Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
The two bird species despite their differences have similar evolutionary histories. Their dependence on palm swamps to nest and roost highlights the interconnectedness of the natural world and the importance of conserving endangered habitats.
The hyacinth Macaw is easily identifiable by its bright blue feathers and yellow accents. Its seemingly smiling beak packs a powerful bite that can crack coconuts and huge brazil nut pods.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw is by far the largest parrot, and a magnificent bird. It's a striking blue color with a pop of yellow around the eyes and lower beak, which makes them appear as if they're smiling. It has long, sturdy legs that allow it to hang sideways or upside down. It also has a hooked beak with a hook that is adapted to crack open coconuts. They are social and intelligent and are likely to remain with the same partner throughout their lives.
Hyacinth Macaws aren't migratory, and their distribution depends on the availability of palm species which are their primary food source. This is a major distinction between macaws and the majority of parrots that tend to be migrants.
The hyacinth Macaw is a prey species that eats large amount of nuts from native palm trees. Especially the acuri, and the bocaiuva. They can break these hard seeds open due to their strong beaks, and they also consume fruits and other plant material.
They are non-migratory, and their population is dependent on the availability of the palms acuri and bocaiuva that provide the majority of their food source. This is a critical difference between macaws and other parakeets, which typically tend to be migration-oriented.
Unlike most parrots, which prefer rainforests with dense tropical forests, the hyacinth macaw is able to be found in lightly forested areas such as palm swamps and flooded grasslands. The vast majority (90%) of the hyacinth Macaw population lives in the Pantanal region, which is the biggest wetland that is tropical in Brazil.
Like all birds that are monogamous, hyacinth macaws too. They choose a partner when they are about 3-4 years old and remain with them for their entire life. They are extremely social animals and will often interact and communicate with humans. However it is crucial to remember that they are wild creatures and should not be taken from their natural environment.
If you'd like to be surrounded by a beautiful, intelligent and spirited animal that can imitate your words, consider adopting a pet parrot from an aviculturist that breeds these amazing animals. It is a big responsibility to care for these wonderful creatures, and the best way to support their future in captivity is to locate a well-established, responsible aviculturist.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw (Ara glaucus) is among the most colorful birds of the Amazon basin. The large parrot is blue on the top parts and yellow underparts. It can be found in forests of tropical South America. It is a rare bird and is classified as Critically Endangered. The main reason for the decline of this bird is probably the trapping and sale of live adults on the market for wild birds, and the mass cutting down of yatay (Butia) palms.
The name of this bird comes from its striking blueish color. It can be described in terms of pale turquoise to azure. Its underparts are yellowish and it has a gray head. It is smaller than Lear's macaw as well as more slimmer than the hyacinth macaw.
The glaucous macaw is not just a beautiful bird, but also an indication of hope for the people living in the Amazon Basin. The glaucous Macaw is hoping to be found in the wild soon and that populations can be restored. This will ensure the survival of this stunning species.
Although the glaucous macaw has been believed to be extinct in the wild however, there are a few known reappearances over the years. The most exciting of these occurred in February 1992 when a female specimen was spotted at Customs in Britain. It was a bird that had been housed at a few of the most famous zoos in the world and at the time, it was believed that this was a genuine macaw with glaucous.
The glaucous Macaw, which was believed to be authentic, was found to be a hybrid of the Lear's Hyacinth and macaws. Pixie mini macaw was more like the hyacinth, and it had been bred to breed hybrids.
Even in the event that the glaucous Macaw does turn up in the wild again, it is unlikely that it will be able to reproduce and produce healthy offspring. This bird has been critically endangered for a long time and it would be extremely regrettable if this beautiful tropical giant were to become permanently lost.
The Origins of the Macaws
Macaws can form a strong bond with their humans and can be affectionate. They are extremely vocal birds, and can be heard with a wide range of calls and songs. They also enjoy mimicking sounds, especially the voice of their human companion. Macaws who live with humans can learn to mimic the sounds of words. The loud, shrieking sounds that macaws make are their normal way of communicating with other members of their flock or to signal danger. They will call for between 5 and 10 minutes many times a day.
When a pair of macaws choose to form a bond they will stay together until one of them dies. They will adorn feathers of each other and roost together at night. They will also mate once a year, laying their eggs in a nest constructed in a tree hollow or a dirt hole on the cliff face. The female incubates the egg for 12 weeks, while the male gathers food and shields chicks from predators.
Macaws were regarded as companion birds by humans once they began to interact with them. With their powerful beaks, and bright blue feathers, they were considered to be symbols of love and power. Some people believed that a macaw could reveal to them secrets about the future or answer their prayers. With their shrieking sounds they were used to scare away crocodiles, or snakes.
It was unknown how many wild glaucous macaws were in existence for so long. There were records of a few specimens kept in captivity, but no one knew where they came from or what age they were. One famous bird lived in Paris"Jardin d'Acclimatation" between 1886 and 1905. Another was in a zoo close to Buenos Aires during the 1920s to 1936. Despite these early records the general assumption was that the glaucous macaw had gone extinct in the wild.
In 2010, however, isotopic analysis 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 glaucous Macaws that are found in the wild could originate from the Paquime population in northern Chihuahua. The apparent longevity of the birds is due to the fact that they are adaptable to their environment and can be able to survive in different environments, including desert conditions.
The Future of the Macaws
As the tale of the hyacinth Macaw and the Glaucous macaw shows, parrots have an amazing ability to adapt to their environments. In the wild, they can move miles away from their home to find new mates and nesting places. They also mimic human speech. Their feet are designed in such a way they can be positioned in trees and climb them. They can carry food through their beaks.
But despite these natural abilities Parrots haven't been domesticated the same way that dogs and cats have. They are wild animals and they have to live in the ways that their ancestors lived. If you are planning to bring one of these wild birds into your home, take care and consideration. Parrots can be noisy and large and they can cause harm to furniture and your home. They are also listed on CITES due to over-collection for the pet trade and habitat loss.
The Spix's Macaw is one of the most successful reintroduction efforts. 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 of the discovery the only pair of birds kept in captivity was in Al Wabra, Qatar.
At a conference held in Sao Paulo city, Purchase and other conservationists decided that the only solution to the issue was to release macaws into the wild. They needed to do it quickly, however, as the number of breeding pairs was extremely small. Additionally, they needed to establish separate lineages at various breeding centers so that one pair didn't overrun the entire population with its genetics.
Conservationists then began searching Brazil for Spix's Macaws in private ownership and could be brought back. The owners were initially reluctant to submit their information due to the risk of being charged with breaking laws that prohibit the export of wildlife. Kiessling says that "one by one" people began to come forward.