Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
These two bird species despite their differences have similar evolutionary histories. Their reliance on palm swamps for nesting and roosting underscores the interconnectedness of nature as well as the need to preserve habitats that are threatened.
With its vibrant blue plumage and distinctive yellow accents, the hyacinth macaw is unmistakable. Its seemingly smiling beak packs an incredibly powerful bite that can crack coconuts as well as large brazil nuts.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw is the biggest parrot and a magnificent bird. It is a striking blue color with a pop of yellow around the eyes and the lower beak, which makes them appear to be smiling. It has short sturdy legs that allow it to hang upside down or sideways, and a huge hooked beak, which is specifically designed for cracking open coconuts. They are smart and social and tend to stay with the same partner throughout their lives.
Hyacinth macaws are not migratory and their distribution is closely linked to the availability of specific palm species that provide their primary food source. This is the main distinction between macaws and other parrots, which typically tend to be migrants.
A large proportion of the diet of hyacinth Macaws is made up of nuts from native palm trees, particularly the acuri and Bocaiuva. Their powerful beaks enable them to break open these seeds. They also eat fruits and other plant materials.
They are not migratory and their population is tightly linked to the availability of the palms acuri and bocaiuva that provide the majority of their food source. This is a major difference between macaws, and other parakeets that tend to be migraters.
In contrast to the majority of parrots that prefer dense tropical rainforest habitats, the hyacinth macaw can be found in lightly forested areas like palm swamps and grasslands that are flooded. The majority of population of the hyacinth macaw is located in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland area in Brazil.
As with other birds that are monogamous, hyacinth macaws too. They choose their partner at around 3-4 years old, and remain with them for their entire life. They are extremely social animals and will often interact with humans, however it is important to keep in mind that they are wild animals that should never be taken out of their natural environment.
If you want to enjoy the company of a beautiful, intelligent and spirited animal that can mimic your words, consider adopting your pet parrot from an aviculturist who breeds these incredible creatures. It's a major responsibility to care for these amazing creatures and the best method to ensure their future in captivity is to find an experienced, responsible and reliable aviculturist.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw, or Ara glaucus, is one of the most vibrant birds that live in the Amazon basin. The large parrot is found in the tropical forests of South America. It has a blue-colored top and yellow underparts. It is a rare bird and is classified as Critically Endangered. The cause of this bird's decline is most likely the trapping of live adults for the wild bird trade and the massive thinning of palms called yatay (Butia yatay) which are believed to have been its main food source.
The name of this bird comes from its striking blueish color. It can be described as light turquoise to the azure. Its underparts are yellowish in hue, and its head is grey. It is smaller than Lear's macaw and more slender than the macaws of hyacinth.
In addition to being a beautiful bird, the glaucous Macaw is also an icon of hope for those living in the Amazon Basin. The glaucous Macaw is hoping to be found in the wild within the next few years and that populations can be restored. This will ensure the future of this stunning species.
Although the glaucous macaw is believed to be extinct in the wild however, there have been a number of known reappearances over the years. In February 1992 an adult female specimen was discovered at Customs in Britain. It was a bird that was housed in some of the world's most famous zoos and at the time, it was believed that this was a genuine Glaucous Macaw.
However, this purportedly authentic glaucous macaw eventually discovered to be a hybrid of Lear's and hyacinth macaws. Furthermore, its azure coloration was actually more similar to the coloration of the hyacinth macaw and was created for the purpose of breeding hybrids.
Even in the event that the glaucous Macaw does come back to the wild once more it is highly unlikely that it will be able to breed and produce healthy offspring. This bird has been critically endangered for a long time and it would be incredibly regrettable if this beautiful tropical giant was to be permanently lost forever.
The Macaw's ancestors
Macaws typically form a strong bond with their human companions and are often very affectionate. They are vocal birds and can be heard singing a variety of songs and calls. They also love mimicking sounds, specifically the voice of their human counterparts. Macaws who reside with humans may learn to mimic words. The loud, shrieking noises that macaws make are their natural way of communicating with other members of their flock or to signal danger. They can be heard calling for 5-10 minutes several times throughout the day.
If a pair of macaws choose to join forces they will stay together until one dies. They will adorn each other's feathers and roost together in the evening. They also mate once a 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 protects chicks against predators.
Macaws were considered companion birds by humans as they began to interact with them. With their powerful beaks, and bright blue feathers, they were seen as symbol of love and power. Some people believed that a macaw would tell them secrets about the future or answer their prayers. They were also used to frighten off crocodiles and snakes by making their shrieking noise.
No one knew how many wild glaucous macaws existed for a long time. There were reports of a few specimens in captivity, but nobody knew where they originated from or the age at which they were. One of the most famous birds was in Paris' Jardin d'Acclimatation between 1886 and 1905. Another bird was in a zoo near Buenos Aires during the 1920s to 1936. Despite these early records it was widely believed that the glaucous Macaw was extinct.
However, in 2010 an analysis of isotopics in macaw feces and eggshells revealed that the glaucous Macaw does still exist in the wild in northwestern Mexico. The findings of the study were published by Science. The authors suggest that glaucous Macaws in the wild are likely to originate from the Paquime population in northern Chihuahua. The fact that the birds seem to live for a long time is due to the fact that they are able to adapt to their surroundings. They are able to survive in arid desert conditions, for example.
The Future of the Macaw
As the stories of the hyacinth macaw as well as the Glaucous macaw shows, parrots are incredibly able to adapt to their environments. In the wild, they travel miles from their home to find mates and nesting places. They also can mimic human speech. Their feet are shaped to allow them to perch and climb in trees. They can even carry food in their beaks.
However, despite these abilities, parrots have not been domesticated in the way cats and dogs have. They are still wild creatures and should live their lives in the same way as their ancestors did. If you're planning to bring one of these wild birds into your home, you should do so with great attention and care. Parrots are big and loud and they can cause damage to your home and furniture. Lolita blue & gold macaw are also listed on CITES because of the excessive collection for pet trade and habitat loss.
One of the most impressive examples of a successful reintroduction program is the storied history of the Spix's macaw that was thought to be extinct until Helmut Sick and his field assistant, Dante Teixera, spotted three of them near Formosa do Rio Preto in 1974. At the time the only known pair of birds was being held in the captive at Al Wabra in Qatar.
In a meeting in Sao Paulo city, Purchase and other conservationists decided that the only solution to the problem was to release macaws from captivity into the wild. They needed to do this fast, however, since the number of breeding pairs was low. They also needed to establish different lineages in the various breeding centres, so that a single pair of breeding would not take over the entire population.
Cleo female macaws for sale began to search Brazil for any Spix's macaws that were in private ownership that could be released for reintroduction. Owners were initially reluctant because they were afraid of being prosecuted for violating a law which banned the export of wildlife. But gradually, "one by one, people came out," says Kiessling.