| Glaucous Macaw | |
|---|---|
 Illustration by Bourjot Saint-Hilaire | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Genus: | Anodorhynchus |
| Species: | A. glaucus |
The sapphire of South America, the Glaucous Macaw (Anodorhynchus glaucus) was a glimmering blue gem exploited by the pet trade. Faced with threats of trapping and deforestation, it became rare in the 19th century, with the last reliable sighting in 1951. Now, you can spot this bird soaring gracefully through a painted landscape, frozen in a mockery of life.
Description[]
The Glaucous Macaw was a large macaw, measuring 70 cm (28 in) long. Its dark colored beak is large and powerful, and its tail is long. Its feathers are mostly pale turquoise-blue, while its head is gray. It has a yellow, bare eye ring and half moon-shaped lappets bordering the mandible. Their zygodactyl feet are dark grey with a hint of pink.
Distribution and Range[]
The Glaucous Macaw was native to north Argentina, south Paraguay, the chaco and llano region of Bolivia near the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, northeast Uruguay, and Brazil from Paraná state southwards. It was native to the areas around the major rivers, with most records coming from Corrientes, Argentina. Due to being a specialized of palm nuts, the Glaucous Macaw was commonly found in subtropical forests with cliffs and savannahs with palm trees.
Diet[]
Glaucous Macaws were likely specialized feeders of palm nuts, such as the nuts of this Yatay Palm.
The Glaucous Macaw’s diet is thought to have consisted primarily of palm nuts, specifically from the Yatay Palm, along with berries, nuts, vegetable matter, and various ripe or unripe fruits.
Life History[]
Like most parrots, this bird was likely gregarious. It could live over 20 years in captivity, underwhelming compared to the 50-80 year lifespan of its relatives.
Nesting[]
This macaw nested on cliffs and steep banks, occasionally in tree cavities. It is believed they would lay on average two eggs per clutch.
Conservation Status[]
The last known live specimen of the Glaucous Macaw was exhibited in the Buenos Aire's Zoological Gardens in 1936.
The main reason for this Macaw's extinction is believed to be the widespread loss of palm-groves, either through direct clearance for agriculture or the suppression of regeneration by grazing cattle. Secondary reasons include:
- trapping for the pet trade
- overhunting of feathers and meat
- possible disease outbreak
By the 19th century, the Glaucous Macaw had become increasingly rare, and by the 20th century, there were only two verified sightings. Despite rumors of the species' continued existence, expeditions by ornithologists to southwestern Paraguay during the 1990s failed to turn up any evidence of the species, and the Glaucous Macaw was listed as Critically Endangered. A study 28 years later recommended uplisting the species to Critically Endangered - Possibly Extinct due to the heavy destruction of the species' habitat, lack of confirmed sightings since the 1980s, and correlations to extinction patterns.