIES

WHY SO EXPENSIVE??????  I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION MANY TIMES.  I'VE LISTED SOME OF THE REASONS BELOW:

• VERY DIFFICULT TO BREED
• SURVIVAL RATE OF CHICKS IS LOW
• HANDFEEDING CHICKS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT
• TAKES 8 MONTHS TO WEAN A BABY HYACINTH
• NOT ENOUGH BREEDER PAIRS IN EXISTENCE

AFRICAN GREY PARROT - Beautiful shades of grey on the body with a lighter dove grey on the head and chest and back.  Feathers have a scalloped look.  Tail is a brilliant red.  The face is bare.  The official name is "African Grey Parrot".  However, I get asked all the time whether it is a Temneh or a Congo.  Therefore, I still use the term "Congo".  That way there is no mix-up.

FEATURES

• VERY FUNNY BIRD - WILL KEEP YOU LAUGHING
• DESCRIBED AS THE "EINSTEIN" OF THE PARROT WORLD
• VERY, VERY QUICK LEARNER
• EXCELLENT TALKER (IF THEY SO CHOOSE)
• NOT A SCREAMER
• CAN BE AN APARTMENT BIRD
• MEDIUM SIZED BIRD THAT REQUIRES A SMALLER CAGE THAN THE LARGE MACAWS
• SMALLER TOYS
• VERY PLAYFUL
• LIKES TO EXPLORE

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• COULD BE MORE INTELLIGENT THAN THEIR OWNERS.  CREATING QUITE A CHALLENGE FOR "TOP BIRD".
• MUST WATCH WHAT YOU SAY.  YOUR WORDS CAN COME BACK AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE (FOR YOU) TIMES.  I'M SERIOUS !!
• NOT A CUDDLER (SOME CAN BE - BUT NOT NORMALLY)
• MUST LEARN TO READ THEIR MOODS.  THEY WILL LET YOU KNOW ONCE HOW THEY FEEL.  HEED THE WARNING.
• THOUGH SMALLER THAN THE LARGE MACAWS, NOT A CHILD'S PET
• LIFE SPAN - ABOUT 50 YEARS 

DOUBLE YELLOW HEAD (DYH) AMAZON - Quite a handsome bird with a bright yellow head, bright green body, multi-colored wings and tail with reds, yellows and greens.  Slightly larger than the  African Grey.  

FEATURES

• EXTREMELY FUNNY - QUITE A SHOWOFF
• HAS AN EXCELLENT SINGING VOICE
• IF YOU LIKE TO HEAR "JUNGLE SOUNDS", THIS IS THE BIRD FOR YOU
• REQUIRES A SMALLER CAGE THAN THE LARGE MACAWS.
• REQUIRES SMALLER TOYS
• QUITE COLORFUL
• VERY INTELLIGENT
• LIKES TO PLAY
• LIKES TO BE SCRATCHED AND PETTED.  WILL TOLERATE SOME CUDDLING
• THEY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED "WATCH PARROTS", ESPECIALLY THE MALES
• TALKS AS WELL AS THE GREY

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• MUST LEARN TO READ MOODS.  THEY WILL WARN YOU, ONCE.  HEED THE WARNING.
• ALTHOUGH SMALLER THAN THE LARGE MACAWS, THEY ARE NOT AN APARTMENT BIRD
• CAN BE LOUD
• LIFE SPAN - ABOUT 60 YEARS

PARROTLETS - The smallest true parrot in the world.  Related to the Amazon.  They are about the size of a small canary.  They are the little jewels of the parrot world.  The basic common color is green with the males having a royal blue in wings and tails.  There are a variety of hybrids.  I have the whites (slightly powder blue hue), and the bright blue, along with the common green.  This is one parrot where you can tell the difference between the male and female.  All males have the royal blue in the wings and tail.

FEATURES

• SMALL - MAKE AN EXCELLENT APARTMENT PET
• WILL TALK IN TINY BUT CLEAR VOICES
• VERY PLAYFUL, FUNNY AND AFFECTIONATE
• POSSESS THE QUALITIES OF THE LARGE PARROTS
• CAGE AND TOYS ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE
• VERY INTERACTIVE WITH PEOPLE IF HANDRAISED
• NOT NOISY - THEY TWITTER

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• ALTHOUGH SMALL - THEY DO REQUIRE SUPERVISION WITH CHILDREN.  THEY CAN BE HURT EASILY
• REQUIRE OUT OF CAGE TIME JUST LIKE THE LARGE PARROTS
• REQUIRE ONE ON ONE INTERACTION DAILY
• LIFE SPAN - ABOUT 20 YEARS

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I have listed the parrots according to size, from the largest to the smallest:

• Hyacinth
• Greenwing, Harlequin
• Scarlet, Catalina
• Blue & Gold
• Military
• Amazon
• African Grey, Severe
• Parrotlets