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Why Are the Hyacinth Macaw and Glaucous Macaw So Similar? Despite their distinct characteristics the two bird species have a similar evolutionary history. Their reliance on palm swamps for nesting and roosting demonstrates the interconnectedness of nature as well as the need to preserve endangered habitats. With its bright blue plumage and distinctive yellow accents, the hyacinth macaw is distinctive. Its apparent smiley beak packs an impressive bite that can crack coconuts as well as large brazil nuts. The Hyacinth Macaw The Hyacinth Macaw is the biggest parrot and a magnificent bird. It's a striking blue color with yellow highlights around the eyes and lower beak, which makes them appear to be smiling. It has sturdy legs that permit it to hang upside down or sideways and a massive hook beak that is specially adapted to break open coconuts. They are extremely intelligent and social, and tend to be with a single partner for their entire life. Hyacinth macaws are not migratory and their distribution is closely dependent on the availability of a specific palm species that provide their primary food source. This is a major distinction between macaws and the majority of parrots, which typically tend to be migration-oriented. A large proportion of the diet of hyacinth Macaws is made up of nuts from native palm trees, particularly the acuri and the bocaiuva. They can break the seeds into pieces thanks to their strong beaks, and they also eat fruits and other plant material. They are non-migratory, and their population is dependent on the availability of the acuri and bocaiuva palms, which provide the majority of their food source. This is an important distinction between macaws and other parakeets that tend to be migration-oriented. Unlike most parrots, which prefer dense tropical rainforest habitats, the hyacinth macaw is able to be found in lightly forested areas, such as palm swamps and grasslands that have been flooded. The vast majority of the macaw's population can be found in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland in Brazil. As with other birds, hyacinth macaws are monogamous. They pick a partner approximately 3-4 years old and stay with them their entire lives. They are very social animals and will often interact with humans, but it is important to keep in mind that they are wild animals and should not be removed from their natural environment. If you want to spend time with a beautiful, intelligent and spirited animal who can mimic your words, consider adopting the pet parrot of an aviculturist who breeds these amazing animals. It's a major responsibility to take care of these wonderful creatures, and the best way to support their future in captivity is to locate an experienced, responsible and reliable Aviculturist who is responsible and trustworthy. The Glaucous Macaw The Glaucous Macaw (Ara glaucus) is one of the most colorful birds of the Amazon basin. This large parrot has blue top parts and yellow underparts. It is found in the forests of tropical South America. This bird is extremely rare and is classified as Critically endangered. hahns macaw for sale of the decline of this bird is likely the trapping and selling of live adults on the market for wild birds, and the mass cutting down of the yatay (Butia) palms. The bird's name is derived from its strikingly blue hue, which can be described as light turquoise to azure in color. Its underparts have a yellowish hue, while its head is grey. It is smaller than the Lear's Macaw and more slender than hyacinth Macaw. In addition to being a very beautiful bird, the glaucous Macaw has also become an emblem of hope for those in the Amazon Basin. The glaucous Macaw is hoped to be discovered in the wild very soon and that populations can be restored. This will ensure the future of this magnificent species. Although the glaucous Macaw is thought to be extinct, a few alleged reappearances have occurred throughout the years. In February 1992 the female specimen was found at Customs in Britain. It was a bird which was kept in a few of the most famous zoos in the world and at the time it was believed to be was an authentic glaucous macaw. The Macaw that was claimed to be authentic was discovered to be a hybrid between the Lear's Hyacinth and macaws. Its color was more like the hyacinth, and it was bred to produce hybrids. Even even if the glaucous macaw were to come back to the wild again it is highly unlikely that it can breed and produce healthy offspring. This bird has been threatened for too long. It is a tragedy if this beautiful tropical giant disappeared for ever. The Origins of the Macaws Macaws can develop a close bond with their humans and can be affectionate. They are very vocal birds, with an array of sounds and songs. They also like to mimic sounds, particularly the voice of their human companion. Macaws who live with humans can learn to mimic the sounds of words. The loud, shrieking noises that macaws make are their natural method of communicating with other members of their group or to signal danger. They will call from 5-10 minutes, several times a week. If a pair of macaws decide to join forces they will stay together until one dies. They will groom each other's feathers at night and share a roost with each other. Once a year they will also mate and lay eggs in a nest made in the tree or a dirt hole in the rock face. The mother incubates the eggs for 12 weeks, while the male gathers food and shields chicks from predators. As humans began to interact with macaws, they began to train them and use macaws as companion birds. With their powerful beaks, and bright blue feathers, they were seen as symbol of love and power. Some people believed that a macaw could reveal to them secrets about the future or answer their prayers. Through their shrieking sounds they were believed to scare away crocodiles or snakes. It was unknown how many glaucous Macaws in the wild existed for a long time. There were reports of a few specimens kept in captivity, but no one knew where they came from or what age they were. One of the most famous birds was in Paris' Jardin d'Acclimatation between 1886 until 1905. Another bird was in a zoo near Buenos Aires during the 1920s until 1936. Despite these early records, it was commonly assumed that the glaucous macaw was extinct in the wild. In 2010, however, isotopic analysis revealed that the glaucous Macaw remains in the wild. The findings of the study were published by Science. The authors suggest that the glaucous macaws in the wild likely came from a population located in the Paquime region of northern Chihuahua. The apparent longevity of the birds is due to the fact that they can adapt to their surroundings. They can survive in dry desert conditions for example. The Future of the Macaw Parrots are able to adjust to their environment in an amazing way. In the wild, they travel for miles away from their homes to find nesting places. They can also mimic human speech. Their feet are shaped so they can be positioned in trees and climb them. They can even carry food with their beaks. Parrots aren't as domesticated as dogs and cats despite their natural talents. They remain wild animals and must live their lives in the same way as their ancestors did. Due to their wild nature, if you want to incorporate a parrot into your home, ensure that you do it with careful thought and consideration. Parrots are big and loud and they can cause damage to your furniture and home. The CITES list also includes them due to habitat loss and over-collection of parrots for the pet industry. One of the best examples of a successful reintroduction project is the long and fascinating story of the Spix's Macaw which was thought to be extinct until Helmut Sick and his field assistant, Dante Teixera, spotted three of them near Formosa do Rio Preto in 1974. At the time of the discovery the only pair of birds that were in captivity was at Al Wabra, Qatar. In a meeting in the city of Sao Paulo, Purchase and other conservationists agreed that the best solution was to release captive macaws into the wild. The number of breeding pairs is extremely small, and they needed to act fast. Additionally, they had to establish separate lineages at the different breeding centres so that one pair didn't swamp the entire population with its genetics. So the conservationists began searching Brazil for any Spix's macaws currently in private ownership which could be rehabilitated for reintroduction. Owners were initially reluctant because they feared prosecution for violating a law which banned the export of animals. Kiessling says that “one by one” people began to come forward.