Hyacinth Macaw

Taxobox
name = Hyacinth Macaw
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Psittacidae
genus = "Anodorhynchus"
species = "A. hyacinthinus"
binomial = "Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus"
binomial_authority = (Latham, 1790)
range_

---

range_map_width = 240px
range_map_caption = The Hyacinth Macaw's distribution is colored in red

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.

Description

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.cite web| publisher =BirdLife International (2008) |url = http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1543&m=0 |title = Species factsheet: "Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus" |accessdaymonth = 24 July | accessyear = 2008] The female and male are nearly indistinguishable, although the female is typically a bit more slender.

Behaviour

Food and feeding

They have a very strong beak for eating their 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.

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 three months old. They are mature and begin breeding at seven years of age.

Distribution and habitat

The Hyacinth Macaw survives today in three main populations in 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).

Conservation

The Hyacinth Macaw is considered an endangered species due to overcollection 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.

The Minnesota Zoo with BioBrasil [cite web|url=http://www.mnzoo.com/conservation/International/BioBrasil/program.asp|title= BioBrasil and the Minnesota Zoo working to save Hyacinth Macaws|publisher=Minnesota Zoo|accessdate=2007-08-24] and World Wildlife Fund [cite web|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/action/projects_macaw.cfm|title=The Hyacinth Macaw Makes a Comeback|author=Brouwer, Meindert|publisher=World Wildlife Fund|accessdate=2007-08-24] are involved in Hyacinth Macaw conservation.

Gallery

Pictures

Video

References

Further reading

* 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

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=2231 Hyacinth Macaw videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.bluemacaws.org The Blue Macaws website]
* [http://www.earlham.edu/~chickha/hyacinth/hyacinth.htm Hyacinth Macaw entry from Earlham College]
* [http://www.realmacaw.com/pages/hycolor.html How the Hyacinth Macaw got its Markings - a folk tale]
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/7418200.htm Stamps] (for Brazil--2 issues) with ~RangeMap
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=hyacinth+macaw&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Hyacinth Macaw photo gallery] VIDEO

*Audio File of the Hyacinth Macaw http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=56513