Blue-winged Macaw
Encyclopedia
The Blue-winged Macaw in aviculture
more commonly known as Illiger's Macaw, is a species
of macaw found in central and eastern South America
. It was previously placed in the genus
Ara or Propyrrhura. Blue-winged Macaws have been known to reach an age of 50–60 years.
. The upperside of the remiges and primary coverts are blue, as indicated by its common name
. The underside of the wings is yellowish, the tail-tip, crown and cheeks are bluish, and the tail-base and small belly-patch are red. The iris
is amber
. It and the Red-bellied Macaw
are the only macaws where the bare facial-skin is yellowish, but this often fades to white in captivity. Unlike the Red-bellied Macaw, the Blue-winged has a red lower abdomen and a red lower back.
(with a remnant population north-east), eastern Paraguay
and, at least formerly, in far north-eastern Argentina
. It occurs in evergreen
and deciduous forests, with a preference for gallery forest. They mainly feed on seeds of Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, Jatropha
, Guazuma ulmifolia
and the non-native Melia azederach. However, the birds also feed on fruits and nuts.
. They were also captured for the cagebird trade - from 1977 to 1979, 183 birds arrived at the United States
from Paraguay
. It has declined in the southern part of its range, and there are no recent records from Misiones Province
in Argentina where many were killed by farmers who considered them pests. Therefore, it was previously considered vulnerable
. Information from Brazil suggests it remains widespread and has even re-colonised areas in its historical range in southern Rio de Janeiro
. This has led to it being downlisted to near threatened
.
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
more commonly known as Illiger's Macaw, is a species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of macaw found in central and eastern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It was previously placed in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Ara or Propyrrhura. Blue-winged Macaws have been known to reach an age of 50–60 years.
Description
It has a total length of approximately 40 cm (16 in). It has a heavy black bill, a long tail and a mainly green plumagePlumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
. The upperside of the remiges and primary coverts are blue, as indicated by its common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
. The underside of the wings is yellowish, the tail-tip, crown and cheeks are bluish, and the tail-base and small belly-patch are red. The iris
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
is amber
Amber (color)
Amber is an orange-yellow color that got its name from the material known as amber. Due to this, amber can refer not to one but to a series of shades of orange, since the natural material varies from nearly yellow when newer to orange or reddish-orange when older.-Amber:Amber is a pure chroma color...
. It and the Red-bellied Macaw
Red-bellied Macaw
The Red-bellied Macaw, Orthopsittaca manilata, is a medium-sized, mainly green parrot. It is the only species of the genus Orthopsittaca, and it does not have any subspecies....
are the only macaws where the bare facial-skin is yellowish, but this often fades to white in captivity. Unlike the Red-bellied Macaw, the Blue-winged has a red lower abdomen and a red lower back.
Habitat and food
The Blue-winged Macaw occurs in eastern and southern BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(with a remnant population north-east), eastern Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and, at least formerly, in far north-eastern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It occurs in evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
and deciduous forests, with a preference for gallery forest. They mainly feed on seeds of Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, Jatropha
Jatropha
Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees , from the family Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἰατρός , meaning "physician," and τροφή , meaning "nutrition," hence the common name physic nut. Mature plants produce separate male and female...
, Guazuma ulmifolia
Guazuma ulmifolia
Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. is also commonly known as guácima, guácimo , tablote, majagua de toro tapaculo, cualote, cambá-acá, as well as many other names. It is a small to medium sized tree normally found in pastures and disturbed forests. This flowering plant from the Malvaceae family grows up to...
and the non-native Melia azederach. However, the birds also feed on fruits and nuts.
Breeding
The Blue-winged Macaw attain sexual maturity between 2 and 4 years after they are born. Adult females usually produce two eggs which take approximately 29 days to hatch. Young Blue-winged Macaws learn to fly about 11 weeks after they have hatched. They stay with their parents for about a year after learning to fly. Relatively little information exists on its reproduction in the wild, but the breeding season in north-eastern Brazil is apparently from December to February.Threats
These birds are affected mostly by deforestationDeforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. They were also captured for the cagebird trade - from 1977 to 1979, 183 birds arrived at the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. It has declined in the southern part of its range, and there are no recent records from Misiones Province
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
in Argentina where many were killed by farmers who considered them pests. Therefore, it was previously considered vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
. Information from Brazil suggests it remains widespread and has even re-colonised areas in its historical range in southern Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
. This has led to it being downlisted to near threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
.
External links
- World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia - Species Profile
- Blue-winged Macaw videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Photo of a captive Blue-headed Macaw
- Blue-winged Macaw photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article tropicalbirding
