The hyacinth macaw is a magnificent bird.  The blue color is stunning and the yellow ring around the eye gives them a majestic look.  This gentle giant is the largest of the parrots and also one of the most endangered in the wild.

For many people, it may be hard to imagine these beautiful birds in the wild.  The spectacular flash of blue as a wild hyacinth macaw soars through the sky is becoming a sight that is rare to behold these days.

The hyacinth macaw can be found in southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia and in the northeast section of Paraguay.  These are the places where large populations of Hyacinth Macaws are normally found, but it is possible that smaller populations exist in other areas of its home range.

It is thought that there were more than 100,000 hyacinth macaws before the Amerindians arrived in South America.  The wild population dwindled to about 2500 birds in 1990.  Hyacinth macaws that are captive, number probably in the thousands.  These birds are one of the most expensive species of parrots and can cost as much as $15,000.

The hyacinth macaw makes its home in palm swamps and tropical rain forests.  They nest in holes in trees, and with the destruction of the Brazilian rainforest by hundreds of acres each day, it is no wonder that the hyacinth macaw is an endangered species.

The clutch size of a hyacinth macaw is two or three eggs……  though usually only one fledgling survives.  Hyacinth macaw babies stay in the nest longer than most other birds so a hyacinth pair only breeds every other year.

An interesting fact concerning the hyacinth macaw is that many South American palm species have evolved really hard shells for their nuts to prevent the hyacinth macaw from eating them.  Every time that a palm plant created a harder seed that was easier to defend, it is thought that the hyacinth with the largest bill was able to crack the seeds.  As a result, they passed the “big bill” gene to the next generation.

In the wild, hyacinth macaws emit some impressive vocalizations.  This can include an array of load, harsh, guttural squawks that can be heard almost a mile away.  If you are contemplating owning a hyacinth macaw, you should be sure that your new bird’s vocalizations won’t bother your neighbors.

Another factor to consider before purchasing a bird of this size, is your home large enough to accommodate the large cage you will need in order for your bird to have enough room to be comfortable.  You will have to invest lots of money in toys because these birds love to chew.  If you don’t provide them with enough toys to destroy, they may destroy your furniture, your walls or your window frames.

Just because you admire the beauty of a hyacinth macaw doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy one.  As we mentioned before, these birds are extremely expensive to buy, house, feed, maintain and require more attention than the average 3year old.