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Native to the forests of central South America, the Hyacinth Macaw
(Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) 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. Their unique size, color, and
markings make the all-blue Hyacinth Macaw one of the most recognized species of 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.
Description
These birds grow to a total length of 100 cm and weigh 1.4-1.7 kg. The wingspan is 130-150 cm.
They have a beak pressure that can easily disassemble the bars of a welded wrought iron cage in a short time (only the
Green-winged Macaw can match its beak strength[citation needed]). This powerful beak is ideal for
its favorite foods, which include hard nuts and seeds that would otherwise be inaccessible. 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. They are generally messy eaters.
The Hyacinth Macaw has a solid blue body of feathers, similar to the color of indigo. It has
a solid black beak with bright yellow along the sides of the lower part of the beak and circling its solid dark eyes. Unlike
other species of macaw, it does not have a white patch of featherless skin around the eye. The
female and male are nearly indistinguishable, although the female is typically a bit more slender.
Reproduction
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 six months old. They are mature and
begin breeding at seven years of age.
Distribution and habitat
Hyacinth Macaws in their natural habitat, the
Pantanal, Brazil.
The Hyacinth Macaw survives today in three known distinct populations in South America:
southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northeastern
Paraguay. It is possible that smaller, fragmented populations occur in other areas of its
range. Its habitat includes riverside tropical rain forests and palm swamps.
Conservation
The Hyacinth Macaw is considered an endangered species due to overcollection for the cage bird trade and by the use of their
feathers by the Kayapo Indians of Gorotire in southern Brazil. These Indians use the feathers to make headdresses and other
baubles for the tourist trade. Also, like many other animals, their habitat is being reduced by development. Annual grass fires
set by gauchos can destroy nest trees.
The Minnesota Zoo with BioBrasil [1] and World Wildlife Fund[2] are involved in Hyacinth Macaw conservation.
Care
Although the Hyacinth Macaw is the largest flying parrot, it is manageable to have one as a pet. While all macaws require much
effort put in by the owner it is relatively easy to please a Hyacinth. The cage should be very large. At least 40 inches in
depth, 5 feet tall, and 4 feet wide. Also, the animal's large beak can easily tear apart a standard wire birdcage. It is important that you get a thick, stainless steel one. Because of this breed's intelligence,
training should be no problem. An untrained macaw can cause much damage, so it is very important to have time in the day to train
it. Capable trainers can even let birds loose and have it fly back to you. Do not do this if the bird has no form of
identification. A bird of this size should not be kept in the cage but let to roam free in the house for certain periods of time.
In the wild the bird eats fruit, leaves, and nuts. Fresh fruits and vegetables from your grocer should suffice. The bird's hard
beak is used for cracking the shell of a native palm in Brazil. These nuts may be difficult to obtain in other countries, so with
every meal the bird should get a small portion of the nut mix below. It is crucial to have macadamia, brazil or coconut because they
are high in fat.
- 15% filberts,
- 15% almonds,
- 15% brazils,
- 15% walnuts,
- 10% coconut,
- 30% macadamia
Personality
Macaws are intelligent, social and kind creatures. They are often called the 'gentle giants' of the macaw family. Although
they are not as vocal as other macaws they do have the capability to learn human vocabulary, but do not speak to the same extent
as some other parrot species. This can also be looked as a plus because they are not as noisy. A lone macaw requires more human
attention – meaning that it may be preferable own two of the same species. Owning two macaws is more manageable than owning a
lone bird because the birds will be easier to train, less destructive and more social. It may be best to have breeding pairs as
these birds are rare in the wild and rare in captivity with their numbers dwindling. Any birds should be looked on as future
breeding stock. These macaws will make a loving addition to any family. Despite their
large beak, their calm demeanour makes them not the least bit aggressive, if handled correctly. Their sparkling personality is
much pursued by bird lovers.
Media
Pictures
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At Wild Animal Park San Diego
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Video
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Notes
Further reading
- BirdLife International (2004). Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry
includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used
- del Hoyo et al., 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 4.
- Caldas, Sergio T. and L Candiasani. 2005. Arara-Azul. DBA Dórea Books and Art, São Paulo, São Paulo.
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
