Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
Despite their differences, these two bird species share a common evolutionary story. Their dependence on the palm swamps to nest and roost emphasizes the interconnectedness of nature's world and the importance of conserving habitats that are endangered.
With its bright blue plumage and distinctive yellow accents the hyacinth macaw is unmistakable. Its beak, which appears to be smiling is capable of tearing coconuts and brazil nuts.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The hyacinth macaw is a magnificent bird and is also the largest parrot. It's a striking blue color with a pop of yellow around the eyes and the lower beak, which can make them appear as if they're smiling. It has short sturdy legs that permit it to hang upside down or sideways, and a massive hooked beak that is specially adapted to crack open coconuts. They are social and intelligent and tend to stay with the same person for the duration of their lives.
Hyacinth Macaws aren't migratory and their distribution is based on the availability of palm species, which are their primary food source. This is the major difference between macaws, and other parrots which are generally migration-oriented.
The hyacinth Macaw eats a number of nuts that are native to palm trees. Particularly, the acuri and the bocaiuva. Their powerful beaks enable 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 provide them with their primary source of food. This is a critical difference between macaws and the majority of parakeets, which typically tend to be migratory.
The hyacinth macaw is a parrot that can be found in areas with less dense forests like palm swamps or grasslands that are flooded. The vast majority of the hyacinth macaw's population is found in the Pantanal, the world's biggest tropical wetland area in Brazil.
As with other birds, hyacinth macaws are monogamous. They choose one partner when they are around 3-4 years old, and stick with them throughout their life. They are extremely social animals and are often able to interact and communicate with humans. However it is essential to remember that they are wild animals and should not be taken from their natural surroundings.
If you'd like to be surrounded by an intelligent, beautiful, spirited creature that can mimic your words, you should consider adopting your pet parrot from an aviculturist that breeds these magnificent creatures. Finding a responsible aviculturist who is established is the best way to ensure that these magnificent creatures will be cared for in captivity.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw (Ara glaucus) is one of the most colorful birds in 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. The bird is extremely scarce and is classified as Critically endangered. The reason for this bird's decline is most likely the trapping of live adults for the trade in wild birds, and the mass felling of palms called yatay (Butia yatay) that appear to be its primary food source.
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 grey head. It is smaller than the Lear's macaw and more slender than the macaws of hyacinth.
In addition to being a very beautiful bird, the glaucous macaw is also an emblem of hope for those in the Amazon Basin. It is hope that the glaucous macaw will soon be rediscovered in the wild, and populations can be rebuilt to ensure the survival of this spectacular species.
While the glaucous Macaw was thought to be extinct, a few reports of its reemergence have been reported throughout the years. One of the most exciting was in February 1992, when a female specimen arrived at Customs in Britain. It was a bird which was housed in several of the world's leading zoos and, at the time, it was believed that this was a genuine Glaucous Macaw.
However, this purportedly authentic glaucous macaw eventually revealed to be a hybrid of the Lear's and hyacinth macaws. Its azure color was more reminiscent of the hyacinth's and had been bred to breed hybrids.
Even in the event that the glaucous Macaw does turn up in the wild once more however, it is not likely that it will be able to reproduce and produce healthy offspring. This bird has been critically endangered for too long and it would be extremely regrettable if this beautiful tropical giant were to become forever lost.
The Origins of the Macaws
Macaws generally form an intense bond with their human counterparts and are often very affectionate. They are vocal birds with a variety of songs and calls. They enjoy imitating sounds and voices, particularly those of human companions. Macaws who live with humans can learn to mimic words. Macaws make loud, shrieking sounds in order to communicate with one another or to warn of danger. They will call for 5-10 minutes a few times throughout the day.
If two macaws choose to form a bond, they will remain together until one dies. They will adorn feathers of each other and roost together in the evening. They also mate at least once a year, laying eggs in a nest made inside a hollow tree or dirt hole on a cliff face. Pixie mini macaw incubates the egg for 12 weeks while the male collects food and protects chicks against predators.
Macaws were used as companion birds by humans when they began to interact with them. They were regarded as symbol of love and power with their powerful beaks and bright blue feathers. Many believed that macaws could tell them the future or answer their prayers. Through their shrieking sounds they were used to scare away crocodiles, or snakes.
No one knew how many wild glaucous Macaws existed for a long time. There were records of a few specimens kept in captivity, but no one knew where they came from or how old they were. One famous bird was at Paris' Jardin d'Acclimatation from 1886 until 1905, while another inhabited the zoo of Buenos Aires from the 1920s until 1936. Despite these early records, it was widely believed that the glaucous Macaw extinction was not confirmed.
In 2010,, isotopic analysis showed that the glaucous Macaw remains in the wild. The findings of the study were published by Science. The researchers suggest that the glaucous Macaws in the wild are likely to have originated from the Paquime population in northern Chihuahua. The birds' apparent long-lived is due to the fact that they are able to adapt to their surroundings. They are able to survive in desert conditions that are dry, for example.
The Future of the Macaws
Parrots are able to adjust to their environment in an amazing way. In the wild, they can travel for miles away from their homes to find nesting sites. They can also imitate human speech. Their feet are shaped so that they can perch in trees and climb them. They can carry food inside their beaks.
Parrots are not domesticated like dogs and cats, despite their natural abilities. They are wild creatures and should live their lives in the same way as their ancestors did. If you want to bring one of these birds into your home, take care and consideration. Parrots are large and noisy and they can cause harm to furniture and your home. They 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 story of the Spix's Macaw that was thought to be extinct until Helmut Sick and his field assistant, Dante Teixera, spotted three of them close to Formosa do Rio Preto in 1974. At the time of the discovery the only pair of birds that were in captivity was in Al Wabra, Qatar.
In a meeting in Sao Paulo city, Purchase and other conservationists decided that the only way to solve the issue was to release macaws into the wild. They needed to do this fast, however, since the number of breeding pairs was very small. Additionally, they had to create separate lines at the various breeding centers so that a single pair of parents did not swamp the whole population with its genes.
So conservationists began to scour Brazil for any Spix's macaws in private ownership which could be rehabilitated to be reintroduced. The owners initially resisted because they feared prosecution for violating a law that banned the export of wildlife. However, gradually, "one by one, people came out," says Kiessling.