16 interesting facts about macaws
- Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots.
- Blue & yellow macaw prefers to live in dense forests, where it makes its nest in hollowed trees.
- The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw.
- The beak of this beautiful bird is hard and powerful, which helps it to break open hard seeds and even acts as its third foot, while climbing.
- A macaw's facial feather pattern is as unique as a fingerprint.
- The mates can be easily recognized in the flying flock, where they are seen flying very close to each other.
- Macaws are native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and formerly the Caribbean.
- The blue and yellow macaw bird has only one mate, with whom it stays for life.
- Of the many different Psittacidae (true parrots) genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca.
- The nest of the bird is made in the hollows of dead trees, where it lays 2 to 3 eggs. The young hatchlings are blind, helpless and featherless at birth.
- Most species are associated with forest, especially rainforest, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats.
- Blue and yellow macaw prefers to live in groups of small families. The birds travel long distances together each day, to ensure enough food.
- A young blue and yellow macaw bird learns to find food, while going after older experienced birds.
- The care of the young chick is taken by both the mother and the father. However, the parents will only raise the strongest chick.
- The bird is often kept as pet for its beauty and intelligence, but this has brought a dramatic decrease in its number in the wild. The collectors often cut down the trees to take young birds and kill the older ones.
- A young blue and yellow macaw bird becomes capable after 13 weeks of birth, when it is allowed to leave the nest.
