Scarlet macaw - WikiHQ

thumb|Copan, Honduras

thumb|A partnered pair of wild scarlet macaws rub against each other in Costa Rica

The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) also called the red-and-yellow macaw, red-and-blue macaw or red-breasted macaw, is a large yellow, green, red and blue Neotropical parrot native to humid evergreen forests of the Americas. Its range extends from southeastern Mexico to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Honduras, and Brazil in lowlands of (at least formerly) up to , the Caribbean island of Trinidad, as well as the Pacific island of Coiba. The scarlet macaw is now placed in the genus Ara (Lacépède, 1799), one of 6 genera of Central and South American macaws.

The two subspecies can be recognized by size and color detail in the feathers on the wings: Based on this genome, species-specific microsatellite genetic markers were developed to aid genetic studies throughout the range of the species. These genetic markers were later validated on the trace amount of DNA acquired from feathers, and applied to study red-and-green macaws in a tropical landscape where DNA can degrade very quickly. These markers were proven to be useful to study their population genetics

Description

It is about long, of which more than half is the pointed, graduated tail typical of all macaws, though the scarlet macaw has a larger percentage of tail than the other large macaws. The average weight is about . The plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upper wing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. Some individuals may have green in the wings. The Central American subspecies is larger and averages 89 cm or (35 in) in length.

There is bare white skin around the eye and from there to the bill. Tiny white feathers are contained on the face patch. The upper mandible is mostly pale horn in color and the lower is black. Juveniles have dark eyes; adults have light yellow eyes.

It is frequently confused with the slightly larger green-winged macaw, which has more distinct red lines in the face and no yellow in the wing.

Scarlet macaws make very loud, high and sometimes low-pitched, throaty squawks, squeaks and screams designed to carry many kilometers to call for their groups.

The scarlet macaw can live up to 75

Scarlet macaws (Ara macao macao) pair Yasuni.jpg|Pair of scarlet macaws

Scarlet macaw (Ara macao macao) Yasuni.jpg|A. m. macao (all three images)<br />Saladero de Añangu, Ecuador

Scarlet macaw (Ara macao macao) in flight Yasuni.jpg|Scarlet macaw in flight

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Behavior

A typical sighting is of a single bird or a pair flying above the forest canopy, though in some areas flocks can be seen. Field observations in Costa Rica found that scarlet macaws spend nearly all their time high in the forest canopy, usually more than 10 m above the ground, and are rarely seen near or on the ground, likely to reduce predation risk and because most of their food sources occur in the canopy. They often gather at clay licks. Scarlet macaws communicate primarily through raucous honks; however, vocal communication is highly variable, and captive macaws are known to be adept mimics of human speech.

thumb|Ara macao feeding on [[Attalea (plant)|Attalea fruits]]

Feeding

Wild scarlet macaws feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers and nectar.

As with smaller parrot species, there are reports of their consumption of insects, larvae, and snails; however, this seems to be rare for macaws and is not a major component of their diet. Seeds of Cnidoscolus and Schizolobium are thought to be the main sources of protein for nestling scarlet macaws. The female incubates the eggs for about five weeks, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 90 days after hatching and leave their parents about a year later. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at five years of age.

Distribution and habitat

The scarlet macaw inhabits primarily humid, lowland subtropical rain forests, open woodlands, river edges, and savannas. In some regions, they are known to periodically visit natural mineral deposits (or 'licks'), typically in areas rich in clay and sediment, which the macaws will eat for digestive purposes and to glean vital nutrients, including sodium and calcium. The species' South American range is extensive, spanning much of the Amazon basin and Amazon [[rainforest|rainforest]] of the northern half of the continent, extending as far south as Peru (east of the Andes) and Bolivia. The species also occurs as an introduced species in Puerto Rico.

A small introduced population exists in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, having been introduced to the area around 2010. This population, which includes a number of related blue-and-yellow macaws, was introduced to the village around 2010; they are trained to fly freely around the area, returning to a conservation centre for food and shelter in the evenings.

Conservation status

The habitat of scarlet macaws is also considered to have the greatest latitudinal range for any bird in the genus Ara, as the estimated maximum territorial range covers 6,700,000 km<sup>2</sup>. Nevertheless, the scarlet macaw's habitat is fragmented, and the bird is mostly confined to tiny populations scattered throughout its original range in Middle America. However, as they still occur in large numbers over most of their original range in South America, the species is classified by IUCN as least concern. Its wild population is currently estimated to be between 50,000 and 499,999 individuals.

The northern subspecies, A. m. cyanopterus, is listed as endangered by the USFWS. The USFWS estimates that only 2,000–3,000 birds of the northern subspecies remain in the wild.

Aviculture

The scarlet macaw is an early example of a parrot breeding in captivity. Captive breeding occurred in Northern Mexico at Paquime (also called Casas Grandes) and very likely Southwest New Mexico Mimbres Valley in the 11th century. Breeding pens, perches, bones, and eggshell fragments have been uncovered. The straightforward nature of scarlet macaw breeding and the value of their plumes in trade created a market for trade wherein the animals were used in religious rites north to the Colorado Plateau region.

Today the scarlet macaw is found worldwide in captivity, but is best represented in captivity in the Americas. Captive techniques developed from the pet trade have positively affected wild populations: in areas with low macaws populations, the "extra" babies that typically die in the nest may be reared by human hands and released into the wild to bolster the population, as has been done by the Tambopata Macaw Project. Their captive diet, egg incubation, assisted hatching, hand rearing, co-parenting, parent-rearing, fledgling, maturation, and breeding are well understood within the avicultural community (AFA Watchbird magazine).

Feathers from an Yschma tomb near Pachacamac from this species demonstrate cross-Andes trade ca. 1000–1470 CE.

Predation

Young may be taken in the nest by arboreal predators such as snakes, monkeys and other small carnivores. Adults and fledglings may also be taken by large cats, such as jaguars, and by eagles and hawks.

References

External links

World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia — Species Profiles
The Scarlet Macaw Genome Project
Scarlet macaw videos on the Internet Bird Collection
(15 countries) with RangeMap

Ara macao conservation and reintroduction in Costa Rica