Macaw
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225320020
2008-07-13T02:04:34Z
RainbowOfLight
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/71.231.110.10|71.231.110.10]] to last version by Jimfbleak (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{Taxobox
| name = Macaws
| image = Macaw-jpatokal.jpg
| image_caption = [[Blue-and-gold Macaw]]
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Psittaciformes]]
| familia = [[true parrots|Psittacidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Psittacinae]]
| tribus = [[Neotropical parrots|Arini]]
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
''[[Ara (genus)|Ara]]''<br>
''[[Anodorhynchus]]''<br>
''[[Spix's Macaw|Cyanopsitta]]''<br>
''[[Primolius]]''<br>
''[[Red-bellied Macaw|Orthopsittaca]]''<br>
''[[Red-shouldered Macaw|Diopsittaca]]''
}}
{{otheruses}}
'''Macaws''' are small to large, often colourful [[the Americas|New World]] [[parrot]]s. Of the many different [[Psittacidae]] (true parrots) [[genus|genera]], six are classified as macaws: '''''Ara''''', '''''Anodorhynchus''''', '''''Cyanopsitta''''', '''''Primolius''''', '''''Orthopsittaca''''', and '''''Diopsittaca'''''. Previously, the members of the genus ''Primolius'' were placed in ''Propyrrhura'', but the former is correct as per [[ICZN]] rules<ref>[http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop177.html South American Classification Committee] To reassign the genus of three macaws.</ref>. Macaws are native to [[Mexico]], [[Central America]], [[South America]], and formerly the [[Caribbean]]. Most species are associated with forest, especially [[rainforest]], but others prefer woodland or [[savanna]]-like habitats.
There is no unifying characteristic which differentiates macaws from all other types of parrots. All species have a long tail, but so do [[conure]]s. The bare facial patch surrounding the eye and extending to the beak is unique to macaws, but it is reduced in some species, and limited to a yellow patch around the eyes and a second patch near the base of the beak in the members of the genus ''Anodorhynchus''.
Some of the macaw species are popularly known for their impressive size. The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw. The heaviest macaw is the Buffon's, although the heaviest parrot is the flightless [[Kakapo]]. While still relatively large parrots, the macaws of the genera ''Cyanopsitta'', ''Orthopsittaca'' and ''Primolius'' are significantly smaller than the members of ''Anodorhynchus'' and ''Ara''. The smallest member of the family, the Red-shouldered Macaw, is no larger than some parakeets of the genus ''[[Aratinga]]''.
Macaws, like other [[parrot]]s, as well as [[toucan]]s and [[woodpecker]]s, are [[zygodactyl]], having their first and fourth toe pointing backwards.
==Species in taxonomic order==
There are 17 species of Macaws.
*''[[Anodorhynchus]]''
**''Anodorhynchus glaucus'' : [[Glaucous Macaw]] (critically endangered or extinct)
**''Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus'' : [[Hyacinth Macaw]]
**''Anodorhynchus leari'' : Indigo Macaw or [[Lear's Macaw]]
*''Cyanopsitta''
**''Cyanopsitta spixii'' : Little Blue Macaw or [[Spix's Macaw]]
*''[[Ara (genus)|Ara]]''
**''Ara ararauna'' : [[Blue-and-yellow Macaw]], Blue-and-gold Macaw
**''Ara glaucogularis'' : [[Blue-throated Macaw]]
**''Ara militaris'' : [[Military Macaw]]
**''Ara ambiguus'' : Buffon's Macaw or [[Great Green Macaw]]
**''Ara macao'' : [[Scarlet Macaw]] or Aracanga
**''Ara chloroptera'' : [[Green-winged Macaw]]
**''Ara rubrogenys'' : [[Red-fronted Macaw]]
**''Ara severa'' : [[Chestnut-fronted Macaw]] or Severe Macaw
**''Ara atwoodi'' : [[Dominican Green-and-yellow Macaw]] (extinct)
**''Ara erythrocephala'' : [[Jamaican Green-and-yellow Macaw]] (extinct)
**''Ara gossei'' : [[Jamaican Red Macaw]] (extinct)
**''Ara guadeloupensis'' : [[Lesser Antillean Macaw]] (extinct)
**''Ara tricolor'' : [[Cuban Red Macaw]] (extinct)
**''Ara autocthones'' : [[Saint Croix Macaw]]<ref name=forshaw>{{cite book | first= Joseph Michael| last= Forshaw| year= 1973, 1981| title= Parrots of the World}}</ref> (extinct)
*''Orthopsittaca''
**''Orthopsittaca manilata'' : [[Red-bellied Macaw]]
*''[[Primolius]] ''
**''Primolius couloni'' : [[Blue-headed Macaw]]
**''Primolius maracana'' : Illiger's Macaw or [[Blue-winged Macaw]]
**''Primolius auricollis'' : [[Golden-collared Macaw]]
*''Diopsittaca''
**''Diopsittaca nobilis'' : [[Red-shouldered Macaw]] or Hahn's Macaw
==Extinctions and conservation status==
The majority of macaws are now endangered in the wild. Six species are already extinct, and [[Spix's Macaw]] is now considered to be [[Extinction|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 for the bird trade.
