Most macaw pairs breed once a year, and the female lays her eggs in a nest inside a tree hollow or in a dirt hollow on a cliff face. These macaws frequently travel together in small flocks of 1–8 pairs, and loudly call to one another. with their wings almost touching. There are roughly 20 species of macaws, many of which are endangered and critically endangered. Macaws are long-lived, living for as long as 60 years in the wild. Intense coloration of the body provides camouflage in the jungle (body perfectly blends with leaves, shadows and fruit). Typically, it could live anywhere from 20 - 30 years in the wild. Red-fronted macaws have a mutualistic relationship with cactus in the arid area. The rain forest homes of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate. Flocks sleep in the trees at night, and in the morning they may fly long distances to find food. Here’s everything you need to know about this beautifully-bright tropical bird that can be found throughout the Amazon region. Hyacinth Macaw Facts and Information Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus Introduction to Hyacinth Macaw. ; They weigh around 1040 – 1286 grams (36.4 – 45 oz); They have a bright blue plumage from the above which is dominated by the golden-yellow together with a long blue and yellow tail. Although classed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, the Blue and Yellow Macaw is an endangered species in Trinidad. There are various theories about why they do this. The largest species, such as the Hyacinth macaw, can span up to 3.5 feet in length, including a huge wingspan of around 4 to 5 feet. They are also a highly social animal. Macaws are native to South and Central America, found anywhere between Southern Mexico and Northern Argentina. 1. Welcome to the Jungle Blog! I hear you, you might of know this one. They can range in weight from about 2 pounds to about 4 pounds. Their diet mainly consists of fruits, seeds, leaves, … Macaw Facts & Tidbits. Macaws are social birds that often gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. The bond is so strong that even when the pair flies with a large flock, the two stay close together, When macaws get bored, they become prone to feather-destructive behaviors, such as feather plucking. The Catalina macaws are a cross between the Blue and Gold and Scarlet macaw. Macaws have a peculiar relationship with poison. These parrots measure around 76 to 86 cm (30 to 34 in) length. Once chicks hatch, both parents bring them food. All birds have amazing grip but only the parrot is able to hold food up to … A larger variant from Bolivia is commonly referred to as the Bolivian Blue and Gold Macaw. These playful birds are popular pets, and many are illegally trapped for that trade. Fun Facts. Macaws have black or grey eyes when they are young and later change to brownish and then yellow when they get old. The fledglings are clumsy at first as they learn to fly, at about three months of age, but once they get the hang of it, they start flying with the adults to forage for food. One of the best known Scarlet Macaw facts is it’s scientific (or Latin) name. the Anodorhynchus, cyanopsitta, ara, orthopsittaca, primolius and diopsittaca. Interesting facts about birds of prey (raptors), Interesting facts about the Northwest Territories. Parrots Eat With Their Feet. Rainforest Cruises cannot and will not accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising therefrom, including any losses, injuries, or damages resulting from the display or use of this information. Amazing! They have a body that can be just over 3 feet long. The Catalina macaws are a cross between the Blue and Gold and Scarlet macaw. The Blue-and-yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna), also known as Blue-and-gold Macaws, are found in the swampy forests of tropical South America. Interesting Facts About the Macaw A female and male macaw which escaped from captivity and apparently vanished in the year 2000, inspired the movie Rio. In the wild, macaws often flock to mountains of clay known as "macaw licks." In the Amazon, macaws can be seen congregating at clay licks along river banks where they feed on the damp soil. Interesting Facts About the Spix's Macaw. The genus ara refers to the neotropical macaw… The Macaw species are included in 6 different genera (I advise you take a deep breath before reading this!) The scarlet macaw is known in the scientific community as the Ara Macao. Since both macaw and cactus limited to the same environment, macaws are a beneficial source of seed dispersal. The largest species, such as the Hyacinth macaw, can span up to 3.5 feet in length, including a huge wingspan of around 4 to 5 feet. This pessimistic state of affairs is largely a product of illegal trapping for the bird trade. Macaw pairs remained bonded. Types of macaws that are particularly common to the Amazon include the blue and yellow macaws, the scarlet macaw and the red and green macaws, along with numerous others. Others have highlighted that clay licks are a valuable source of minerals, particularly sodium which is hard for animals to obtain in the rainforest. In the wild, their long life span can be attributed to their relative lack of predators. Self-Medication – Some macaws gather in large numbers at clay licks which they eat; it is believed this helps their digestion. Our goal is to match you with the expedition cruise and tailor-made extensions that best suit your interests and budget. Scientists have identified a total of 22 species of macaws. The Macaw is a long tailed parrot. Macaws average lifespan in the wild is up to 60 years. The body part of macaws, which serves as their fingerprint, is the facial feather pattern. Let’s