PARROTS
Cockatoo | Macaws | Others

MACAW


Bird: Blue and Gold Macaw
(Ara ararauna)

Range:
South America. Eastern Panama through Columbia, except the Cauca Valley, and West Narino to eastern and western Ecuador and northern Peru. Through Venezuela and Brazil to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Lowlands to 500m. Found in forest, savanna, swamp, and riverine woodland habitats.

Size:
Length: 75 - 83 cm
Wingspan: 72 - 78 cm
Weight: 800 - 900 g (~ 2 lbs.)

Diet:
Seeds, fruits, nuts, and vegetable matter. Will use clay licks as a mineral supplement and to detoxify seeds.

Description:
Adults and immatures look alike, with the exception of eye color. Adult's iris is yellow and that of immatures is brown. The forehead is green and the upper parts and upperside of the tail are blue. The bare lores and cheeks are creamy-white with lines of greenish black feathers. The throat is black. The underwing coverts and breast are yellow-orange. The underside of the tail is olive-yellow. The bill is grey-black and the legs are dark grey.

Natural History:
They are gregarious and are seen in pairs, family parties, or flocks of up to 25 individuals. They roost communally in trees and feed quietly in the tree canopy, often near a clearing. At the approach of danger, they rise into the air screeching loudly. They nest in high holes in dead palms and lay 2 eggs. There is little know of their breeding and nesting habits but one study reported that the female incubates for 24 - 26 days and fledging occurs approximately 13 weeks after hatching.

Personal History:          
Skipper, Gilligan, and Leo - Hatched in captivity, hand raised, and obtained by NEI in 1996 at one year old. Bubba, Forest, Charles, Sunny, and Cher - Hatched in captivity, hand raised, and obtained by NEI in 1997 at one year old. Cyan - Acquired from a private breeder after being weaned in August 1998. Most are good fliers and are used to do various behaviors in shows.

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Bird: Blue-headed Macaw
(Ara couloni)

Range:

Size:

Diet:

Description:

Natural History:

Personal History:

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Bird: Blue -throated Macaw
(Ara galucogularis)

Range:
Eastern Bolivia and probably also northern Argentina in province of Salta. Found in savannah with palms and trees in tropical zone; probably also also open woodland and rain-forest.

Size:
Length: 85 cm

Diet:
Mainly sweet, sticky pulp of ripe palm fruits of Acrocomia aculeata and Attalea phalerata; also occasionally drinks liquid parts of centre of these fruits; in addition probably also other ripe and unripe fruits, seeds, berries, flowers and vegetable matter as well as inscets and their larvae.

Description:
General plumage blue, paler than A. ararauna; bare lores and cheeks whitish and traversed by several pale-blue feather-lines, which join at large blue throat patch; ear-coverts, sides of neck, upper breast, abdomen, under tail-coverts and under wing-coverts orange-yellow; tail upperside blue, underside olive-yellow; bill blackish; iris pale yellowish; feet dark grey.

Immatures with shorter tail and dark brown iris.

Status:
Rare and only found in areas with original habitat; some twenty times less common than Blue and Yellow Macaw (A. ararauna); was and possibly still endangered by trapping for trade and hunting.

Natural History:
Usually in pairs, family groups or small flocks; conspicuous, particularly during flight, which is accompanied by regular screeching; occasionally associates with Blue and Yellow Macaw (A. ararauna) when feeding; cautious and not very approachable; regular flights to and from feeding areas from roosting trees in early morning and late afternoon; flight fairly swift and direct; characterized by regular, powerful wingbeats; call harsh and raucous, but shriller than Blue and yellow macaw (A. ararauna).

Personal History:

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Bird: Green Winged Macaw
(Ara chloroptera)

Range:
The Neotropical region in eastern Panama. And, from northwestern, northern, and eastern Colombia, Venezuela and Guianas south and east of the Andes, through eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern and eastern Bolivia and northern, eastern, and central Brazil to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Lowlands and foothills to 1400 m. Found in humid forests.

Size:
Length: 90 cm
Wingspan: 91 cm (~ 3 ft.)
Weight: 1000-1200 g (2 - 2.5 lbs.)

Diet:
Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and vegetable matter procured in the treetops.

Description:
The general plumage is red. The wings change in color, starting at the elbow, from red to green to blue to dark blue at the outer webs of the primaries. The back, rump, upper and under tail coverts are light blue. The tail is dark red, broadly tipped with blue. The undersides of the tail and flight feathers are dark red. The naked facial area is white traversed with lines of small red feathers. The upper mandible is horn colored with grey-black on the lower sides of the base. The lower mandible is grey-black. The iris is pale yellow and the legs are dark grey.