[[International trade]] of all Macaw species is regulated by the [[CITES|Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna]] (CITES). Some species of macaws for example, the Scarlet Macaw (''Ara macao'') are listed on Appendix I and may not be traded for commercial purposes. Other species for example, the Red-Shouldered macaw (''Diopsittaca nobilis'') are listed on Appendix II and may be legally traded commercially provided that certain controls are in place. The controls include a non-detriment finding, establishment of an export quota and issuing of export permits.
==Birds in captivity==
Macaws eat nuts, seeds, fruit, and sometimes insects. They also gnaw and chew on various objects. They show a large amount of intelligence in their behaviour and require constant intellectual stimulation to satisfy their innate curiosity. They often learn tricks easily.
Macaws have been said to live for up to 100 years; however, an average of 50 years is probably more accurate. The larger macaws may live up to 65 years. They are monogamous and mate for life. In captivity unmated macaws will bond primarily with one person – their keeper, and can often be quite affectionate and cuddly. Pet macaws thrive on frequent interaction and attention from their owners, and a lack of this can lead to their mental and physical suffering.
Other sub-bondings also take place and most macaws that are subjected to non-aggressive behavior will trust most humans, and can be handled even by strangers if someone familiar is also alongside.
Captive pet macaws sometimes display difficult behavior, the most common being biting, screaming, and [[feather-plucking]]. Feather-plucking does not normally occur in the wild, strongly suggesting that it is the result of a [[neurosis]] related to life in captivity, though some sources suggest other causes such as inbreeding in captive populations, food allergies, and dry skin (most of these birds are adapted to humid climates).
Most pet macaws had ancestors living in the wild just two to four generations ago, and are not truly [[domesticated]] by any reasonable definition. (This is unlike, for example, [[dogs]]; some estimates put the [[domestication]] of [[dogs]] as far back as 40,000 years ago.) They are, however, quite social and adaptable birds.
All species of macaws have very powerful, large beaks and large macaws are capable of destroying household furnishings and can potentially cause considerable harm to both children and adults. They tend to be loud: in the wild their voices need to carry over long distances. This makes macaws very demanding birds to keep as a household pet. Additional complications arise from the intelligence levels of macaws and their negative responses to stimuli people may use on domestic pets, such as punishment.
==Hybrids==
{{see also|Bird hybrid}}
A common trend in recent years is hybridising macaws for the pet trade. Hybrids are typical macaws, with the only difference from true species being their genetics and their colors. Male offspring tend to take on the traits of the mother, and the females take the traits of the father. As for their temperament and behaviour, they seem to inherit traits of both parents.
Aviculturists have reported an over abundance of female blue and gold macaws in captivity, which differs from the general rule with captive macaws and other parrots, where the males are more abundant. This would explain why the blue and gold is the most commonly hybridised macaw, and why the hybridising trend took hold among macaws. Common macaw hybrids include Harlequins (''[[Blue-and-yellow Macaw|Ara ararauna]] x [[Red-and-green Macaw|chloroptera]]'') and Catalinas (known as Rainbows in Australia, ''[[Blue-and-yellow Macaw|A. ararauna]] x [[Scarlet Macaw|macao]]'').<ref>[http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/macaws/information/hybrid.htm Macaws, Hybrid Names], and pages on individual hybrids</ref>
As a number of species of macaws are endangered, it would be beneficial to maintain pure breeding stock of captive macaws to ensure species preservation. Hybridizing dilutes the available [[gene pool]] and could hasten a species extinction.
