Ara Parrot Diet, Habitat, & Facts

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The ancient Egyptians, and then the Indians and Chinese, bred parrots as pets. Ara Parrot The first domesticated ara parrot in Europe appeared in 300 B.C.E., where he immediately became a favorite among the elite of society. Among the famous bird breeders were such famous personalities as Aristotle, Henry VIII, Marco Polo, and Marie Antoinette.

Over the centuries, people have developed their favorites among the parrot family. One of them is the macaw parrot. Incredibly beautiful birds with colorful plumage, a large hooked beak, and a long wedge-shaped tail will captivate the hearts of people all over the world. But keeping this type of parrot is quite expensive, requires a lot of effort, and can only be done by experienced breeders.

Where do macaws live?

The habitat of Macaw parrots in the wild is the tropical forests of Central and South America, as well as the islands of the Caribbean. But at the same time, each subspecies is characterized by its own habitat region.

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Lifestyle

In the wild, macaws live in flocks and roam in small groups. In addition to their excellent flying abilities, they can crawl between tree branches using their paws and beaks. During the mating season, the birds split into pairs. It is worth noting that Macaws are monogamous birds, and they choose a partner for life. If one of the partners dies, the other remains single forever.

This feature affects birds at home. Ara Parrot They are attached exclusively to one owner. Thanks to their loud and sharp voices, birds reproduce a variety of sounds and speech without problems. But they publish them only under certain conditions when communicating with relatives in the pack. In captivity, parrots of this species prefer physical contact for communication and use their voice only to attract the attention of the owner.

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General characteristics

The Macaw parrot is one of the most beautiful birds on Earth. Each of its subspecies has its own flavor and unique, colorful plumage. But they all have common characteristics, according to which they are classified as one genus:

• Height (depending on the species): from 30 to 100 cm.
• Body weight (depending on the species): from 0.9 to 2 kg.
• The color of the plumage is variable; it varies from red to blue (females and males have no differences in color; large species are multi-colored, small ones are mostly green.).
• The beak is hook-shaped, compressed on the sides, strong, and has a unique structure (inside the beak there is a small shelf-outgrowth with which the parrot operates like a human hand).
• The tongue is mobile (it plays the role of a finger to help the beak, or hand\”).
• The larynx has a complex “drum” structure, which makes it possible to imitate sound.
• The wing is elongated and pointed.
• The tail is wedge-shaped and longer than the body.
• My vision is monogamous; my eyes can see two pictures at the same time in different projections.
• A special feature is the skin on the cheeks and near the eyes without feathers (with the exception of the hyacinth species, which has feathered cheeks).

Features of macaw parrots: character, intelligence

Beautiful external features are not the only features of macaws. Ara Parrot Nature gave them many talents and an extremely special character. These parrots are characterized by affectionate behavior, are quite curious, brave, friendly, and love to communicate with people and other pets.ara parrot But each chick, like people, develops its own character, which can manifest itself in different ways (for example, it can be capricious like a child if it doesn’t like something).

The macaw is an intellectually gifted bird that can speak. Ara parrot birds have improved their mental abilities through evolution and constant contact with other fauna and humans. Scientists have proven that an adult Macaw is capable of pronouncing about 20 words, not just repeating what it hears but also understanding speech.ara parrot This confirms the high level of intelligence of these incredible birds.

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Living species of macaw parrots

Modern macaws are usually divided into three groups: large, small, and hybrid.

Parrot hybridization is a controversial topic. Some ornithologists insist that such birds should not be bred because they can introduce irreparable congenital mutations into the bird\’s lineage. Advocates of home breeding believe that hybrids are more beautiful, smarter, and more resistant to disease than the living pure species from which they were bred. Despite the controversy among ornithologists, new hybrids continue to appear around the world and bring joy to their owners.

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And also, among the hybrids, the following names are known:

• Maui Sunrise;
• Maui Sunset;
• Ruby;
• Camalot;
• Capri;
• Michicon;
• Star Light;
• Bluffon\’s Fire;
• Flame;
• Milligold;
• Buffalo;
• Anniversary;
• Rubalina;
• Tropican;
• Kaloshua.

Extinct species of macaw

There used to be 24 species of macaws, but unfortunately, seven species have completely disappeared and are considered extinct, and one species survives only in captivity. Ara Parrot

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Main causes of extinction

Among the main reasons why many representatives of birds disappear, including macaws, are:

• Uncontrolled deforestation in the jungle.
• Poaching.
• Mass urbanization and settlement of the natural habitat of parrots by people.
• Bringing other species of birds from different parts of the planet to the habitats of parrots, which leads to disruption of the natural balance and pushing aside local representatives of the fauna.
• Changing the climate.
• The deterioration of the environmental situation on the planet is increasing carbon emissions.
• Rising sea levels are caused by the rapid melting of glaciers.

In the current situation, what measures have been taken to protect

To preserve the population of wild macaw parrots, which is declining from year to year, a number of measures are being taken around the world:

• endangered species are registered for the purpose of their protection.
• special conservation centers, nature reserves, and nurseries are being created to increase the population and prepare birds for life in the natural environment (for example, the Mexican nursery for red Macaws and Lori Park, which is engaged in restoring the population of Spix parrots);
• introduce offspring obtained in captivity into the wild (there is an international program to support private nurseries);
• Bans are established on cutting down forests where endangered species live.

Interesting facts about macaws

Macaw at home

Macaws are suitable for raising as pets. Thanks to their flexible nature and love of games, they have become true friends for humans. In order for the bird to live comfortably and for all family members to enjoy communicating with their feathered friend, you need to remember the following nuances:

• Socialization of the bird (giving the pet the opportunity to communicate with people more often).
• Keeping parrots in pairs (preferably).
• Adults have control over the interaction of birds with small children and other pets.

