BRILLIANT
colors burst from the forest canopy as a flock of birds take wing! It has a
magnificent sight. The
macaws long-tailed parrots can be found in the tropical regions
of the Americas. Before long, pictures of these spectacular creatures
appeared on maps of the region as a symbol of the newly found paradise.
Both
male and female macaws are
vividly colored, an oddity among brightly
colored avians. Macaws are also intelligent, social birds with harsh
squawks and piercing shrieks. In flocks of up to about 30 individuals,
they leave their roosts early in the morning to forage for seeds,
tropical fruits, and other foods. Typical of parrots, they often use
their claws to grasp food, which they bite into with their big, curved
bill. They can even crack open the tough shells of nuts! After feeding,
they commonly flock to cliffs or riverbanks to nibble on clay, which may
help to neutralize toxins in their food as well as to supply needed
chemical elements.
Macaws
normally mate for life, and they cooperate in caring for their young.
The various species nest in tree hollows, in holes in riverbanks and
termite mounds, or in the cavities and crevices of cliffs, where mates
can be seen preening each other. Though fully grown at six months of
age, the young stay with their parents for about three years. In the
wild, macaws live between 30 and 40 years, but in captivity some have
lived for more than 60. There are about 18 species, some of which are
shown here.
Green-winged macaw, also called red-and-green macaw. Length: up to 37 inches (95 cm)
Scarlet macaw. Length: 33 inches (85 cm)
Hyacinth macaw. Length: up to 39 inches (100 cm). The largest of all parrots, it can weigh over three pounds (1.3 kg)