Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
Despite their differences the two bird species share a common evolutionary story. Their shared dependence on palm swamps to nest and roost underscores the interconnectedness of nature as well as the need to protect habitats that are threatened.
With its vibrant blue plumage and distinctive yellow accents, the hyacinth macaw is unmistakable. Its beak, which appears be smiling is capable of tearing coconuts and brazil nuts.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The hyacinth Macaw is the largest parrot and is a stunning bird. It has striking blue color with yellow accents around the eyes and lower part of the beak. This could make it appear as if it's smiling. It has short, sturdy legs that permit it to hang upside down or sideways and a massive hooked beak that is designed for cracking open coconuts. They are social and intelligent, and tend to stay with the same person throughout their lives.
Hyacinth macaws are not migratory and their distribution is dependent on the availability of specific palm species that provide their primary food source. This is the major difference between macaws and other parrots that are typically migratory.
The hyacinth Macaw is a prey species that eats lot of nuts from native palm trees. Especially the acuri, and the bocaiuva. They are able to crack the seeds into pieces because of their strong beaks, and they also consume fruits and other plant material.
They are not migratory birds, and their population is tightly dependent on the availability of the acuri and bocaiuva palms, which provide the majority of their primary food source. This is a major distinction between macaws and other parakeets which tend to be migraters.
Contrary to most parrots, which prefer dense tropical rainforest habitats, the hyacinth macaw can be found in less forested areas like palm swamps and grasslands that have been flooded. The vast majority (90 90 percent) of the hyacinth macaw population lives in the Pantanal region, which is the biggest wetland of tropical origin in Brazil.
Like all birds they are monogamous. They pick a partner around 3-4 years of age and stay with them for their entire life. Darling hahns macaw are very social animals and are often seen interacting with humans, but it is important to keep in mind that they are wild animals and should never be removed from their natural habitat.
If you want to spend time with an intelligent, beautiful and playful animal that can imitate your words, think about adopting the pet parrot of an aviculturist that breeds these incredible animals. It is a big responsibility to care for these amazing creatures and the best way to ensure their future in captivity is to locate an experienced, responsible aviculturist.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw (Ara glaucus) is among the most colorful birds in the Amazon basin. This large parrot has blue top parts and yellow underparts and can be found in forests of tropical South America. It is a rare bird and is classified as Critically Endangered. The cause of the decline of this bird is most likely the capture of live adults for the wild bird trade and the wholesale felling of yatay palms (Butia yatay) that appear to be the primary food source.
The name of this bird comes from its striking blueish color. It is described in terms of pale turquoise to azure. The underparts of the bird are yellowish and it has a grey head. It is smaller than Lear's Macaw and is more slender than the Hyacinth Macaw.
The glaucous Macaw is not only a beautiful bird, it is also an indication of hope for the people who live in the Amazon Basin. The glaucous Macaw is hoping to be found in the wild very soon and populations could be restored. This will ensure the survival of this magnificent species.
Although the glaucous Macaw is believed to be extinct, several reports of its reemergence have been reported throughout the years. In February 1992 an adult female specimen was discovered at Customs in Britain. The bird was housed in several of the world's most famous zoos and at the time it was believed to be was an authentic Glaucous Macaw.
This supposedly authentic glaucous Macaw was found to be a hybrid of the Lear's hyacinth and macaws. In addition, its azure color was actually more similar to that of the macaws of Hyacinth and was created for the purpose of breeding hybrids.
Even even if the glaucous macaw were to appear in the wild, it is unlikely that it can breed and produce healthy offspring. This bird has been critically threatened for too long. It could be a tragedy if this beautiful tropical giant disappeared for ever.
The Macaw's ancestors
Macaws generally form bonds with their human companions, and can be quite affectionate. They are extremely vocal birds, with many different calls and songs. They enjoy mimicking sounds and voices, especially those of their human companions. Macaws who live with humans can learn to mimic the sounds of words. The loud, shrieking noises that macaws emit are their natural method of communicating with fellow members of their group or to warn of danger. They will call from 5-10 minutes, several times a week.
When a pair of macaws form a bond they will stay together until one macaw dies. They will kiss feathers of each other and roost together at night. They also mate at least every year, laying their eggs in a nest constructed in a hollow of a tree or a hole in the dirt on the cliff face. The female incubates the egg for 12 weeks, while the male collects food and shields chicks from predators.
Humans began to interact with macaws, they started to train them and use macaws as companion birds. With their powerful beaks and their bright blue feathers, they were considered to be symbol of love and power. Many believed that a macaw could tell them secrets about the future or answer their prayers. They were also used to scare away snakes and crocodiles by making their shrieking sounds.
For a long time nobody knew the exact number of macaws with glaucous sex that had ever existed. The data showed that a few specimens were in captivity but no one was aware of their origins or the date they were born. One of the most famous birds lived in Paris the Jardin d'Acclimatation from 1886 between 1886 and 1905. Another was in a zoo close to Buenos Aires during the 1920s to 1936. Despite these early records it was widely believed that the glaucous Macaw was extinct.
In 2010, an analysis of isotopics revealed that the glaucous Macaw is still present in the wild. The results of this study were published in Science. The authors suggest that the macaws with glaucous likely originated from a population in the Paquime region in northern Chihuahua. The birds' apparent long-lived is due to the fact that they can adapt to their environment. They can live in dry desert conditions for instance.
The Macaw's Future
Parrots can adapt to their environment in a remarkable way. In the wild, they can travel miles from their home to find nesting places. They also mimic human speech. Their feet are shaped so they can be positioned in trees and climb them. They can carry food inside their beaks.
Parrots are not domesticated like dogs and cats despite their natural talents. Darling hahns macaw remain wild animals and must live their lives like their ancestors lived. If you're planning to bring one of these wild birds into your home, do so with great care and sensitivity. Parrots can be loud and large, and could cause damage to furniture and home. They are also listed on CITES due to over-collection to trade in pets and habitat loss.
The Spix's Macaw is considered to be one of the most successful reintroduction efforts. It was believed to be extinct, until Helmut Sick, his field assistant Dante Teixera and their team discovered three of them in 1974 near Formosa do Rio Preto. At the time the only known pair of birds was kept in the captive at Al Wabra in Qatar.
At a meeting in the city of Sao Paulo, Purchase and other conservationists agreed that the only solution was to release captive macaws back into the wild. They needed to do it fast, however, since the number of breeding pairs was extremely small. They also needed to establish different lineages at the various breeding centres to ensure that one pair did not overwhelm the entire population.
Conservationists then began searching Brazil for Spix's Macaws that were in private ownership and could be brought back. Owners were initially reluctant because they feared prosecution for violating a law that prohibited the export of wildlife. However, gradually, "one by one, people came out," says Kiessling.