learn more interesting facts about blue and yellow macaws! Macaws come from South and Central America, as well as Mexico. The hyacinth is the largest of all macaw … There are 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. Our travel guides and blogs are for informational purposes only. Macaws are stocky birds with a large head, a thick, strong beak and a long tail relative to their body-size. 5* river cruises really do exist in the remote corners of the rainforest. This story tells you some fun and interesting facts about the pretty Spix's Macaw… These birds are highly intelligent and gregarious creatures that congregate in flocks of anywhere between 30 and 100 individuals. As with many other Amazon species, deforestation and habitat degradation also pose a significant threat to population numbers. This … The Spix’s macaw is named after the Johann Baptist von Spix, the German naturalist, who, in 1819, collected a specimen from the banks of Brazil’s Rio São Francisco in northeast Bahia. A macaw’s facial feather pattern is highly distinctive and thought to be as unique as a fingerprint. I’m of the opinion that as man caused the near extinction of this bird, he should ensure its preservation in the wild. The macaws are active in 23 to 42% of the time during the midday (hottest hours)-playing (predominant behaviour is resting). Macaws are often monogamous, remaining bonded for life. Once they reach breeding age at around 3 to 4 years old, macaws will pick a partner and stay with them for life. Members of the larger parrot family, their size and vivid plumage, along with their rather loud behavior, make them hard to miss amongst the rainforest canopy. In the wild, macaws often flock to mountains of clay known as "macaw licks." Interesting Scarlet macaw Facts: Scarlet macaw can reach 32 inches in length and 2.2 pounds of weight. The macaw that you met sounds like an interesting bird! Make sure to create a stimulating, enriched environment for your macaw with climbing nets and ropes, toys, and a varied diet. Their loud calls, squawks and other distinctive vocalizations can be heard reverberating throughout the jungle, especially in the early morning. Exclusive Rainforest Cruises special offers to lift your Winter spirits. Both male and female macaws look alike, which is uncommon among vividly coloured birds. We respect your privacy and will not pass on your email address to any third parties. 1. They not only breed with, but also share food with their mates and enjoy mutual grooming. At this time, the Spix’s macaw was already rare. Fun Facts about Macaws 2: the unique features The unique features of macaws from other parrots can be seen on the long tails and larger beaks. There are more than 350 parrot species in the world, with the macaws being the largest of them all. They can also be observed flying close to each other (almost touching) throughout the forest canopy. The smallest and lightest is red-shouldered macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis), 30 centimeters (11.8 inches ) tall and weight from 129 to 169 grams (4.5 to 5.9 ounces). There are around 376 species of parrot throughout the world, and macaws are the biggest of all of them. Explore Indonesia's most iconic islands aboard the world-class Aqua Blu vessel. Galapagos at Christmas and New Year's Eve: The Ultimate Guide. Rainforest Cruises is a boutique travel company specializing in Amazon river cruises, Galapagos Islands tours, and Southeast Asia cruises. Their diet mainly consists of fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers and nuts. Hybrid macaws. The birds’ charisma and entertainment value has made them popular pets worldwide. All rights reserved. Thank you for subscribing to Rainforest Cruises’ newsletter. You will most likely hear a macaw before you see it. If you have questions about any of our cruises or destinations that haven’t yet been addressed in our blog, just ask and we will be happy to help. Most species possess a large and extremely powerful beak which they use to open nut shells, including such foods as tough as coconuts. Reproduction and Development The breeding season varies within this bird's range from late November in the south to February or March in the north. Many times chicks in the same nest compete for food, and most often only the older, stronger chick survives. © 2020 Rainforest Cruises. surroundings, which is necessary to keep watch for predators. Facts about the macaw parrot. In fact, a parent will give each of their chicks its own “name” and all members will know how to reproduce these individualized calls. Come face to face with Komodo dragons, snorkel in turquoise waters and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. These loud, social birds are highly intelligent, can live for many years, and remain bonded to their partners for life. Blue and Gold Macaw Facts. There are more than 370 different types of parrots, and macaws are the largest. One of the larger parrots in the world is the Hyacinth Macaw. The largest macaws weigh between 2 and 4 pounds and they have especially light bones which aid their flight. Let’s look at some interesting facts about the scarlet macaw. Of the “true parrots” six are Macaws… Some data subject to change. Their eyes remain shut for several days, and they are sparsely covered in downy feathers, so they need their parents’ care until they grow their plumage, at about 10 weeks of age. Here are 45 interesting facts about this small country to help you better enjoy your visit to Macau. In short, they are highly social and intelligent creatures, and are thought to have a particularly well-developed vocal learning centre in their brain. 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