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Care and maintenance

The list of grooming procedures must include bathing and grooming.

• Bathing helps keep the bird\’s feathers and skin in good condition. For this procedure, you can use a small basin or water the bird from a watering can or shower.
• Grooming includes periodic trimming of feathers on the wings (to prevent them from escaping from home), trimming the beak (if it is very long or has begun to deform), and trimming the claws on the paws (as they grow).

Aviary or cage for a macaw parrot

The home for the Ara should be large and spacious. ara parrot Regardless of the option chosen, you need to take into account the size of the bird and organize the space so that the parrot is comfortable and can fly short distances. Lack of space threatens birds with muscle atrophy and a loss of the ability to fly.

Experts advise immediately organizing an aviary with minimum dimensions of 200x300x800 cm. The cage should also be strong, since macaws are strong birds with a strong beak. The optimal location for the cage is a well-lit, draft-free room where people are constantly present.

The cage is equipped with perches made from tree branches, feeding dishes, a drinking bowl, and toys (ropes, ladders, rings, and rattles). It is worth making sure that there are always branches with bark near the parrot for chewing.

What to feed the macaw

The feeding schedule for adults is 2 times a day (breakfast at 5–6 o’clock, dinner after 18 o’clock).

The daily amount of food is 70–80 g. Grain mixtures should occupy up to 70% of the total amount in the diet. The menu should also include vegetables, fruits, nuts, and vitamin and mineral premixes. The presence of clean water in the drinking bowl is a prerequisite

It is prohibited to feed Macaw parrots the following foods:

• Spoiled food, rotten grain.
• Almonds and pistachios (due to their high content of toxic hydrocyanic acid).
• Cashews and coconuts contain a lot of fats, which negatively affect digestion.
• Alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, chips, sugar, salt, marmalade, candied fruit, bread, fried foods, smoked meats, sausages, and fish oil.
• Parsley, dill, cilantro, mango, papaya, persimmon, avocado, and raw potatoes.

Is a parrot capable of learning?

Macaws are highly trained and easy to train. Because of their ability to “speak” and “sing,” they were kept by the ancient Indians. The vocals of these parrots are specific and are more like a loud shout. Red-eared individuals are considered the most musical.Ara parrot Macaws are able to learn and pronounce up to 30 phrases and even partially maintain a conversation with their owner. They are also able to give a paw and repeat simple movements with toys (for example, unwinding a roll of paper). If we compare different types of parrots, macaws are the most capable and intelligent.

How many years does a macaw parrot live?

Average life expectancy can range from 25 to 70 years, depending on environmental influences. Large species and hybrids live on average for up to 60–70 years, and their smaller relatives for up to 30 years. In captivity, birds with proper care live longer, but in the wild, where there is no one to take care of them, they live less. Predators, drought, food shortages, and various infectious diseases shorten the lives of birds.

Possible diseases

With proper care and a balanced diet, Macaw parrots rarely get sick. Among the diseases to which they are still susceptible are the following:

• Infectious pathologies are caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
• Ornithosis (an infectious disease).
• Allergic reactions.
• Papillomas, lipomas.
• Urinary tract diseases.
• Toxicosis.

With insufficient attention, a lack of water treatments, or distress, birds may begin to pluck their own feathers or begin to chew each other\’s feathers. Parrots may also experience beak deformation.

Symptoms of the disease in parrots:

• refusal to eat;
• disheveled;
• apathy, decreased activity;
• wings lowered to the bottom;
• sagging skin;
• unexplained mood swings;
• discharge from the eyes;
• swollen eyelids;
• beak gnashing;
• interrupted breathing;
• hypersalivation (increased salivation);
• stool changes.

Breeding parrots in captivity

They began breeding Macaws at home at the end of the 19th century. But in these rare cases, they were often unsuccessful because the birds had a very difficult time mating. Over time, breeders learned to obtain offspring from these birds and even bred their various hybrid subspecies. Work in this direction has not stopped to this day. Experienced breeders claim that, despite all the subtleties, anyone can breed Ara parrots. But to do this, you should study the habits of birds well and study all the nuances of bird reproduction in captivity.

bird and guarantee that it is completely healthy.

Directly, when choosing a bird, pay attention to the following nuances:

• plumage (must be in full and match the colors of the declared species);
• behavior (a healthy parrot is active, curious, and easily makes contact with humans);
• absence of any signs of disease.

To prevent your parrot from getting bored, it is better to buy a couple of birds at once.

The cost of a macaw parrot depends on its species, age, existing skills, and prevalence. The price for one mature chick starts at $800. But there are also varieties of parrots that offer 3–4 thousand dollars. But the rare hyacinth Macaw is on the list of endangered representatives of the fauna, so breeders ask for at least 10 thousand conventional units for it.

Macaw ara parrots are one of the most beautiful birds in our fauna. It is a pity that many of their subspecies have already disappeared from the face of the earth forever. But we can do everything to prevent them from becoming extinct and to prevent new losses of natural Macaw ara parrot populations for subsequent generations.

In 2016, the flight of a blue macaw was captured on amateur video by a tourist in the Brazilian jungle. Whether this means that the bird population has still survived or whether this was an isolated incident and the shot included a bird released from a private collection is unclear. ara parrot The video leaves hope that these stunning birds were able to survive, and they will eventually restore their population in the natural environment, like all other species that are on the verge of extinction.

Also check: Soldier’s Macaw Parrot Facts & Diet Information,

Also check: Why is it called Love birds?

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