Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
Despite their differences in appearance, these two species of bird have similar evolutionary stories. Their dependence on the palm swamps to nest and roost emphasizes the interconnectedness between the natural world and the importance of protecting endangered habitats.
The hyacinth Macaw can be easily identifiable by its bright blue feathers and yellow accents. Its beak, which appears to be smiling can tear coconuts and brazil nuts.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw is the biggest parrot and is a stunning bird. It is a striking blue color with yellow highlights around the eyes and the lower beak, making them appear to be smiling. It has short sturdy legs that let it hang sideways or upside down. It also has a beak that is hooked with a large hook that is adapted to crack open coconuts. They are extremely intelligent and social, and tend to be with a single partner for the rest of their lives.
Hyacinth macaws do not migrate, and their distribution is dependent on the availability of a specific palm species that are their primary food source. This is the primary distinction between macaws, and other parrots that are usually migraters.
The hyacinth Macaw is a prey species that eats large amount of nuts from native palm trees. Particularly, the acuri and the bocaiuva. Their powerful beaks allow them to break open these hard seeds. They also consume fruits and other plant materials.
They are not migratory birds, and their population is linked to the availability of the palms acuri and bocaiuva that provide the majority of their primary food source. This is a major distinction between macaws, and other parakeets that are generally migraters.
The hyacinth Macaw can be described as a parrot that is found in areas with less dense forest, such as palm swamps or grasslands that are flooded. The majority of macaw's population can be found in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland in Brazil.
Hyacinth Macaws are like other birds are monogamous. They pick a partner approximately 3-4 years old and remain with them for their entire life. They are extremely social animals and often interact with humans, but it is important to remember that they are wild animals and should not be removed from their natural habitat.
Consider adopting a parrot as pet from an aviculturist that breeds these magnificent creatures. Finding a responsible aviculturist who is well-established is the best way to ensure that these magnificent creatures will be taken care of in the cage.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw (Ara glaucus) is among the most vibrant birds in the Amazon basin. The large parrot is blue on the top parts and yellow underparts. It can be found in the forests of tropical South America. It is a very rare bird and is classified as Critically Endangered. The primary reason for the decline of this bird is probably the trapping and selling of live adults 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 color. It is described as light turquoise to the color of azure. The underparts of the bird have a yellowish hue, while its head is grey. It is smaller than the Lear's macaw as well as more slimmer than the hyacinth macaw.
In addition to being a beautiful bird, the glaucous macaw is also an emblem of hope for people living in the Amazon Basin. It is hoped that the glaucous macaw will soon be rediscovered in the wild, and populations can be restored to ensure the continued existence of this spectacular species.
Although the glaucous Macaw is believed to be extinct, a few alleged reappearances have occurred throughout the years. The most exciting of these occurred in February 1992 when a female specimen arrived at Customs in Britain. It was a bird that had been housed at some of the world's most famous zoos and at the time it was believed to be was a genuine macaw with glaucous.
The glaucous Macaw, which was believed to be authentic, was discovered to be a hybrid between the Lear's hyacinth and macaws. Its azure coloring was more reminiscent of the hyacinth, and it had been bred to breed hybrids.
Even even if the glaucous macaw were to turn up in the wild once more it is highly unlikely that it will be able to breed and produce healthy offspring. The bird has been endangered for too long and it would be unfortunate if this gorgeous tropical giant were to be forever lost.
The Origins of the Macaws
Macaws typically form bonds with their human companions, and can be very affectionate. They are vocal birds with a variety of songs and calls. They also like to mimic sounds, particularly the voice of their human counterparts. Macaws who live with humans can learn to imitate words. The loud, shrieking sounds that macaws emit are their natural method of communicating with other members of their group or to signal danger. They can be heard calling for between 5 and 10 minutes many times a day.
When a pair of macaws form a bond they will stay together until one macaw dies. They will kiss each other's feathers and roost together at night. Every year, they also mate by laying eggs in a nest made in an opening in the tree or a dirt hole in the rock face. Lolita blue & gold macaw incubates the egg for 12 weeks while the male collects food and shields chicks from predators.
As humans began to interact with macaws they began to train them, and then use macaws as companion birds. They were considered to be symbol of love and power with their powerful beaks and bright blue feathers. People believed that macaws could tell them the future or even answer their prayers. Through their shrieking sounds they were believed to scare away crocodiles and snakes.
It was unknown how many glaucous Macaws in the wild existed for a long time. There were records of a few specimens in captivity, but nobody knew where they originated from or what age they were. One famous bird lived at Paris the Jardin d'Acclimatation from 1886 to 1905, while another lived in a zoo in Buenos Aires from the 1920s until 1936. Despite these early records it was widely believed that the glaucous Macaw was extinct.
In 2010 an analysis of isotopics in eggshells and macaw feces showed that the glaucous macaw still exist in the wild in northwestern Mexico. The results of this study were published in Science. The authors suggest that the macaws that are glaucous in the wild likely came from a population located in the Paquime region in northern Chihuahua. The apparent longevity of the birds is a result of the fact that they are very adaptable to their environment and can endure in a variety of environments, including desert conditions.
The Future of the Macaws
As the stories of the hyacinth Macaw and the Glaucous macaw show, parrots have an amazing ability to adapt to their environments. In the wild, parrots can traverse miles to find nesting sites or mates. They also can mimic human speech. Their feet are shaped to allow them to climb in trees. They can even carry food with their beaks.
Parrots are not domesticated like cats and dogs, despite their natural abilities. They remain wild animals and must live their lives like their ancestors lived. Due to their wild nature, if you want to introduce a parrot to your home, make sure you do it with careful thought and care. Parrots are big and loud and they can cause harm to furniture and your home. They are also listed on CITES because of excessive collection to trade in pets and habitat loss.
One of the best examples of a successful reintroduction effort is the rich history of the Spix's macaw that was thought to be extinct until Helmut Sick and his field assistant, Dante Teixera, spotted a party of three birds close to Formosa do Rio Preto in 1974. At the time of the discovery, the only pair of birds kept in captive was in Al Wabra, Qatar.
At a meeting in the city of Sao Paulo, Purchase and other conservationists agreed that the best solution was to release captive macaws into the wild. They needed to do this quickly, though, because the number of breeding pairs was very low. Additionally, they needed to establish separate lineages at the various breeding centers so that one pair didn't swamp the whole population with its genes.
The conservationists began to search Brazil for any Spix's macaws currently in private hands which could be rehabilitated for reintroduction. The owners initially resisted because they were afraid of being prosecuted for breaking a law that banned the export of animals. However, gradually, "one by one, people began to come forward," says Kiessling.