Bird Profile: Hyacinth Macaw

My cousin mentioned a pair of birds up for sale in the Parrot Society magazine a few days ago to see if they took my fancy.  A pair of Hyacinth Macaws, she told me.  Now not only do I know I have nowhere near enough room for these sizeable birds, I certainly don’t have the £30,000 funds for the price tag.  Nonetheless, in the spirit of ‘what if’ I decided to do a little research on these massive macaws and here is what I found.

Meet the Hyacinth Macaw

The Hyacinth Macaw (Latin: Andorhynchus hyacinthinus) hails from central and eastern South America.  It is the largest of the macaws at around 100cm from head to tip of tail, around 3.3ft which also makes it the largest flying species of parrot.  It is currently listed as an Endangered Species on the IUCN’s Red List and is also an Appendix I species on CITES.

As well as being the largest of the parrots, the Hyacinth is one of the weightiest at around 1.2-1.7kg with only the ground-dwelling Kea from New Zealand being heavier.  The bird’s feathers are blue with lighter feathres above the wings and darker below.  It has a typical curved beak which is black and a lappet of yellow skin on either side of its face by the beak, as well as around the eye.  Birds cannot be sexed visually.

There are three main places that have populations of Hyacinths; Pantanal region of Brazil and the adjacent areas of Bolivia and north-east Paraguay; the Cerrado region of Brazil and areas nearby associated with the Tocatins River and the Marajo island in the Amazon Basin area.  They tend to live in palm swamps, woodland and other semi-open wooded areas, avoiding the denser forests.

The two main threats to the wild populations of Hyacinths are capture for the illegal bird trade and habitat loss.  Much of the favoured habitat of the bird has been radically altered by the introduction of cattle ranching, mechanised agriculture methods and even hydroelectric schemes.  Also the practise of annual fires used by farmers means much of their old habitats are no longer suitable for them.  As a result the bird is now protected by law in Brazil and Bolivia and the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul has a Hyacinth Macaw Project researching and ringing the birds as well as providing artificial nesting sites to help replace those lost.

Food in the wild

Using that very strong beak, their diet is based on nuts from palm trees like the acuri and bocaiuva palms.  They can even crack coconuts, brazil nuts and macadamia nuts while their scaly tongue is ideal for making the most of fruit.  They will also consume nectar, seeds and vegetable matter and are not afraid to travel to get the best food.

Hyacinths have also been seen using tools including a piece of wood to open up harder nuts.  They use them to hold the nut in place so they can chew through and the same behaviour has been seen in captive-bred birds.

Breeding in the wild

Nests are made in the cavities of trees or cliff faces depending on where in their range the birds live.  Nesting happens from July to December and one or two eggs are laid.  Usually only one of the chicks survives to fledge due to the size difference between the siblings as eggs hatch a few days apart.  The eggs are incubated for around 30 days by the female and the male will bring her food during this time.  Fledging occurs at around 110 days but they are dependent on their parents for around the first six months of life.  The young are fully matured and ready to breed themselves at around seven years old.

Keeping Hyacinth Macaws

Like all large parrots, hyacinths should not be taken on casually (even aside from that price tag).  These are large birds and can be destructive in the way of their cousins with a big beak designed to crack large nuts.  They are very intelligent birds and can be trained though are not the best at learning to mimic.

Those who keep the birds say that they are gentle giants, loving and affectionate and easy to introduce strangers to.  They enjoy playing, though toys must be strong enough to withstand their attention!  Wooden blocks and branches from non-toxic trees are always favourites.

In the wild, their favourite food of palm nuts are rich in calories and oils but are not easily acquired for captive birds.  Therefore raw macadamia nuts still in their shells are a good substitute as well as special seed and nut mixes for macaws.  They also enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables.  Easy access to fresh water is always a must.

Bathing is essential for feather and skin condition and there are a variety of different methods that may suit your bird.  In a large enough cage, placed outside in the sunshine, a fine mist from a hose pipe can offer good bathing options or misted from a spray bottle inside.  Another option a shower perch which allows them to get a good bathing in the most water resistant part of your house, the bathroom.

If you have a pair of these birds and have any experience, stories or tips you would like share, please add to the comments.  The more that is known about a species, the less chance that the birds will be purchased in error and a happy match can be made.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyacinth_macaw