Average weight for a Military Macaw? for a Buffons?

[Bokkapooh]

I may be adopting Rudy.

The bird store says they believe she is a hybrid between a buffons and a regular military. I honestly dont know. I always thought her to be just a military? She does have the lime/greenish shine of the buffons. And isnt a dark green like the regular military. But her size is average. Probably size of a blue and gold, but short military like tail. She weighs 900 grams. When she was on a playstand with my scarlet, Gra, they were just about the same size.. except Gra was much wider, and she weighed in at 1025.

I hear buffons can be 1200-1400 grabs. Whats the average size for a buffons? Or buffon's female? Anyone have anymore experience on militaries and buffons than I? I've only been around a small handful.

Im going to the parrot rescue hopefully this weekend, so I'll check out the militaries and buffons, and see what I can get to know.

 

[Bokkapooh]

Another thing I noticed about Rudy is she never blushes more than a light pink. Well I have never seen her a brilliant red, that buffons are known to have.

Here are a couple new pics of Rudy. I posted them on the "I need advice" thread. But perhaps they did not show up?

These show her actual bright green coloring:

 

[allison]

I'm not an expert on Buffons and Militaries but she looks similar to the Military at the rescue. He has pretty shiny green feathers but also has some redish brown around his neck and on his chest. I'm not sure if there are variations in colors between Militaries though.
She is gorgeous.

 

[TITANIS]

Hi Mercedez,

Besides the larger size and different shade of green, Militaries have a smaller facial patch proportionally since it doesn't tend to extend as far back as the Buffon's. However, Buffon's have a smaller red lore by proportion. Buffon's also have a somewhat larger/longer beak proportionally. Militaries have a darker throat border. Then there's the facial line differences.

I'm not an expert on Buffons and Militaries but she looks similar to the Military at the rescue. He has pretty shiny green feathers but also has some redish brown around his neck and on his chest. I'm not sure if there are variations in colors between Militaries though.
She is gorgeous.

There are different shades of Military green, some darker and some lighter with almost a Buffon's cast to them. Most often they are darker than Buffon's and RFMs. I have never seen a hybrid bewteen a MM and BM yet, but I know they exist. To confuse this even more there are subspecies for each, so a total of around half a dozen different types recognized between the two, which could account for all the variations seen and noted.

 

[TITANIS]

Also, forgot to ask you this, how does the store arrive to the conclusion that Rudy is a hybrid? I hear a lot of stores, sellers and sometimes even breeders make claims from judging by sight alone. Unless there is some kind of documentation or the information comes from the breeder's/original owner's words, I would not believe anyone. Be very doubtful what people say, especially in aviculture. I imagine it could be a difficult affair to determine a true hybrid between a Buffon's and Military especially if the bird in question leaned heavily towards one parent in appearance. I have seen even seasoned macaw owners stumped discriminating between certain ambiguous birds.

 

[WingedVictory]

Hi, Rudy is a Military, he has the head and beak shape of one as well as the brown under his lower beak. I think the brighter green coloring has to do with the origin of the bird. I will post pictures when I have time to access my desktop computer.

gary

 

[Bokkapooh]

Also, forgot to ask you this, how does the store arrive to the conclusion that Rudy is a hybrid?

The store owner talked to a couple breeders who have militaries and buffons. So thats what they assume.

I have seen some large militaries as well. Like up at Mollywood, they have a pretty good size military about 1000grams, male, with a couple othe rmacaws and cockatoo in their 60ft aviary. He was darker than rudy though, but a lot bigger. The younger Military I know, is very dark as well, but very small, probably 600-700grams.

The red front I have seen have like a mossy green to their feathers, not a lime-green, not the type of green Rudy is or any other military or buffons macaw.

Are buffons like red fronts then? With their green color? Im going to try and make it to Bob's parrot rescue this weekend, and take a look at his bunch of militaries, and see.

Ive done some research in the past few days, and Militaries have 3+ subspecies, same with the buffons. Some militaries can be a very dark green and some light, some big some small.

But the main thing that sets them apart, is they dont get the red patch as dark as the buffons, they have dark grey beaks, not black/grey like the buffons, and they have lighter grey feet, and buffons have darker grey feet. Rudy has a dark grey beak, doesnt ever get more than a pink facial patch, and her feet are grey. So she could be a hybrid of the subspecies of military.

Whatever Rudy is, it doesnt matter to me, I was just curious. She'll remain a military to me, until further notice

 

[Bokkapooh]

Hi, Rudy is a Military, he has the head and beak shape of one as well as the brown under his lower beak. I think the brighter green coloring has to do with the origin of the bird. I will post pictures when I have time to access my desktop computer.

gary

Thanks! I wish I had more experience with the whole variety of militaries out there. I just made arrangements to go to the parrot rescue this sunday. I'll try and get more experience with more militaries and buffons then

 

[catnloco]

Ruby is a Military Macaw she looks just like the one I fostered for several months. Her beak and head size is not right for a Buffons Macaw. A buffons head is bigger and the beak is thicker,longer and more rounded than Rubys. The Buffons coloring is more lime green. I will attach a photo of the one I had here named Rocky .
The second is a photo of a Military Macaw and a Buffons Macaw sitting together.

 

[TITANIS]

But the main thing that sets them apart, is they dont get the red patch as dark as the buffons, they have dark grey beaks, not black/grey like the buffons, and they have lighter grey feet, and buffons have darker grey feet. Rudy has a dark grey beak, doesnt ever get more than a pink facial patch, and her feet are grey. So she could be a hybrid of the subspecies of military.

There are more subtle differences, it's all in the proportions. Ignore coloring shade and hue because it is very ambiguous and deceiving even to the schooled. Focus on proportions and ratios, that's where your answer lies.

 

[Bokkapooh]

Thanks guys. I think Rudy is a Military

 

[Big Blues]

Ruby is a Military Macaw she looks just like the one I fostered for several months. Her beak and head size is not right for a Buffons Macaw. A buffons head is bigger and the beak is thicker,longer and more rounded than Rubys. The Buffons coloring is more lime green. I will attach a photo of the one I had here named Rocky .
The second is a photo of a Military Macaw and a Buffons Macaw sitting together.

The second photo that Catnloco posted is our Military, Janie and Buffons, Barney. The average weight of a Military is between 862-1074g and the average weight for Buffons is 1200-1600g.

 

[Bokkapooh]

Thanks guys, I have really appreciated it. However, Rudy isnt coming home with me.