Macaws!

         Macaws are the largest parrots in the world. They’re beautiful birds, often showing off brilliantly colored feathers. They are related to all parrots but are less closely related to parakeets and cockatoos. Only about one million macaws are still living in the wild. A million sounds like a big number, but only three species (blue-and-yellow, red-and-green, and scarlet macaws) make up most of it. Most species have very few members left. For example, there are thought to be fewer than 100 blue-throated macaws left in the wild. Macaws are usually found in Central and South America! Macaws are herbivores. They eat primarily seeds, nuts, and fruit. Using their impressive beaks, they have no problem opening even the toughest seed. These birds boast powerful, large beaks that are effective at cracking open seeds and nuts while their scaly, dry tongues have a bone that is an effective tool to tap into fruit. They can even a crack a coconut open, one of their favorite fruits in their diet. These are very social birds, often gathering in flocks of up to 30 individuals. Macaws vocalize with their screams and squawks to communicate with their flocks, identify each other and mark their territory. Macaws typically choose their mate and begin breeding when they are three years old. Macaws in captivity can typically live longer than macaws in the wild. Still, macaws have long life expectancies, ranging from around 40 years to around 80 years—or even beyond 100! Smaller macaws have shorter lifespans. Macaws are large, powerful birds specially adapted to their world. The largest ones, hyacinth macaws, are approximately 1 meter long from beak tip to the end of their tail. The smallest, red-shouldered or Hahn’s macaws, might be only 30 cm long. Macaws face two major threats habitat destruction and the pet trade. So many macaws have been captured and sold into the pet trade that this has become a serious problem. According to the World Conservation Union organization that prepares a yearly “Red List” of species in danger, macaws are in big trouble. Five macaw species are already extinct, and nine others are endangered, including the hyacinth macaw.