The largest parrot in the world is the Hyacinth Macaw, which is also the largest macaw. They are normally calm and quite bright birds that can be a wonderful pet for a seasoned bird owner. The potential macaw owner must invest a lot of time and energy in caring for these birds, as they may be gregarious and boisterous.
Hyacinth Macaw Appearance
Impressive cobalt blue feathers of hyacinth macaws contrast with a yellow patch of flesh beside the lower bill and a bare yellow eye ring (white in other macaw species). With dark-brown irises, they have dark gray feet. They are nearly the same, except the females are typically a little more delicate than the boys. Upon immature birds, the upper bill is paler and the tail is smaller.
Distribution
Originally from central and eastern South America, hyacinth macaws are currently found in just three different regions: the Pantanal, which is a natural environment that includes Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay; the Cerrado, which is a tropical savanna ecoregion in Brazil; and the eastern Amazon Basin of Brazil.
Woodlands semi-open forested areas, and palm swamps are home to hyacinth macaws. They frequently live in savannah grasslands, dry thorn forests called “caatinga,” and palm stands instead of deep, wet forests.
Habits and Lifestyle
Macaws of the hyacinth are highly gregarious birds. While they might be observed alone, they typically travel in groups of up to four birds. In addition to pairings and family trios consisting of parents and chick, bigger groups of 12 to 20 birds are also commonly spotted.
They feed mostly in the morning and late afternoon, though they are occasionally active on starry evenings. They take refuge in the canopy throughout the hottest part of the day. Couples maintain a tight relationship. They make loud noises and, when disturbed, soar out of the canopy to circle over treetops. Such noisy birds they are.
Care for a Hyacinth Macaw
Actually, 70–80°F (21-27°C) is the ideal temperature range for your Hyacinth Macaw to be kept, while healthy birds may handle slightly higher or lower temperatures. The minimum cage size for these huge birds is 4Wx5Lx5H in feet (122Wx152Lx152H in cm), as they have a wing span of four feet (122 cm).
You can view our comprehensive guide on macaw cages here. Make sure to get the largest cage that you can afford. Heavy-duty stainless-steel cages are recommended since the bird’s powerful beak may quickly demolish less robust cages, according to drsfostersmith.com. Compared to other parrots, your macaw will require a higher fat diet, which its metabolism can readily process.
Blue Macaws are prone to having an overgrown beak, therefore you might need to clip the bird’s nails. There are plenty of hard chew toys to assist in reducing this issue, but if it gets out of control, you might need to have the beak clipped. This big bird needs to spend a lot of time outside of its cage every day to relieve emotional stress, which can cause excessive screeching and plucking of feathers.
While the molting season officially starts in December in the wild, indoor parrots can molt year-round because to artificial light exposure. The breeding season for macaws housed indoors can occur at any moment, much like for molting. Hydrangea Macaws reach sexual maturity at the age of seven; males may need an additional year to reach sexual maturity in some circumstances due to slower development.
Diet and Nutrition
hycinth macaws are known as herbivorous. they eat a different range of seeds & tree fruits, and their primary source of food is certain foods like bacaiuva and acuri palms.
Mating Habits
Because they are monogamous, hyacinth macaws typically spend their whole lives with just one partner. They breed after the rainy season, which runs from July to December, and only produce one brood every season. Depending on what’s available, they build their nests in tree cavities or on sheer cliff cliffs.
The male provides sustenance to the female during her incubation period, which lasts around one month. After hatching, chicks fledge after around four months. For around six months, chicks stay with their parents, who feed them.
Population
Population threats: Because they are highly valued as pets, the illicit pet trade and habitat destruction are to blame for the reduction in hyacinth macaw populations. Mechanized agriculture, hydroelectric projects, and cow grazing are causing changes or loss of their habitat. These birds are hunted by some native people who use the beautiful feathers for headdresses and other tourist mementos.
Population number: The IUCN Red List states that there are 6,500 Hyacinth macaws in total (including 4,300 adult individuals), with 5,000 of those individuals located in the Pantanal region. The IUCN Red List lists hyacinth macaws as Vulnerable (VU), and their population is currently declining.
Ecological niche: Because they distribute seeds and nuts across their range, hyacinth macaws contribute significantly to the ecosystem in which they live.
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