The hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is the largest species of parrot in the world. Known for their brilliant cobalt blue plumage, hyacinth macaws are native to central and eastern South America. These striking birds have several other common names besides their primary scientific name, including:
- Blue macaw
- Hyacinthine macaw
- Lear’s macaw
- Great-billed macaw
Hyacinth macaws are highly desired as pets due to their beauty, intelligence, and ability to mimic speech. However, they are difficult to breed in captivity and as a result have become endangered in the wild due to poaching for the illegal pet trade. Understanding the various names used for hyacinth macaws can help educate people about these magnificent but threatened birds.
Hyacinth Macaw Names
Here is a more in-depth look at some of the most common alternate names used for the hyacinth macaw:
Blue Macaw
The simple descriptor “blue macaw” refers to the hyacinth macaw’s stunning cobalt plumage. Their feathers are a uniform bright blue across their entire body, wings, and tail. Only their bare facial skin is yellow, ringed with black, along with some small black feathering around the bill.
The blue macaw name can cause some confusion, as several other smaller macaw species also have various shades of blue in their plumage, such as:
- Spix’s macaw
- Blue-and-yellow macaw
- Blue-throated macaw
However, the hyacinth macaw is the largest and bluest of all the blue macaws. They are sometimes referred to as the “true” blue macaw for this reason.
Hyacinthine Macaw
The term “hyacinthine macaw” is very similar to the primary scientific name, hyacinth macaw. The only difference is the -ine suffix, which is sometimes used to denote relation to something.
So while their scientific name implies these are macaws related to hyacinth flowers, the name hyacinthine macaw denotes that their color is similar to hyacinth flowers. This refers to hyacinth flowers that are a very deep, intense blue.
Lear’s Macaw
Lear’s macaw is a name that honors the British poet Edward Lear. In 1831, Lear published his famous nonsense poem “The Owl and the Pussycat” which makes reference to the “screeming hyacinth bird.”
The bizarre hyacinth bird in the poem was likely influenced by Lear’s encounter with a hyacinth macaw specimen while he was illustrating parrots. Though Lear’s macaw is not used as often today, it reflects the early association between hyacinth macaws and the poet.
Great-billed Macaw
The great-billed macaw name refers to the hyacinth macaw’s massive black beak. Their upper mandible alone measures a substantial 4 inches long on average, making it a very large, powerful bill compared to other parrots.
The great bill allows hyacinth macaws to easily crack open palm nuts and hard-shelled fruits that other birds cannot access. It is an essential adaptation suiting their specialized diet.
Habitat and Behavior
Understanding more about where hyacinth macaws live and their typical behavior can shed more light on their distinctive names.
Range
Hyacinth macaws are endemic to eastern and central South America. Their natural habitat spans across:
- Brazil
- Bolivia
- Paraguay
- Northeast Argentina
They mainly inhabit savannas and grasslands punctuated by palm trees. The palms provide both roosting sites and their primary food source. Due to their large size and powerful beaks, hyacinth macaws require a large territory and may fly up to 50 miles in search of food.
Diet
As mentioned earlier, hyacinth macaws have specialized beaks designed for cracking into fruits. Their diet consists mainly of:
- Palm nuts from acuri and bocaiuva palm trees
- Brazil nuts
- Other hard nuts and seeds
- Some fruits
The large quantities of oils in the nuts provide the energy these massive birds require. The amount of food needed for one hyacinth macaw per day could feed 10 smaller parrot species!
Reproduction
Hyacinth macaws reach sexual maturity between 3-5 years old. They form monogamous pairs that can stay together for life.
Breeding season aligns with the rainy period between November-April when palm trees are most fruitful. The female typically lays 2-3 eggs in a nesting hollow high up in a tree. Both parents help incubate the eggs for about a month until hatching.
Chicks fledge from the nest at 3-4 months old but remain dependent on their parents for an additional few months. This long rearing time contributes to the low reproductive rates that make hyacinth macaws vulnerable to any losses in the wild.
Appearance
The striking appearance of hyacinth macaws sets them apart from all other parrots and accounts for their descriptive common names.
Size
Hyacinth macaws are the largest parrot species in terms of length and weight. They measure:
- 100 cm long from head to tail tip (40 inches)
- Weigh 1.5-2 kg (3.5-4.5 lbs)
For comparison, the second largest parrot is the green wing macaw at just 60 cm (24 inches) long. The hyacinth macaw’s massive size accounts for names like “giant macaw.”
