Hyacinth Macaw
DESCRIPTION 39 1/2 inches (100cm), the largest living parrot, now rare and expensive. Body deep blue-purple accented by yellow eye ring and bold yellow along mandible bottom. Greyish beak exceptionally strong, able to exert 300 pounds (136kg) of biting pressure per square inch. Female usually smaller.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION Central and southern Brazil, western Bolivia and northeast Paraguay.
HABITAT Hyacinth Macaw likes highlands, in palm forests, near rivers and lakes, in swamps, usually in pairs or small family groups.
DIET Hyacinth Macaw eats palm nuts, fruit and snails, also sunflower seed kernels, corn ears and fruit, occasionally a bone and cooked meat.
SPECIAL NEEDS Particularly strong cage or aviary; climbing tree if in house. Replace perches regularly. Do not keep on chain or ring.
CAGE LIFE When screeches, circles overhead with tail streaming, then settles in treetops. Especially close pair bonding and tame with trusted people. Lays 2 to 3 eggs, incubation 28 days, fledging 100 to 120 days.