Hyacinth Macaw

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; the largest flying parrot, with a massive beak and long tail

An enormous macaw, about a metre long, dressed almost entirely in rich cobalt to violet blue, a little darker on the wings and paler on the head. It has a bright yellow ring of bare skin around each dark eye and a yellow crescent of bare skin along the base of the lower beak. The huge beak is grey-black, and the undersides of the wings and tail look dark. Males and females look alike.12

Personality what they are like

Often called the gentle giant of the parrot world. Hand-raised hyacinths are usually docile and very affectionate, and they love to play, though that play involves a very strong beak, so owners learn to guide it. They learn a few favourite words rather than a large vocabulary, and their calls are extremely loud. They suit experienced keepers with a lot of space and time.32

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very high. Needs many hours of daily free time with people, room to climb and fly, and a constant supply of branches and wooden toys to chew.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide heavy-duty wooden toys, branches and sturdy play structures, replacing chewed items often.3

Home where they are happiest

Standard cages are too small. Plan for a custom stainless-steel or the largest commercial cage, or ideally a bird room or large outdoor flight.32

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Nuts are central: in the wild they eat mostly palm nuts, and at home they need a steady supply of nuts such as Brazil nuts, walnuts, macadamias, almonds and coconut, plus daily fruit, vegetables and a formulated food.312

Company who they like around

Very social; wild birds live in pairs and small groups. It needs plenty of company and does not do well left alone for long periods.3

The story where it all began

John Latham described the hyacinth macaw in 1790 from a museum specimen in London. As the largest flying parrot it has always drawn attention, and today it is the focus of conservation work such as the Hyacinth Macaw Project in Brazil, which puts up nest boxes and monitors the birds.2

Recognised by the official bits

Taxonomy

Described by John Latham in 1790 as Psittacus hyacinthinus, from a specimen in the Leverian Museum. No subspecies.2

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable.1

CITES

Appendix I.1

Legal protection

Protected by law in Brazil and Bolivia.2

How many About 6,500 wild birds (estimate as of 2004, Wikipedia). World Parrot Trust gives 4,700-11,000 mature individuals, stable (year not stated).21