Entry on the Lear's Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) 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

Lear's Macaw

Anodorhynchus leari  Bonaparte 1856

German: Lear-Ara

Description: general plumage cobalt-blue; head, neck, breast and abdomen more greenish-blue; bare area around base of lower mandible pale yellowish; underside of tail and wings blackish; powerful bill blackish; periophthalmic ring yellow; iris dark brown; feet dark grey.

Immatures with shorter tail; upper mandible paler.

Length: 75 cm (29.5 ins)

Distribution: northeast Bahia, northern Brazil.

Habitat: open and partially open areas with caatinga vegetation and nearby sandstone escarpments.

Status: extremely endangered; only found now in few areas with original habitat where not persecuted; already disappeared from greater part of distribution area; population less than 1000 birds; causes mainly trapping for trade and hunting; in addition threatened by inbreeding within small remnant population.

CITES: classified CITES I on 07/01/1975

Habits: usually seen in groups of 8 to 30 birds, less often in pairs, family or smaller groups; shy; flies up loudly calling when alarmed, circles briefly before landing again on a tree or flying off; pairs and families are easy to recognise within group; first noticed because of calling; then easy to find; mostly observed flying or on outermost branches of trees or palms; there very conspicuous; macaws roost in hollows and crevices of 30 to 60 m (100 to 200 ft) high sandstone canyons; arrive there shortly before sunset; 2 to 3 birds roost outside canyon; immediately after dawn they fly to the canyon with roosting hollows loudly calling; they then perch for ten minutes on tallest tree chewing at branch without making any sound; once satisfied no danger threatens, they call loudly and flock leaves roosting hollows;  towards evening sentinel birds arrive first at canyon followed by members of flock over period of time; macaws perch quietly in trees until darkness falls; only then do they fly to roosting hollows; up to 4 macaws roost in each hollow; during hot midday hours they rest in shady part of trees or in licuri palms, where they also feed on palm fruits; they croak from time to time and preen each other; much of food foraged on ground; there shy and wary; flight undulating with deliberate wingbeats; call gurgling; alarm call harsh and croaking, but less so than Hyacinthine Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus).

Natural diet: specialises in palm fruits, especially those of licuri palm (Syagrus coronata); in addition probably also ripe and unripe fruits, nuts, berries and vegetable matter; often forages on pasture land for palm nuts regurgitated by cattle and therefore softer.

Breeding behaviour: breeding season from December to May; depends on occurrence of licuri palms; roosting hollows not usually used for breeding; several nesting sites may be found in same steep cliff, but not within sight of each other; only few pairs breed; clutch 1 or 2 eggs; low reproduction rate as many clutches and nests with young predated, suffer from disease or poached; young probably remain with parents for some time after leaving nest; egg measures 57.0 x 38.4 mm (2.24 x 1.51 ins).

Aviculture: sometimes noisy macaw with deliberate behaviour; inquisitive; soon becomes confiding; very hard chewer; provide regular supply of thick branches or tree stumps; hardy and resilient when acclimatised; can be kept outside breeding period with other macaws; even during breeding period with smaller parrots and parakeets; pairs stay close together; enjoys bathing in summer or being rained on in outside flight; many enjoy going on ground in outside flight.

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 structure with very thick mesh necessary; minimum temperature 15°C (59°F).

Diet: brazils, walnuts, pine and peanuts; fruit and vegetables (pear, orange, apple, plums, banana, cucumber, half-ripened maize, carrot, rose-hips, rowanberries); seed mix of sunflower, safflower, hemp, wheat, oats, canary grass seed and various millets; in summer also sprouted; soaked pigeon food; greenfood (chickweed, dandelion etc.); regular vitamin and mineral supplements (especially D and B complex); animal protein with dried shrimp as well as chicken and chop bones with meat remains on them; white bread, eggfood, porridge and biscuit  for rearing.

Breeding in aviculture: only seldom achieved; clutch 2 eggs; fledging period 90 days (hand-reared); young independent three weeks later; thick-walled hardwood nestbox 50 x 60 x 80 cm (20 x 24 x 30 ins) with entrance 18 cm (7 ins) across; should be mounted to allow inspection from outside aviary.