Guessing a Macaw's Age?

[phorever]

Just wanted to know if there is a way to guess a macaw's age. Jasper is a B&G that I've been working with for about a year at the rescue where I volunteer. When I started, he would bite at the cage if you got too close, now he's my buddy and climbs all over me...I wasn't going take any more birds, but he's come around so well and has obviously bonded to me, so I feel like I owe it to him (or maybe her...that's another question) to bring him home. I'm not going to bring him home until I move in a few months into a house...live in an apartment now, but I did buy him a cage that he uses at the rescue.

At any rate, I *think* he's a pretty young bird...I have no idea why, but I'm guessing 15 or so. I've tried to run a trace on his band, but no luck (I was able to do that on a GCC I adopted) He is very active and playful...he swings off his toys like a hyperactive child. Not that it matters, I'm just curious how old he is and if there is a way to tell if he's a boy or a girl. I wouldn't spend the money on a DNA test because it's not that important.

I can say that he seems small for a macaw and the black line feathers on his face are thinner then the other B&Gs. Any Ideas?

[SevrMacDad]

I know for my severe eye color changed to adult orange from grey at 1-2 years and real old macaws get wrinkles in their bare faces and can get arthritic. But for anything i nbetween, I honestly don't know...

[Copper]

I remember reading somewhere that the legs and feet can be an indicator. The scaley part starts developing a bit of whiteness around the edges of the scales. I know that my 16 year old has laighter feet and legs than my 5 year old.... but don't quote me on it.... My vet has never said anything to confirm or disallow.