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Macaw

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Macaws
Blue-and-gold Macaw
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Psittaciformes
Family:
Psittacidae
Subfamily:
Psittacinae
Tribe:
Arini
Genera

Ara
Anodorhynchus
Cyanopsitta
Primolius
Orthopsittaca
Diopsittaca

For other uses, see Macaw (disambiguation).

Macaws are miniature to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae (true parrots) genera, six are classifed as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca. Previously, the members of the genus Primolius were placed in Propyrrhura, but the former is correct as per ICZN rules[1]. Macaws are native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and formerly the Caribbean. Most species are associated with forest, especially rainforest, but others prefer woodland or savanna-like habitats.

There is no unifying characteristic which differentiates macaws from all other types of parrots. All species have a long tail, but so do conures. The bare facial patch surrounding the eye and extending to the beak is unique to macaws, but it is reduced in some species, and limited to a yellow patch around the eyes and a second patch near the base of the beak in the members of the genus Anodorhynchus.

Macaws are known for their impressive size. The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw. The heaviest macaw is the Buffon's, although the heaviest parrot is the flightless Kakapo. While still relatively large parrots, the macaws of the genera Cyanopsitta, Orthopsittaca and Primolius are significantly smaller than the members of Anodorhynchus and Ara. The smallest member of the family, the Red-shouldered Macaw, is no larger than some parakeets of the genus Aratinga.

Macaws, like other parrots, as well as toucans and woodpeckers, are zygodactyl, having their first and fourth toe pointing backwards.

Species in taxonomic order

There are 17 species of Macaws.

Status

The majority of macaws are now endangered in the wild. Six 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. They often learn tricks easily.

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, and can often be quite affectionate and cuddly. Pet macaws thrive on frequent interaction and attention from their owners, 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, though some sources suggest other causes such as inbreeding in captive populations, food allergies, and dry skin (most of these birds are adapted to humid climates).

Most pet macaws had ancestors living in the wild just two to four 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.) They are, however, quite social and adaptable birds.

All species of macaws have very powerful, large beaks and large macaws are capable of destroying household furnishings. and can potentially cause considerable harm to both children and adults. They tend to be loud: in the wild their voices need 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, such as punishment.

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

Hybrids

See also: Bird hybrid

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. Male offspring tend to take on the traits of the mother, and the females take the traits of the father. As for their temperament and behaviour, they seem to inherit traits of both parents.

Aviculturists have reported an over abundance of female blue and gold macaws in captivity, which differs from the general rule with captive macaws and other parrots, where the males are more abundant. This would explain why the blue and gold is the most commonly hybridised macaw, and why the hybridising trend took hold among macaws. Common macaw hybrids include Harlequins (Ara ararauna x chloroptera) and Catalinas (known as Rainbows in Australia, A. ararauna x macao).[3]

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.

Clay licks

Macaws are known to eat clay, which is believed to work as an antidote to the poisonous seeds they eat.[4][5] The chemicals in the clay mix with the poison allowing it to pass through the bird's digestive system without harming the bird.

Dr. Donald Brightsmith, the principle investigator of the Tambopata Macaw Project, has been leading research at the Tambopata Research Center since 1999. Findings from the center located in the Amazon basin in southeastern Peru show that the soil macaws choose to consume at the clay licks they frequent did not have higher levels of cation exchange capacity (ability to adsorb toxins) than that of unused licks. What the findings do show is that the macaws, along with other bird species, prefer soil with higher levels of sodium.

It is possible that the birds are using taste to find soil that also meets other physiological needs. However, it is interesting to note that the macaws on the coast of Costa Rica do not use clay clicks and this is possibly related to the fact that the mangroves which supply a portion of their diet is high in sodium.

Continuing projects at TRC are also showing a correlation between clay lick use and breeding season. Calcium for egg development - another hypothesis - does not appear to be a reason for geophagy during this period as peak usage is after the hatching of eggs. Contents of nestling crop samples show a high percentage of clay fed to them by their parents.

Brightsmith, D. J. 2006. The psittacine year: what drives annual cycles in Tambopata's parrots? Proceedings of the Loro Parque International Parrot Symposium, Tenerife, Spain. http://vtpb-www2.cvm.tamu.edu/brightsmith/

Brightsmith, D., and R. Aramburú. 2004. Avian geophagy and soil characteristics in southeastern Peru. Biotropica 36:534-543. http://vtpb-www2.cvm.tamu.edu/brightsmith/Clay%20lick%20soil%202004.pdf

Gilardi, J. D. 1996. Ecology of parrots in the Peruvian Amazon: Habitat use, nutrition, and geophagy. Ph.D. dissertation. University of California at Davis, Davis, California.

Cultural References

The Macaw is depicted on the reverse side of the 10-Brazilian Reais banknote.

References

  1. ^ South American Classification Committee To reassign the genus of three macaws.
  2. ^ Forshaw, Joseph Michael (1973, 1981). Parrots of the World. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ Macaws, Hybrid Names, and pages on individual hybrids
  4. ^ Detoxifying strategies of Amazon Macaws
  5. ^ Santa Barbara Zoo - Macaw

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

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