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177 Featured Specimen
Hyacinth macaw

Details

Hyacinth macaw

Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus

Size
Wingspan 1.1–1.2 m · 1.2–1.7 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Sociality
Pair
Lifespan
8-25 years

The hyacinth macaw is a large parrot of open woodland and wetland edges in South America. Diurnal pairs maintain strong bonds.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
NeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses palm savanna, gallery forest, wetland woodland, and edges. Large cavities or cliff holes and reliable nut-bearing palms are important.

Appearance

Wingspan is about 110-120 cm and weight about 1.2-1.7 kg. Deep blue plumage, yellow bare skin patches, and a massive bill are distinctive.

Behavior

Active by day, it travels in pairs or small groups. Loud calls keep contact as birds move between regular roosts and feeding sites.

Feeding

It is herbivorous, feeding mainly on palm nuts and hard seeds. The powerful bill cracks shells to reach the kernel inside.

Reproduction

Pairs nest in large cavities and care for chicks for a long period. Suitable nest sites are limited and may be contested.

Notes

Its status is listed as Vulnerable. Habitat change and capture pressure make protection of large trees and food plants important.