Entry on the Hyacinthine Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) in the Lexicon of Parrots published by Arndt Verlag, Bretten, Germany. This comprehensive work with images of every species and subspecies of parrot can be ordered on-line at www.arndt-verlag.com

HYACINTHINE MACAW

Anodorhynchus  hyacinthinus (Latham 1790)

German: Hyazinthara                         

Description: general plumage cobalt-blue; bare area around bill yellowish; wings slightly darker blue; tail and wing undersides blackish; powerful bill blackish; periophthalmic ring yellow; iris dark-brown; feet dark grey.

Immatures with shorter tail; upper mandible paler.

Length: 100 cm (40 ins).

Distribution: in northern Brazil in localities along northern reaches of Amazon west to Rio Tapajós and south across central and southern Brazil from Piauí and southern part of Maranhão across Goiás and western Bahia to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso; eastern Bolivia and most northeastern part of Paraguay.

Habitat: open and semi-open areas with tall trees; cerrado vegetation, savannah with palms and groups of trees; marshland and flood areas with buriti (Mauritia sp.) palm groves; prefers gallery forest; much rarer in rain forest or its edges.

Status: only still common in few areas with original habitat; disappeared from greater part of distribution area and regarded as endangered; population possibly less than 10,000 birds; main causes trapping, trade and hunting.

CITES: classified CITES II on 06/06/1981; upgraded to CITES I on 10/22/1987

Habits: usually seen in pairs, family groups or flocks of 6 to 12 birds; pairs and families easily recognised within group; mostly seen flying or perching on outermost branches of trees or bushes; there very conspicuous; can be heard from afar because of loud call; shy in many areas; flies up screeching if approached, circles for short while, then lands on tree again or flies off; macaws roost on tall Acrocomia palms or trees in open woodland; early in morning they gather for preening on dead trees; feeds until around 9.00 a.m; pairs spend hot midday hours in shade of foliage or in Attalea palms where they also feed on palm fruits; croaks from time to time and preen each other; returns to roosting trees towards evening; often flies considerable distances at some height; forages much food on ground; there shy and wary; flight undulating and with slow wing-beats; call gurgling; alarm call harsh and ratcheting.

Natural diet: specializes in different palm fruits including Acrocomia lasiopatha, Astryocaryum tucuma, Attalea phalerata, Acrocomia aculeata, Syagrus commosa, Attalea funifera; in addition ripe and unripe fruits (figs), nuts, berries and vegetable matter; in one case observed feeding on water-snails (Pomacea sp.); can crack extremely hard nuts with powerful bill; however often feeds on palm-nuts excreted by cattle and therefore softer, which they find in pasture.

Breeding behaviour: breeding season between July and December; varies slightly according to area; nests in living and dead trees, palms and in localities in crevices and hollows in cliffs; tree hollows between 4 and 12 m (12 and 40 ft) from ground; on average 50 cm (20 ins) in diameter, 29 cm (11.5 ins ) deep from entrance to bottom of hollow; latter often at same level as entrance; size of entrance varies between 5 x 7 cm (2 x 3 ins) and 40 x 25 cm (16 x 10 ins); clutch 1 to 2 eggs; only one young reared; low reproduction rate as many clutches and nests with young fail because of predators, disease and removal; young probably remain with parents for some time after leaving nest; egg measures 53.0 x 40.0 mm (2.08 x 1.57 ins).

Aviculture: at times very noisy bird, but somewhat quieter and more cautious in behaviour than other large macaws; inquisitive; quickly becomes confiding; very hard chewer and sometimes destructive; even very strong mesh can be bitten through; provide regular supply of thick branches and tree stumps; hardy and robust when acclimatised; can be kept outside breeding season with other macaws; during breeding season even with smaller parrots and parakeets; bathes frequently in summer or enjoys being sprayed; pairs very close; when watched by keeper or strangers will often simulate copulation with raised-up tails and lower parts of body pressed against each other; many birds enjoy going on ground in outside flight; gravel often taken up and chewed.

Accommodation: ideally outside flight 10 x 3 x 2.5 m (30 x 9 x 8 ft) with adjoining shelter 3 x 2 x 2 m (9 x 6 x 6 ft); metal construction with very strong mesh absolutely essential; minimum temperature 10°C (50°F).

Diet: fruit and vegetables (pear, orange, apple, plum, banana, cucumber, half-ripe maize, carrot, rose-hips and rowanberries); small quantities of brazils, walnuts, pine- and peanuts; seed mix of sunflower, safflower, hemp, wheat, oats, canary grass seed and various millets; provide sprouted as well in summer; soaked pigeon-food; greenfood (chickweed, dandelion etc.); regular vitamins (D and B complex) and mineral supplements; animal protein such as dried shrimp and bones with shreds of cooked meat still on them; white bread and eggfood for rearing; enjoys porridge and biscuit.

Breeding in aviculture: regularly achieved, but much less often than other large macaws; breeding mostly begins in May; signalled by aggressiveness towards keeper by pair; clutch 1 or 2 eggs; often only one egg fertile; fledging period 90 days; young often throw themselves on their backs when nestbox inspected; young should remain with parents for some time after leaving nest; hardwood nestbox with thick walls 60 x 70 x 100 cm (24 x 28 x 40 ins) with entrance 22 cm (9 ins) in diameter; should be positioned to allow inspection from outside aviary.