Why Are The Glaceous Macaw And Hyancith Macaw So Alike Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar?
These two species of bird despite their differences have similar evolutionary histories. Their shared dependence on palm swamps for nesting and roosting underscores the interconnectedness between nature and the need to protect habitats that are endangered.
With its bright blue plumage and distinctive yellow accents, the macaw hyacinth is recognizable. Its empathetic beak is packed with an impressive bite that can crack coconuts as well as large brazil nut pods.
The Hyacinth Macaw
The macaw hyacinth is a magnificent bird and is also the largest parrot. It is a striking blue colour with yellow accents around the eyes and lower part of the beak. This could make it appear as if it's smiling. It has sturdy legs that let it hang upside down or sideways, and a huge hooked beak, which is specifically designed to break open coconuts. They are social and intelligent and tend to stay with the same person for the duration of their lives.
Hyacinth macaws are non-migratory, and their distribution is linked to the availability of a specific palm species that provide their primary food source. This is the major difference between macaws and other parrots that are typically migraters.
The hyacinth Macaw is a prey species that eats large amount of nuts from native palm trees. Particularly, the acuri and the bocaiuva. Their powerful beaks enable them to crack open these hard seeds. They also eat fruits and other plant materials.
They are not migratory, and their population is closely dependent on the availability and quality of Bocaiuva and Acuri Palms which are their primary source of food. This is a major difference between macaws and other parakeets which are usually migrants.
In contrast to the majority of parrots that prefer tropical rainforests with dense vegetation, the hyacinth Macaw can be found in lightly forested areas like palm swamps and flooded grasslands. The vast majority (90 percent) of the hyacinth Macaw population lives in the Pantanal region, the largest wetland of tropical origin in Brazil.
Like all birds, hyacinth macaws are monogamous. They select their partner at about 3-4 years old and remain with them throughout their entire life. They are very social animals and are often able to interact and communicate with humans. However it is crucial to remember that they are wild creatures and should not be taken from their natural environment.
You can consider adopting a parrot as an animal from an aviculturist who breeds these magnificent creatures. Selecting an aviculturist responsible and who is well-established is the best way to ensure that these magnificent creatures will be cared for in the wild.
The Glaucous Macaw
The Glaucous Macaw, or Ara Glaucus is among the most vibrant birds that live in the Amazon basin. This large parrot can be found in the tropical forests of South America. It has blue tops and yellow underparts. It is a very rare bird and is classified as Critically Endangered. The cause of the decline of this bird is most likely the trapping of live adults for the wild bird trade and the mass felling of yatay palms (Butia yatay) which are believed to be its primary food source.
The name of this bird is derived from its striking blueish color. It can be described in terms of pale turquoise to the azure. The underparts of the bird have a yellowish hue and its head is grey. It is smaller than the Lear's macaw, and is more slender than the hyacinth macaw.
The glaucous Macaw is not only a beautiful bird, it is also a symbol of hope to those living in the Amazon Basin. The glaucous Macaw is hoping to be discovered in the wild within the next few years and populations could be restored. This will ensure the survival of the spectacular species.
Although the glaucous macaw has been believed to be extinct in the wild however, there are a few reputed reappearances over the years. In February 1992 the female specimen was found at Customs in Britain. It was a bird that had been housed in some of the world's most well-known Zoos. At the time, it was believed to be a glaucous Macaw.
However, this supposedly authentic glaucous macaw eventually found to be a hybrid between Macaws of Lear and Hyacinth. Furthermore, its azure coloration was actually more like that of the macaws of Hyacinth and it had been developed for the purpose breeding hybrids.
Even in the event that the glaucous Macaw does turn up in the wild, it is unlikely that it can breed and produce healthy offspring. The bird has been threatened for a long time. It would be a tragedy if this beautiful tropical giant were to disappear for ever.
The Origins of the Macaws
Macaws are able to form a close connection with their human companions and are affectionate. They are extremely vocal birds, with an array of sounds and songs. They love mimicking sounds and voices, particularly those of their human counterparts. Macaws who live with humans can learn to mimic words. The loud, shrieking noises that macaws emit are their natural way of communicating with other members of their flock or to warn of danger. They call between 5 and 10 minutes frequently throughout the week.
When a pair of macaws choose to create a bond, they will remain together until one of them dies. They will preen each other's feathers and roost together at night. Once a year they will also mate and lay eggs in a nest constructed in an opening in the tree or a dirt hole on the cliff face. The female incubates the egg for 12 weeks, while the male gathers food and protects chicks against predators.
As humans began to engage with macaws, they started to train them and use macaws as companion birds. They were seen as an emblem of love and power, with their powerful beaks and bright blue feathers. Many believed that macaws could tell them the future or answer their prayer. Through their shrieking sounds they were used to scare away crocodiles and snakes.
For many years there was no information about the exact number of macaws in the wild that ever existed. The records showed that some specimens were in captivity, but nobody knew their origin or age. One of the most famous birds lived 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 reports, it was widely believed that the glaucous Macaw was extinct.
In 2010, however, isotopic analysis showed that the glaucous Macaw is still present in the wild. The results of this study were published in Science. The authors suggest that the glaucous Macaws in the wild could originate from a Paquime population in northern Chihuahua. The apparent longevity of the birds is due to the fact that they are able to adapt to their environment. They are able to survive in arid desert conditions, for example.
The Macaw's Future
As the stories of the hyacinth Macaw and the Glaucous macaw show shows, parrots are incredibly able to adapt to their surroundings. In the wild, parrots travel for miles to find mates or nesting spots. They can also mimic human speech. Their feet are shaped so they can be positioned in trees and climb them. They can carry food inside their beaks.
However, despite these abilities, parrots have not been domesticated in the way dogs and cats have. They remain wild animals and need to live the way their ancestors did. If you're planning to bring one of these birds into your home, take it with attention and care. Parrots can be loud and large, and they could cause damage to furniture and home. The CITES list also includes the loss of habitat and over-collection of parrots for the pet industry.
One of the best examples of a successful reintroduction program is the long and fascinating background of the Spix's macaw which was thought to be extinct until Helmut Sick and his field assistant, Dante Teixera, spotted a party of three birds near Formosa do Rio Preto in 1974. At the time of the discovery, the only pair of birds in captive was in Al Wabra, Qatar.
At a meeting in the city of Sao Paulo, Purchase and other conservationists agreed that the only solution was to release captive macaws into the wild. The number of breeding pairs is extremely low, so they had to act swiftly. Additionally, they had to establish separate lineages at the different breeding centres so that one pair did not overrun the whole population with its genes.
The conservationists began to search Brazil for any Spix's macaws currently in private hands which could be rehabilitated to be reintroduced. Owners were initially reluctant because they were afraid of being prosecuted for violating a law that prohibited the export of wildlife. Kiessling says that "one by one" people began to come forward.