 |
Hyacinth MacawsEverything You Would Like To Know About Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus |
|
Hyacinth Macaws Native to central and eastern South America, the Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), or Hyacinthine Macaw, is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species in the world, though the flightless Kakapo of New Zealand can outweigh it at up to 3.5kg. In terms of length it is larger than any other species of parrot. While generally easily recognized, it can be confused with the far rarer Lear's Macaw. Their popularity as pets has taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild. Birds in captivity fetch a price of around $9,000-$12,000 US. Hyacinth macaws have extremely strong beaks and it's very important to buy a cage that will hold up to their chewing. A large stainless steel bird cage should be purchased.
The Hyacinth Macaw
is 100 cm (39 in) long and 1.5-2 kg (3.3-4.4
lb) in weight. The wingspan is 120-140 cm
(48-56 in). It is almost entirely blue and
has black under the wings. It has a large
black beak with bright yellow along the
sides of the lower part of the beak and also
yellow circling its eyes. The female and
male are nearly indistinguishable, although
the female is typically a bit more slender.
They have a very strong beak
for eating for its natural
foods, which include the
kernels of hard nuts and
seeds. Their strong beaks
are even able to crack
coconuts and macadamia nuts.
In addition, they eat fruits
and other vegetable matter.
Pine nuts are also one of
the most popular foods.
There are eight species of
palm that are central to
their diet.
These birds nest in existing holes in trees. The clutch size is one or two eggs, although usually only one fledgling survives as the second egg hatches several days after the first, and the smaller fledgling cannot compete with the first born for food. Juveniles stay with their parents until they are three months old. They are mature and begin breeding at seven years of age.
The Hyacinth
Macaw
survives
today in
three main populin South
America: In
the Pantanal
region of
Brazil, and
adjacent
eastern
Bolivia and
northeastern
Paraguay, in
the Cerrado
region of
the eastern
interior of
Brazil (Maranhão,
Piauí, Bahia,
Tocantins,
Goiás, Mato
Grosso and
Minas Gerais),
and in the
relatively
open areas
associated
with the
Tocantins
River, Xingu
River,
Tapajós
River, and
the Marajó
island in
the eastern
Amazon Basin
of Brazil.
It is
possible
that
smaller,
fragmented
populations
occur in
other areas.
It prefers
palm swamps,
woodlands,
and other
semi-open
wooded
habitats. It
usually
avoids dense
humid
forest, and
in regions
dominated by
such
habitats, it
is generally
restricted
to the edge
or
relatively
open
sections
(e.g. along
major
rivers).
The Hyacinth Macaw is considered an endangered species due to over collection for the cage bird trade and habitat loss. Annual grass fires set by gauchos can destroy nest trees, and regions previously inhabited by this macaw are now unsuitable due to cattle-ranching, hydroelectric power schemes, agriculture and plantations. Locally, it has been hunted for food, and the Kayapo Indians of Gorotire in south-central Brazil use its feathers to make headdresses and other baubles. While overall greatly reduced in numbers, it remains locally common in the Brazilian Pantanal, where a specific program, the Hyacinth Macaw Project, among others involving artificial nests and awareness campaigns, has been initiated by several ecolodges, and many ranch-owners now protect the macaws on their land.Further reading
More Hyacinth Macaws Information Hyacinth Macaws Behavior And Training Hyacinth Macaws Nutrition And Diet
African Greys | Nanday Conures | Blue Fronted Parrots | Cockatiels | Caiques |