Natural History:
They are found in heavily forested areas, commonly in the upper story. They are usually seen in pairs or small parties, but not in flocks. Most of the day is spent feeding in the tree tops. Their flights are normally direct, with slow shallow wingbeats. Nesting is normally in a hollow, but they have been observed digging burrows in the cliff face of a river canyon. They lay 2 - 3 eggs. Little is known of their nesting and breeding habits, but one study reported a female incubating for approximately 5 weeks and young fledging approximately 3 - 4 months after hatching.

Personal History:
All of our approximately 17 Green Winged Macaws have been captive bred and raised by hand.
Satchmo - Acquired by NEI in 1995 at one year old.
Riley, Goober, and Macguyver - Acquired by NEI in 1996 at one year old.
Rudolph - Acquired by NEI in 1997 at under a year old.
Digit, Linus, Uno, Spawn, Carter, Cayenne, and Corny - Acquired by NEI in 1997 at 2 years old.

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Bird: Hyacinth Macaw
(Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)

Range:
The interior of southern Brazil from the Tapajos River east to Maranhao and south through western Bahia and Goias to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso. Formerly and possibly still present north of the Amazon River. Exploits a wide range of habitats rich in various nut-bearing palm trees. Inhabits seasonally moist formations with clearings, as well as plateau country dissected by rocky, steep-sided valleys with deciduous cerrado woodland, gallery forest, and palm swamps.

Size:
The largest parrot in the world.
Length: 90 - 100 cm
Wingspan: 90 - 100 cm
Weight: approx 1250g

Diet:
Locally available nuts of various palms. Palm nuts are taken both from the plant and the ground. Also eats seeds, fruits, and aquatic molluscs. Birds will also drink fluid from unripe palm fruits.

Description:
The adult's general plumage is rich cobalt-blue and is slightly darker on the wings. The underside of the tail is dark grey, the naked periophthalmic ring and naked area surrounding the base of the lower mandible is yellow, the bill is grey-black, the iris is dark brown, and the legs are dark grey. Immatures are similar to adults, but with a shorter tail.

Natural History:
Generally seen in pairs, family parties, or small flocks of up to 10 individuals, these birds fly with slow, shallow, deliberate wingbeats. In flight, these birds are an impressive sight with their long tails streaming behind. When a group is disturbed, they will circle overhead screeching loudly and, at the passing of danger, will settle on the topmost branches of tall trees. The call is a harsh, loud, discordant screech sounding like 'kraaaa'. The call sometimes comprises two rapidly repeated bursts with a brief pause before the repeat. Other reported calls include a 'trara', a 'trarrree-arree', a deep purring, and a 'kru' copulation call that can last for several minutes. Nests are made in a tree cavity or rock crevice and the usual clutch is two. Little else is known of the breeding and nesting habits of this species. This species is rapidly declining in many areas due to illegal domestic and smaller, but significant, international trade in live birds. They are also hunted for their plumage and for food. The decline in some areas is due to habitat alteration or loss. The Hyacinth Macaw is listed in the CITES Appendix I as vulnerable.

Personal History:
Indigrover - Acquired by NEI from a private breeder in 1999 at 3 years old.

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Bird: Military Macaw
(Ara militaris)

Two documented sub-species:
Ara M. mexicana – Mexico
Ara M. bolivian - Bolivia and Northwestern Argentina

Range:
Lowlands and mountains to 2500 m in Mexico. Locally in western South America in Colombia, northern Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, northwestern and northeastern Peru, eastern and southeastern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. Found in dry forest, open woodland, pine-oak forest, and riverine woodland habitats.

Size:
Length: 70 cm
Wingspan: Male 35 - 37 cm ; Female 35 - 37 cm
Weight: 940 - 980 g

Diet:
Primarily seeds, nuts, berries, and fruit and vegetable matter found in the canopy of trees. Favorite feeding trees include the fruit bearing palm and fichus trees.

Description:
The body size is roughly equivalent to that of a crow. The long straight tail is approximately 1.5 ft. long. They are primarily green with hints of olive green and blue throughout. The bare facial area has reddish feathered streaking around the eyes. There is a characteristic red band of feathers spanning above the beak and across the front of the face.