Color
As their blue macaw name indicates, hyacinth macaws are a striking, uniformly cobalt blue across the body, wings and tail. The blue results from the unique structure of the feathers, which reflect mainly blue and some green light.
The only exceptions are yellow skin around the eyes and beak, along with small black feathering around the base of their huge black bill. The yellow ringed with black gives them a “masked” facial appearance.
Bill
The hyacinth macaw’s bill is not only large but unusually strong and dexterous. The upper mandible has two large grooves that run vertically along each side of the bill interior. This creates a “channel and belt” system allowing the bill to withstand forces up to 500 lbs!
Two lower mandibles are movable and used like forceps to grasp and manipulate food. Combined with powerful neck muscles, the hyacinth macaw’s great bill enables a bite force up to 2000 pounds per square inch!
Tail
Hyacinth macaws have long, pointed tails accounting for up to 50 cm of their total length. Their tail shape is wedge-like, wide at the base and tapering to a point.
The long tail provides excellent stability and maneuverability in flight through shifting wind patterns. The tail’s blue feathers are also used for communication, fanning out to express strong emotions.
Population Status
The combination of habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade has made hyacinth macaws an endangered species. Their population in the wild has declined dramatically in recent decades.
Historic Numbers
It is difficult to estimate historical hyacinth macaw populations as no surveys existed before the 1990s. Their range likely once spanned 4.6 million square miles across South America.
Some researchers guess their original numbers may have been over 100,000 birds. Other estimates are more conservative at 5,000 – 10,000 individuals.
Current Numbers
By the 1990s, hyacinth macaw numbers were clearly depleted based on the first field surveys:
- 1990 survey – 2,500 birds
- 2000 survey – 3,000 birds
The most recent 2016 estimate is only about 6,500 total hyacinth macaws remaining across their entire habitat range in South America. Continued habitat loss puts their long term survival in jeopardy.
Conservation Status
The hyacinth macaw is classified as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Trade is strictly regulated under CITES Appendix I.
Unfortunately, illegal trapping continues especially in remote areas. Eco-tourism initiatives help protect habitat and support local people as alternatives to poaching. Promoting awareness of their endangered status can also help efforts.
Interesting Facts
Learning more unique facts about hyacinth macaws provides insight into their behaviors and adaptations:
- Their cobalt blue feathers contain no blue pigment. The color results from light refraction through hollow feathers.
- Hyacinth macaws form incredibly strong pair bonds reinforced in their lifelong mating displays. The pairs preen each other, fly close together with wings touching, and feed each other as bonding behaviors.
- They use their powerful beaks not only to eat but also as “third feet” to grasp objects. The bills help grip and manipulate food and other items.
- Hyacinth macaws can live 50-75 years and require lots of mental stimulation. They are known for being intelligent, playful, and eager to learn tricks.
- Young macaws have dark maroon irises that gradually brighten to pale yellow by one year old. Their eyes fully mature to bright yellow with a gold rims as adults.
Naming Conventions
The many descriptive names used for hyacinth macaws reflect their physical and behavioral characteristics:
- Blue macaw – refers to their vivid blue plumage lacking any other colors.
- Hyacinthine macaw – compares their deep blue color to hyacinth flowers.
- Lear’s macaw – honors the poet Edward Lear who referenced a “hyacinth bird.”
- Great-billed macaw – describes their huge upper and lower black mandibles.
- Giant macaw – reflects their sheer physical size as the world’s largest parrot.
Learning and using the various names for hyacinth macaws can aid efforts to protect these endangered birds and their fragile forest habitats. Their continued survival in the wild depends on maintaining suitable palm groves across their range in South America. Reducing trapping will also be key to restoring their populations.
Conclusion
While commonly known as hyacinth macaws, these magnificent parrots have picked up several other descriptive names including blue macaw, hyacinthine macaw, Lear’s macaw, and great-billed macaw. Their vibrant blue plumage, massive size, and unusual beak strength account for these names that capture their physical and behavioral traits. Spreading awareness of hyacinth macaws by all their names can support conservation efforts for these endangered birds. Though their population has dwindled, learning about their attributes and requirements can help protect their future in the wild.