Macaw

Macaws
Blue-and-gold Macaw
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
Genera
Ara Anodorhynchus Cyanopsitta Primolius Orthopsittaca Diopsittaca

Macaws are large, colorful New World parrots, classified into six of the many Psittacidae genera: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca. They are the largest birds in the parrot family in length and wingspan, though the flightless Kakapo is heavier.

They are native to Mexico, Central and tropical South America, and the Caribbean. Most species are associated with forest, especially rainforest, but others prefer woodland or savanna-like habitats.

They are called guacamayos in Spanish and araras in Portuguese.

Description

Parrots or psittacines is an order (namely Psittaciformes) of birds that includes over 350 known species. They are usually grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae (cockatoo), and the Psittacidae (true parrots). Macaws are members of the true parrots.

Like other parrots, macaws have a generally erect stance and a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull. Parrots also are zygodactyl, having four toes on each foot, with two toes at the front of each foot and two at the back.

Macaws have very long tails, large and strong curved beaks, and usually brilliant plumage. The largest macaw is the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), which reaches 100 centimeters (almost 40 inches) in head and body length and 1.4 to 1.7 kilograms (3 to 3.7 pounds) in weight, and the smallest is the red-shouldered macaw, which reaches 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in length and 129 to 169 grams (4.5 to 5.9 ounces) in weight (San Diego Zoo 2007).

Previously, the members of the genus Primolius were placed in Propyrrhura, but the former is correct as per ICZN rules.

Species in taxonomic order

• Anodorhynchus
  • Anodorhynchus glaucus : Glaucous Macaw
  • Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus : Hyacinth Macaw
  • Anodorhynchus leari : Indigo Macaw or Lear's Macaw
• Cyanopsitta
  • Cyanopsitta spixii : Little Blue Macaw or Spix's Macaw
• Ara
  • Ara ararauna : Blue-and-yellow Macaw
  • Ara glaucogularis : Blue-throated Macaw
  • Ara militaris : Military Macaw
  • Ara ambiguus : Buffon's Macaw or Great Green Macaw
  • Ara macao : Scarlet Macaw or Aracanga
  • Ara chloroptera : Greenwing Macaw or Red-and-green Macaw
  • Ara rubrogenys : Red-fronted Macaw
  • Ara severa : Chestnut-fronted Macaw or Severe Macaw
  • Ara atwoodi : Dominican Green-and-Yellow Macaw
  • Ara erythrocephala : Jamaican Green-and-Yellow Macaw
  • Ara gossei : Jamaican Red Macaw
  • Ara guadeloupensis : Lesser Antillean Macaw
  • Ara tricolor : Cuban Red Macaw
  • Ara autocthones : Saint Croix Macaw
• Orthopsittaca
  • Orthopsittaca manilata : Red-bellied Macaw
• Primolius
  • Primolius couloni : Blue-headed Macaw
  • Primolius maracana : Illiger's Macaw or Blue-winged Macaw
  • Primolius auricollis : Golden-collared Macaw
• Diopsittaca
  • Diopsittaca nobilis : Red-shouldered Macaw or Hahn's Macaw

Status

The majority of macaws are now endangered in the wild. Five species are already extinct, and Spix's Macaw is now considered to be extinct in the wild. The Glaucous Macaw is also probably extinct, with only two reliable records of sightings in the 20th century. The greatest problems threatening the macaw population are the rapid rate of deforestation and the illegal trapping of birds for the bird trade.

Birds in captivity

Macaws eat nuts and fruit. They also gnaw and chew on various objects. They show a large amount of intelligence in their behaviour and require constant intellectual stimulation to satisfy their innate curiosity.

Bonding: Macaws have been said to live for up to 100 years; however, an average of 50 years is probably more accurate. The larger macaws may live up to 65 years. They are monogamous and mate for life. In captivity unmated macaws will bond primarily with one person – their keeper. Pet macaws thrive on frequent interaction, and a lack of this can lead to their mental and physical suffering.

Other sub-bondings also take place and most macaws that are subjected to non-aggressive behavior will trust most humans, and can be handled even by strangers if someone familiar is also alongside.

Captive pet macaws sometimes display difficult behavior, the most common being biting, screaming, and feather-plucking. Feather-plucking does not normally occur in the wild, strongly suggesting that it is the result of a neurosis related to life in captivity.

Most pet macaws had ancestors living in the wild just two or three generations ago, and are not truly domesticated by any reasonable definition. (This is unlike, for example, dogs; some estimates put the domestication of dogs as far back as 40,000 years ago.)

All species of macaws have very powerful, large beaks and are capable of causing considerable harm to both children and adults. They tend to be extremely loud: their voices are designed to carry over long distances. This makes macaws very demanding birds to keep as a household pet. Additional complications arise from the intelligence levels of macaws and their negative responses to stimuli people generally use on domestic pets.

International trade in Macaws is illegal under the CITES agreement. Only captive born birds may be sold as pets.

Hybrids

A common trend in recent years is hybridising macaws for the pet trade. Hybrids are typical macaws, with the only difference from true species being their genetics and their colors. They tend to have intermediate characteristics of the parents', though the appearance seems to be influenced more by the father's genes. As for their temperament and behaviour, they seem to inherit traits of both parents. Common hybrids include Harlequins (Ara ararauna x chloroptera) and Catalinas (known as Rainbows in Australia, A. ararauna x macao). As a number of species of macaws are endangered, it would be beneficial to maintain pure breeding stock of captive macaws to ensure species preservation. Hybridizing dilutes the available gene pool and could hasten a species extinction.

Strange Diet

Macaws are known to eat clay as an antidote to the poisonous seeds they eat. Scientists have found out that the chemicals in clay mix with the poison allowing it to pass through the bird's digestive system unharmed.

Gallery

• 

  Blue and Gold Macaws (Ara ararauna)

• 

  Military Macaw (Ara militaris)

• 

  A Scarlet Macaw

• 

  Golden-collared Macaw

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• ITIS 177653, 177659 as of 2002-07-15

Abramson, J., Speer, B. L., & Thomsen, J.B. 1999, "The Large Macaws, Their Care and Breeding", Raintree Publications:CA

San Deigo Zoo. 2007. Birds: Macaw. San Diego Zoo's Animal Bytes. Retrieved April 15, 2007.

External links

• Araproject
• Open Directory:Recreation:Pets:Birds:Species:Parrots:Macaws
• ParrotScience - parrot information site
• San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes: Macaw

Credits

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• History of "Macaw"

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