Natural History:
Military Macaws are widely distributed throughout the arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico. They inhabit oak and pine forests along the Caribbean coast. They are considered common throughout Mexico; declining in South America. They are gregarious birds that often form strong pair bonds within large flocks. Their flight is direct and swift and characterized by slow shallow wing beats. Macaw vocalizations are typically very loud and boisterous. They feed in the early morning, returning to the roost site at dusk. They often perch atop conspicuously tall trees such as pines. Nests have been recorded in cavities of dead trees (pines and sycamores) originally hollowed out by woodpeckers. The nest is 20 m above the ground and the inner nest diameter is 33 cm. The bottom of the nest cavity is lined with wood dust and chips. They have also been observed nesting in the walls of limestone sinks. The usual clutch is 2 eggs.

Personal History:
Comet, Bilko, Dasher, and Prancer - Hatched in 1997, they are all captive bred and hand raised.
Radar - Acquired by NEI from a private breeder in 1999 at approximately 5 years old.

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Bird: Red-fronted Macaw
(Ara rubrogenys)

Range:
Only found in the provinces of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, in the Andean valleys of central Bolivia.

Size:
A small to medium sized macaw.
Length: 60 cm
Wingspan: 30 - 31 cm (~ 2.5 ft.)
Weight: 450 g

Diet:
Fruits of the Cacti, native fruits, cultivated corn, and peanuts.

Description:
A medium sized macaw, pale olive green in color with brighter green on the head and neck. The forehead, crown, behind the eye, and thighs are red. The tail above is olive green and is tipped in blue. The facial area is white to flesh-pink with black feather lines on the face.

Natural History:
This is a very rare and endangered macaw, only found in Bolivia. They are found in dense forest and are one of the least known of all the South American parrots. They nest singly or in loose colonies in holes in cliffs during the wet season. There is little known of their nesting and breeding habits, but pairs are known to lay 1 - 3 eggs and fledge one offspring per year. They are generally seen in pairs and very rarely in flocks of more than twelve.

Personal History:
Jingle and Bell - Both were hatched and hand raised in 1997 at the Greater Baton Rouge Zoo. They were acquired by NEI in 1997.
Wizard - Acquired from the Black Hills Reptile Garden in 2000 at 2 years old.
2 Babies - Acquired from Central Florida Zoo in 2007 as babies.

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Bird: Scarlet Macaw
(Ara macao)

Range:
Eastern Panama north across Central America to south Tamaulipas and Oaxaca, Mexico and from northeast Columbia in Magdalena Valley east of Andes in eastern Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana and south across Ecuador, Peru, Brazil to Mato Grosso State and Santa Cruz in Bolivia.

Found in the rain forest, open woodland and savannah with trees in tropical zone to 1,000 m (3,300 ft); in Central America also in dry lowlands and hilly country of Pacific coast as well as thorn scrubland and cultivated areas with forest patches.

Size:
Length: 85 cm

Diet:
Variety of ripe and unripe fruits (Spondias mombin, Ilura crepitans, Ley cythis sp., Couma gulanensis, Cariocar villosu, Cariocar glabrum); mango, nuts (brazil nuts and various palm nuts); seeds, berries, flowers and vegetable matter foraged in trees, probably also insects and their larvae; virtually daily flights to ccollpas or clay banks to feed on mineral soil to neutralize toxins in unripe fruits.

Description:
General plumage bright red; bare lores and cheeks whitish with barely visible light red feather lines; some birds with yellowish edging to feathers on back of head; greater and median wing-coverts yellow with green tips; outer webs of wing feathers blue; lower back rump; upper and under tail-coverts pale blue; tail upperside red with dull blue tips; underside of tail and wings red; powerful bill horn-coloured with blackish sides; lower mandible blackish; iris light yellowish, feet dark grey.

Immatures with shorter tail; lower mandible lighter; iris brown

Status:
Common in areas with primary forest, but still not so common as the Blue and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna); has disappeared from much of distributation area, particularly in Central America; main causes habitat loss, trapping for trade and hunting for the pot.

Natural History:
Usually seen in pairs, family groups or small flocks of up to 30 birds; conspicuous especially during flight, which is accompanied by regular cries; often large gatherings on feeding trees and in particular clay banks; occasionally 100 or more birds on latter; pairs easy to detect within group; frequently associates with Blue and Yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna) and Green-winged Macaws (Ara chloroptera) on feeding trees and clay banks; very cautious when there; waits until certain no raptors nearby; within forest difficult to detect; perches quietly; presence only noticeable from falling fruit remains; when endangered flies away loudly screeching; shy near settled areas; flies regularly in morning and evening between roosting trees and feeding places; flight fairly swift and direct; characterized by regular, powerful wingbeats; call harsh rraa-aar or croaking.

