Scientific Classification

Common Name

hyacinth macaw

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittacidae (true parrots)

Genus Species

Anodorhynchus (toothless beak) hyacinthinus (blue)

Fast Facts

Description

Hyacinth macaws are the largest of the parrots and, as their name implies, are covered with bright blue plumage. They have bare yellow eye ring circles around large black eyes, a yellow chin, a strongly hooked beak and zygodactylous feet (2 toes that point forward and 2 toes that point backward).

Size

Approximately 100 cm (39 in.)

Weight

Approximately 1,550 to 1,600 g (3 to 3.5 lbs.)

Diet

Includes seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries

Incubation

Approximately 29 days

Clutch Size

2 to 3 eggs

Fledging Duration

4 months; then remain with parents for up to a year

Sexual Maturity

2 to 4 years

Life Span

30 to 50 years or more

Range

Southern Brazil and Western Bolivia

Habitat

Found in tall trees and palms of swamps, forests, and near rivers

Population

2,500 to 10,000 individuals

Status 

IUCN: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
USFWS: Endangered

Fun Facts

The hyacinth macaw is the largest macaw species.

These macaws frequently travel together in small flocks of 1–8 pairs, and loudly call to one another.

Macaw pairs remained bonded.

In the wild, macaws often flock to mountains of clay known as "macaw licks."

When disturbed, these bright birds screech loudly and circle overhead with their long tails streaming.

Macaws are playful and inquisitive and are able to mimic human vocalizations very well.

Macaws are able to reach flight speeds of up to 56 kph (35 mph).

Macaws eat palm nuts only after the nuts have passed through the digestive system of a cow.

Ecology and Conservation

In the course of daily feeding, macaws allow plenty of seeds (while eating, as well as in their droppings) to fall to the forest floor, thus regenerating much of the forest growth.

Highly prized as pets, they are listed on CITES because of over-collection for the pet trade and excessive habitat loss. Only domestically hatched birds should be considered for pets. Hyacinths in the home are large, loud, and destructive so great thought should accompany this decision.

The U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES which includes most parrots, which are endangered or threatened.

Bibliography

Forshaw, J.M. Parrots of the World. New Jersey. T.F.H. Publications Inc. 1978.

Marrison, C. and A. Greensmith. Birds of the World. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. 1993. 

Perrins, C. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications. 1985.

BirdLife International 2016. Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22685516A93077457. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685516A93077457.en. Downloaded on 11 March 2020.