Blue-headed Macaw
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| Blue-headed Macaw | ||||||||||||||
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| Primolius couloni (P. L. Sclater, 1876) |
The Blue-headed Macaw or Coulon's Macaw (Primolius couloni) is native to eastern Peru (except in north), north-western Bolivia (mainly in Pando), and far western Brazil (only in Acre).
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[edit] Description
This parrot has a total length of ca. 40 centimeters (16 in), making it a member of the group of smaller macaws sometimes known as the mini-macaws, which includes any species of macaw with a total length of 50 centimeters (20 in) or less. As in all macaws, its tail is long and pointed and the bill is large and heavy.
This macaw has a generally green plumage (often tinged olive, esp. below) with the head, flight feathers and primary coverts blue. The uppertail has a maroon base, a narrow green center and a blue tip. The undertail and underwing are greenish-yellow similar to that of several other small macaws (e.g. Red-bellied and Golden-collared Macaw). The bill is pale greyish-horn with a black base (extend varies, but upper mandible in adults typically appears mainly pale). The iris is whitish with a narrow, often barely visible, maroon eye-ring. Unlike most other macaws, the facial skin and lores are dark greyish. The legs are dull pinkish. Juveniles resemble adults, but with the entire bill black, greyer legs, darker iris and the facial skin and lores white.
Its call is higher-pitched and softer than that of most other macaws.
[edit] Habitat
It is found in the south-west Amazon and adjacent east Andean foothills. It prefers openings in humid forest, e.g. along rivers or clearings, but has also been observed in Moriche Palm swamps and outskirts of towns. It occurs from the lowlands up to an altitude of 1550 m (5100 ft). As several other parrots, the Blue-headed Macaw is known to visit clay-licks.
[edit] Behavior
Little is known about its reproductive behavior in the wild, but a possible nest has been recorded in a bamboo cavity and another in a tree cavity. In captivity, the reproductive cycle appears to be roughly annual with a clutch size of 2-4 being the norm. In the wild it is typically seen in groups of 2-4 individuals, with occasional records of groups up to c. 60 individuals.
[edit] Status
Until recently it was considered faily common, but a review in 2006 by BirdLife International suggested it was rare with a decreasing total population of 1000-2500 individuals. It has therefore been uplisted to endangered in the 2007 IUCN Red List. Parts of the range of this species remain poorly known, but Tobias & Brightsmith (2007) has suggested that previous estimates were too low, with actual number of 9200-46000 mature individuals more likely. It has therefore been suggested that vulnerable might be a more appropriate category for this species.
Much of the forest within its range remains intact, but habitat loss could be a threat, at least locally. It occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Tambopata-Candamo and Manu.
The capture of individuals for the wild bird trade potentially presents a serious problem. It is rare in captivity and consequently prices are high (US$12,500 in Europe). International trade in this species was virtually unknown in 1993, where CITES only registered three legally traded individuals, but this had risen to 55 individuals in 2000. As per August 2007, ISIS only listed 26 individuals in zoos outside its native countries, and Loro Parque (not included on ISIS) has 35+ individuals. CITES reported that approx. 50 illegally held Blue-headed Macaws were seized throughout the World in 1993-2000, and an investigation in Germany in 2001 resulted in approx. 30 individuals being seized.
[edit] Taxonomy
In recent years it has often been placed in the genus Propyrrhura, but this is incorrect as per ICZN rules. Earlier, it has also been placed in the genus Ara, which at present only is used for some of the larger macaws.
[edit] References
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- BirdLife International (2006). Primolius couloni. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 01 April 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered.
- Juniper & Parr (1998). A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, East Sussex. ISBN 1-873403-40-2
- To reassign the genus of three macaws South American Classification Committee.
- Captives registered in zoos around the World International Species Information System.
- Tobias, J., and D. J. Brightsmith (2007). Distribution, ecology and concervation status of the Blue-headed Macaw Primolius couloni. Biological Concervation. 139: 126-138.
[edit] External links
- Stamps (for Peru) with RangeMap
- Photo-High Res-(Close-up); *Article; Article-2 pbase—"Macaws and Conures"
- Blue-headed Macaw on Avibase