Personal History:          

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Bird: Severe Macaw
(Ara severa)
Other names include Chestnut-fronted Macaw and Brazilian Green Macaw.

Range:
Occurs in eastern Panama and South America south to central Bolivia. Occurs in eastern Panama in the tropical zone and on the Pacific slope of the Andes south to southern Ecuador, and in northern lowlands of Colombia south to the upper Rio Sinu Valley, extending down the Andean foothills of Colombia in the Cauca and Magdalena Valleys to Antioqula. East of the Andes, it occupies the Amazonian lowlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in La Paz, Beni, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz, ranging east from the Andean foothills through the western and southern Amazon Basin. It is spread through the tropical zone of Venezuela in Zulia and from western Apure to Aragua, north-western Bolivar, and Amazonas along the Orinoco, reaching the Guianas and Amapa, Brazil. South of the Amazon, it extends into Mato Grosso, Brazil, but a record from southern Bahia is unconfirmed. This species is a resident with seasonal altitudinal movements in some areas. It is fairly common over much of the range, and while severe habitat has caused local declines, moderate deforestation has led to increases in some areas. Although not reported in Guyana since the early 19th Century, it remains common in Surinam, especially in some coastal areas. In Surinam, it is the macaw of swamp forests between the coastal sand ridges and is still fairly common on the sand ridges near Paramaribo. In the Apurimac Valley, central Peru, it frequents coffee plantations adjacent to forest, as well as the forest itself and matorral, a woodland habitat covering flood plains of the river valley. In the Beni district, Bolivia, it is common in forests in the Andean foothills. In Darien, Panama, pairs were observed in their morning and late afternoon flights over the forest. Habitat includes forest (including partly cleared and secondary formations), forest edge, and more open country with trees including humid lowland forest with clearings, swamp forest with dead trees, palm groves, gallery forest, and savanna with pastures. Birds occur to 1000 m in Colombia, 1500 m in eastern Ecuador, and 350 m in Venezuela.

Size:
Length: 40 - 49 cm
Wingspan: 55 - 70 cm
Weight:

Diet:
Seeds, pulp, friuts, nuts, berries, palms, and flowers. Many seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries are procured high in the treetops where the birds may be hard to detect.

Description:
The adult's forehead is dark chestnut and the crown and nape are green with a strong blue suffusion. The mantle, scapulars, and back are green with a strong olive tone brightening to grass-green on the rump and uppertail coverts. Most wing coverts are green tinged olive with the alula and primary coverts blue. The flight feathers are blue above, with blackish margins to the innerwebs and tips, and dull red below. The lesser underwing coverts and some feathers at the bend of the wing are bright red, and the greater underwing coverts are grayish-red. The lower cheeks and chin are dark chestnut. The underparts are otherwise grass-green, being less olivaceous than the upperparts. The feathers on the thighs are red basally. The uppertail is centrally brick-red at the base, greenish in the center, and tipped blue. The outer feathers are bluish with dull red on the innerwebs. The undertail is dull red. The bill is black, the large bare skin on the lores and cheeks is pale ivory white traversed by narrow lines of dark chestnut feathers, the iris is pale orange, and the legs are blackish. The sexes are similar, although some females may show a paler, less prominent chestnut band on the forehead. Immatures are un-described, but they have a darker iris.

Natural History:
Usually in pairs or small flocks with larger aggregations in roosting flights, this species roosts communally, often between the fronds of palm trees. Occasionally, they will be seen in flocks with Red-bellied Macaws or Orange-winged Amazons. The flight is fast and direct on wing beats faster than larger macaws with loud raucous calls. The loud calls of this species are higher pitched than those of larger macaws and have a drawling, somewhat complaining tone. They include harsh grinding screeches that sometimes sound like a braying donkey. An 'ahhaarra' call when perched is similar the that of a Blue and Gold Macaw. Higher pitched 'ghehh' calls are also heard in flight. At times, these birds will also have quieter, less harsh calls. They nest in cavities in dead palm trees, often over water, and usually in rock crevices. There is little information on breeding and care of young, but one successful captive breeding situation hatched one of two chicks after a 28 day incubation.

Personal History:

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