Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
These two bird species despite their differences have similar evolutionary histories. Their dependence on palm swamps to nest and roost highlights the interconnectedness of nature's world and the importance of protecting endangered habitats.
The hyacinth Macaw is easily identified by its bright blue feathers and yellow accents. Its apparent smiley beak packs an incredibly powerful bite that can crack coconuts and large brazil nuts.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The hyacinth macaw is a magnificent bird that is also the largest parrot. It's striking blue in color with pops of yellow around the eyes and the lower beak, which can make them appear to be smiling. It has long, sturdy legs that let it hang upside down or sideways. It also has a beak that is hooked with a hook that is adapted to crack open coconuts. They are social and intelligent and are likely to remain with the same person for the duration of their lives.
Hyacinth macaws are non-migratory, and their distribution is closely linked to the availability of a specific palm species that are their primary food source. This is a key difference between macaws and the majority of parrots that tend to be migratory.
A significant portion of the diet of the hyacinth macaw is comprised of the nuts of native palm trees, specifically the acuri and Bocaiuva. Their powerful beaks allow them to crack open these hard seeds. They also eat fruit and other plant materials.
They are not migratory and their population is dependent on the availability and quality of Bocaiuva and Acuri Palms which are their primary source of food. This is a significant distinction between macaws, and other parakeets that tend to be migraters.
The hyacinth Macaw can be described as a parrot that can be found in areas with less dense forest such as palm swamps or flooded grasslands. The majority of the macaw's population can be found in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland in Brazil.
As with other birds, hyacinth macaws are monogamous. They pick a partner about 3-4 years old and remain with them for their entire lives. They are very social and are often able to interact and communicate with humans. However it is crucial to remember that they are wild animals and should not be removed away from their natural habitat.
If you'd like to enjoy the company of an elegant, intelligent and spirited animal that can mimic your words, think about adopting the pet parrot of an aviculturist who breeds these amazing animals. It's a major responsibility to care for these beautiful creatures and the best method to support their future in captivity is by finding an experienced, responsible aviculturist.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw (Ara glaucus) is one of the most vibrant birds in the Amazon basin. This large parrot can be found in the tropical forests of South America. It has a blue-colored top and yellow underparts. It is a very rare bird and is classified as Critically Endangered. The main cause of the decline of this bird is likely the trapping and sale of adult birds in the market for wild birds as well as the wholesale cutting down of yatay (Butia) palms.
The name of this bird comes from its striking blueish hue. It is described as pale turquoise to the azure. The underparts of the bird are yellowish and it has a gray 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 but also a symbol of hope to the people living in the Amazon Basin. It is hoped that the glaucous macaw will soon be found in the wild, and populations can be restored to ensure the continued existence of this amazing species.
Although the glaucous macaw is believed to be extinct in the wild however, there have been a number of reputed reappearances over the years. In February 1992 the female specimen was found at Customs in Britain. It was a bird that had been housed at some of the most famous zoos in the world and at the time, it was believed that this was an authentic glaucous macaw.
However, this purportedly authentic glaucous macaw was eventually revealed to be a hybrid between Macaws of Lear and Hyacinth. Its azure coloring was more like the hyacinth's and was bred to produce hybrids.
Even if the glaucous macaw does come back to the wild again however, it is not likely that it can breed and produce healthy offspring. This bird has been severely threatened for too long, and it would be incredibly tragic if this stunning tropical giant were to become permanently lost forever.
The Origins of the Macaws
Macaws can develop a close relationship with their humans and be affectionate. They are very vocal birds, and can be heard with an array of sounds and songs. They also enjoy mimicking sounds, especially the voice of their human counterparts. Macaws who reside with humans may learn to imitate words. The loud, shrieking calls that macaws make are their normal method of communicating with fellow members of their group or to warn of danger. They call between 5 and 10 minutes, several times a week.
If a pair of Macaws form a bond they will remain together until one macaw dies. They will kiss one another's feathers and rest together at night. Each year they also mat and lay eggs in a nest constructed in the tree or a dirt hole in the cliff face. The mother incubates the eggs for 12 weeks while the male collects food and shields chicks from predators.
Humans began to interact with macaws they began to train them and use macaws as companion birds. With their powerful beaks and bright blue feathers, they were seen as symbol of love and power. Many believed that a macaw could reveal to them the future's secrets or answer their prayers. They were also used to scare away snakes and crocodiles by making their shrieking sound.
For a long time there was no information about the exact number of wild glaucous macaws that existed. The records revealed that there were a few in captivity, but nobody was aware of their origins or the date they were born. One famous bird was at Paris"Jardin d'Acclimatation" from 1886 until 1905 while another was an animal park in Buenos Aires from the 1920s until 1936. Despite these early records it was widely believed that the glaucous macaw had gone extinct in the wild.
In 2010, an analysis of isotopes revealed that the glaucous Macaw still exists in the wild. The results of this study were published in Science. The authors suggest that the glaucous macaws in the wild probably originated from a group in the Paquime region of northern Chihuahua. The apparent longevity of the birds is due to the fact that they can adapt to their surroundings. They are able to survive in desert conditions that are dry for example.
The Future of the Macaws
As the stories of the hyacinth Macaw and the Glaucous macaw shows, parrots are incredibly able to adapt to their environments. In the wild, parrots can traverse miles to find mates or nesting spots. They also are able to mimic human speech. Their feet are shaped to allow them to perch and climb in trees. They can even carry food with their beaks.
However, despite these natural talents, parrots have not been domesticated the same way that cats and dogs have been. They remain wild animals that need to live in the ways that their ancestors did. Because of their wild nature, if you are planning to introduce a parrot to your home, make sure you do it with great thought and care. Parrots can be noisy and large, and they could cause damage to furniture and home. They are also listed on CITES because of the excessive collection for the pet trade and habitat loss.
The Spix's Macaw is considered to be one of the most successful reintroduction programs. It was believed to be extinct, until Helmut Sick, his field assistant Dante Teixera and their team spotted three of them in 1974 near Formosa do Rio Preto. At the time the only known pair of birds was kept in captivity at Al Wabra in Qatar.
At a conference held in Sao Paulo city, Purchase and other conservationists agreed that the only way to solve the issue was to release macaws from captivity into the wild. The number of breeding pairs is extremely low, which means they had to act fast. They also had to establish different lineages at the various breeding centres, so that a single pair of breeding would not overrun the entire population.
Conservationists then began searching Brazil for Spix's Macaws that were in private ownership and could be reintroduced. Owners initially resisted the idea of reveal their identities because they could face being charged with breaking laws that prohibit the export of wildlife. Kiessling says that "one by one" people began to come forward.