About Spix’s macaw
- Class: Aves
- Phylum: Chordata
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Family: Psittacidae
- Genus: Cyanopsitta
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Species: Cyanopsitta spixii
- Body length: 55 to 60 centimetres
- Weight: males (280-400 g) and females (266-400 g)
- Distribution: Northeast Brazil, mostly in Rio Sao Francisco Valley in the state of Bahia
- IUCN conservation status: critically endangered and probably extinct in the world
Classification of Spix’s macaw
The scientific name of Spixs macaw is Cyanopsitta spixii. Its common name begins with a capital letter because it’s derived from the name of a person, Johann Baptist von Spix. He was a German naturalist who hunted and collected one of the birds in Brazil in 1819.
Adding to it, the Spix’s macaw is categorised in the class Aves. It is placed in the order ‘Psittaciformes’, the family ‘Psittacidae’, and the subfamily ‘Arinae.’
The appearance of Spix’s macaw
The head of Spix’s macaw is grey-blue with a grey-white patch of skin in front of and around each eye. The body is a shade of ashy blue. Not only the bird is smaller than most of the more vividly coloured and well-known macaws but also it has a more delicate appearance. It is sometimes known as the little blue macaw. Like other macaws, a Spixs macaw has a long tail with long wings and feet that grip well. Males and females are also about the same size.
Vocalizations
These parrots were only found because of their harsh and loud voice “cra-a cra-a cra-a” or “kraa-aark” typically made during the flight. Their squawking calls were often heard throughout the woodlands and also make some screeching and repeated short grating noises.
The behaviour of Spix’s macaw
These parrots are mostly active during the daytime, spending the nights on the crabeiras along the streams. They are usually observed alone, in pairs or small family groups. Moreover, fly with slow, deep wing-beats accompanied by their typical kraa-ark calls.
They are generally shy and unapproachable but can become aggressive if they feel threatened. They mostly take off when an intruder reaches them and they use their loud calls and flapping wings to scare the competitors or predators away. However, they are extremely protective as when their eggs are in danger, Spix’s macaws have been observed lying on their side on the ground to draw attention away from the eggs, and instead, to themselves.
They are routine-oriented and maintain a strict schedule, performing their regular activities such as feeding, roosting, nesting, bathing, even social interactions at the same time every day.
Lifespan
The lifespan of Spix’s macaw in the wild is unknown; the only documented bird ( last wild male), was older than 20 years coupled with the eldest bird in captivity died at the age of 34. In general, it is 20 to 40 years.
Diet
Spix’s macaws were granivores (an animal that eats seeds as an essential part of the diet) and frugivores (an animal that feeds on fruits) in the wild, eating seeds from pinhao-brabo trees and favela trees, as well as fruit from fachiero cacti, pau-de-colher cacti and zizyphus joazeiro cacti. They sometimes ate from a local tree called ‘licuri palm.’ In captivity, these birds are usually fed a range of seeds, fruit and nuts, as well as important minerals and vitamins through small quantities of cactus meat and tree bark.
Captive populations
According to the captivity report of 2011, the numbers of registered captive Spix’s macaws have increased to 75.
- 56 are kept at the Al-Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Qatar, Persian Gulf, Middle East
- 8 are kept at the Loro Parque Foundation, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
- 4 are kept at the Sao Paulo Zoo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- 3 are kept at the Lymington Foundation Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- 4 are kept at the Conservation of Threatened Parrots, Berlin, Germany.
Reproduction
Captive-bred Spix’s macaws reach sexual maturity at the age of 7. A paired female born at the Loro Parque Fundación laid eggs at the age of five, but these were infertile. Moreover, it is expected that late maturity in captivity maybe because of inbreeding and artificial environmental factors, as other parrots of the same size take two to four years to reach sexual maturity.
In the wild, mating involves feeding each other and flying together. Moreover, they make their nests in the hollows of large mature Caraibes trees and reuse the nest year after year.
The breeding season is November to March, with most eggs hatching in January to coincide with the start of the Caatinga January-April rainy season. In the wild, Spix’s were believed to lay three eggs per clutch. In captivity, the average number is four eggs and can range from one to seven.
The incubation period is 25–28 days. The chicks fledge in 70 days and are independent in 100 to 130 days.
Diseases susceptible in Spix’s macaw
- Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis (PDD)
- Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, PBFD
- Psittacosis ( parrot fever)
Price
Spix’s macaw costs you around $200,000
Temperature
They should be kept at temperatures above 20°C or 68°F.
Spix’s macaws as pets
The attached shelters requires Large planted flights. As they are heavy chewers, metal structures with strong mesh should be used. Furthermore, they enjoy chewing and need a regular supply of fresh branches and tree trumps. They need it for entertainment purpose as well as to trim their strong beaks. Since they are fond of bathing, water in small containers can be kept in their enclosures.
Inspiration for the “Rio” film
The animated film entitled “Rio” released in 2011 in the inspiration for Spix’s macaw. The word Rio in the title represents Rio de Janeiro. The plot also involves the plight of two birds. In the film, Blu is a male Spixs macaw who was captured in Brazil when young and is kept in Minnesota as a pet.
Enthralling facts
- They are shy when caught in the wild but gets acclimated with the caretaker quite easily.
- In the animated movie ‘Rio’, Spixs macaw was the lead characters of Blu and Jewel.
- The destruction of the Caraiba forest by human activities over the last 500 years is thought to be responsible for Spix’s macaw’s extinction in the wild. In addition to these, trapping for illegal trade posed a threat to the species.
Featured Image Wikimedia