Macaw

Macaws
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Genus: Ara Anodorhynchus Cyanopsitta
Species
Many, see text

Macaws are large colorful parrots of the genera Ara, Anodorhynchus, and Cyanopsitta.

Parrots are zygodactyl, like woodpeckers, having 4 toes on each foot - two front and two back.

Other varieties of Macaw include the Scarlet Macaw, the Military Macaw, the Yellow-collared Macaw, the Severe Macaw, the Green-winged Macaw, and the Hahn Macaw.

Table of contents

1 Status 2 Birds in captivity 3 Species list 4 Reference 5 External Links

Status

Of the seventeen remaining species of macaw, only the Blue and Gold Macaw is not endangered in the wild. Five species of macaw are already extinct, and Spix's Macaw is now considered to be extinct in the wild. The Glaucous Macaw is also probably extinct, with only two reliable records of sightings in the 20th century. The greatest problems threatening the macaw population are the rapid rate of deforestation and the illegal trapping of birds for the bird trade.

Birds in captivity

Macaws eat nuts and fruit and can destroy trees, so if kept as pets they should be provided with twigs to break.

Bonding: Macaws have a long life span - Claimed 150 years in the wild and 75 years in captivity. They will bond primarily with one person - their keeper.

Other sub-bondings also take place and most macaws that are subjected to non-aggressive behavior (aka love) will trust MOST humans and can be handled by even strangers if someone familiar is within eyeshot of the bird.

Species list

• Ara
  • Ara ambigua : Great Green Macaw Status Vulnerable
  • Ara atwoodi : Dominican Green-and-Yellow Macaw Status Extinct (1791)
  • Ara ararauna : Blue and Gold Macaw
  • Ara auricollis : Yellow-collared Macaw
  • Ara chloroptera : Red-blue-and-green Macaw
  • Ara couloni : Blue-headed Macaw
  • Ara erythrocephala : Jamaican Green-and-Yellow Macaw Status Extinct (early 1800s)
  • Ara glaucogularis : Blue-throated Macaw Status Critical
  • Ara gossei : Jamaican Red Macaw Status Extinct (late 1700s)
  • Ara guadeloupensis : Lesser Antillean Macaw Status Extinct (1760)
  • Ara macao : Scarlet Macaw or Aracanga
  • Ara manilata : Red-bellied Macaw
  • Ara maracana : Illiger's Macaw or Blue-winged Macaw Status Vulnerable
  • Ara militaris : Military Green Macaw Status Vulnerable
  • Ara nobilis : Red-shouldered Macaw or Hahn's Macaw
  • Ara rubrogenys : Red-fronted Macaw Status Endangered
  • Ara severa : Chestnut-fronted Macaw
  • Ara tricolor : Cuban Macaw Status Extinct (1885)
• Anodorhynchus
  • Anodorhynchus glaucus : Glaucous Macaw Status Critical
  • Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus : Hyacinth Macaw Status Endangered
  • Anodorhynchus leari : Indigo Macaw or Lear's Macaw Status Critical
• Cyanopsitta
  • Cyanopsitta spixii : Little Blue Macaw or Spix's Macaw Status Critical

Reference

ITIS 177653, 177659
as of 2002-07-15

External Links

• DMOZ