==Clay licks==
Macaws are known to eat clay, which is believed to work as an antidote to the poisonous seeds they eat.<ref>[http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/adapt/parrot.html Detoxifying strategies of Amazon Macaws]</ref><ref>[http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/showAnimals.asp?id=32 Santa Barbara Zoo - Macaw]</ref> The chemicals in the clay mix with the poison allowing it to pass through the bird's [[Gastrointestinal tract|digestive system]] without harming the bird.
Dr. Donald Brightsmith, the principal investigator of the Tambopata Macaw Project, has been leading research at the Tambopata Research Center since 1999. Findings from the center located in the Amazon basin in southeastern Peru show that the soil macaws choose to consume at the clay licks they frequent did not have higher levels of cation exchange capacity (ability to adsorb toxins) than that of unused licks. What the findings do show is that the macaws, along with other bird species, prefer soil with higher levels of sodium.
It is possible that the birds are using taste to find soil that also meets other physiological needs. However, it is interesting to note that the macaws on the coast of Costa Rica do not use clay clicks and this is possibly related to the fact that the mangroves which supply a portion of their diet is high in sodium.
Continuing projects at TRC are also showing a correlation between clay lick use and breeding season. Calcium for egg development - another hypothesis - does not appear to be a reason for geophagy during this period as peak usage is after the hatching of eggs. Contents of nestling crop samples show a high percentage of clay fed to them by their parents.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:macaw.blueyellow.arp.750pix.jpg|[[Blue-and-gold Macaw]]s (''Ara ararauna'')
Image:Military Macaw jbp.jpg|[[Military Macaw]] (''Ara militaris'')
Image:Scarlet Macaw.jpg|[[Scarlet Macaw]]s
Image:Golden-collared Macaw 041.jpg|[[Golden-collared Macaw]]
</gallery>
==Cultural references==
The Macaw is depicted on the reverse side of the 10-[[Brazilian Real|Brazilian Reais]] banknote.
The Macaw is one of the Familiars that you can summon using the Summoning skill in the MMORPG RuneScape.
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Abramson, J., Speer, B. L., & Thomsen, J.B. 1999, "The Large Macaws, Their Care and Breeding", Raintree Publications:CA
*Brightsmith, D. J. 2006. The psittacine year: what drives annual cycles in Tambopata's parrots? Proceedings of the Loro Parque International Parrot Symposium, Tenerife, Spain. http://vtpb-www2.cvm.tamu.edu/brightsmith/
*Brightsmith, D., and R. Aramburú. 2004. Avian geophagy and soil characteristics in southeastern Peru. Biotropica 36:534-543. http://vtpb-www2.cvm.tamu.edu/brightsmith/Clay%20lick%20soil%202004.pdf
*Gilardi, J. D. 1996. Ecology of parrots in the Peruvian Amazon: Habitat use, nutrition, and geophagy. Ph.D. dissertation. University of California at Davis, Davis, California.
== External links ==
* [http://www.cityparrots.org/category/parrot-species/scarlet-macaw-ara-macao/ City Parrots Scarlet Macaws]
* [http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Pets/Birds/Species/Parrots/Macaws/ Open Directory:Recreation:Pets:Birds:Species:Parrots:Macaws]
* [http://www.parrotscience.com ParrotScience - parrot information site]
* [http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-macaw.html San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes: Macaw]
[[Category:Macaws| ]]
[[ca:Guacamai]]
[[es:Ara (género)]]
[[et:Aara#Aara_laiemas_m.C3.B5ttes]]
[[fr:Ara]]
[[it:Ara (nome comune)]]
[[ka:არა (თუთიყუში)]]
[[ml:മക്കൗ]]
[[nl:Ara (ruime definitie)]]
[[ja:コンゴウインコ]]
[[no:Araer]]
[[pt:Arara]]
[[sr:Ара]]
[[fi:Ara (linnut)]]
[[th:มาร์คอว์]]
[[zh:金剛鸚鵡]]