Hyacinth Macaws
Hyacinth Macaws are the largest and arguably the most spectacular members of the Parrot family, their deep rich cobalt blue plumage is augmented by the naked yellow eye ring and bare skin around the base of the lower mandible.
They use their massive bills to crack large nuts, primarily of two different sorts of palm nut, which are too tough for any other animal to break into. They nest in hollows in large trees, especially in the trunks of large Palm trees, occasionally they will nest in a hole or cave in a cliff face.
Two, or rarely three white eggs are laid and incubated by the female for approximately 30 days and the young remain in the nest for another 100 days.
Hyacinth Macaws are found in a variety of habitats including forest edge, palm savannas and dry woodland and agricultural land. Key to them being able to survive in a particular habitat type is the availability of suitable food plants, particularly a small number of palm species.
Our Hyacinth Macaws can be seen in their large aviary to the rear of the Tropical Realm, and they are part of an European Endangered Species breeding programme.
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Species Information
Where they live: North and Central Brazil, North West Paraguay and Eastern Bolivia in South America.
Habitat: Edge of lowland rainforest, dry woodland, palm forest, pantanal and agricultural land.
Diet: Dependent on a small number of palm species, from which they eat the fallen fruits and nuts. Most of their feeding is done on the ground.
Weight: 1400-1700 grams.
Conservation status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
Threats: Loss of habitat and particularly nesting and feeding trees and palms due to logging and clearance of land for agriculture. This species was reduced to only 3000 birds by massive illegal trade in the period of 1970-1990, when during the 1980’s alone 10,000 birds were taken out of the wild. Hunting of birds for food.