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{{Taxobox
Size:
| name = Lear's Macaw
| image =Anodorhynchus leari -Rio de Janeiro Zoo, Brazil-8a.jpg
| image_caption = At Rio de Janeiro Zoo, Brazil
| image_width=300px
| status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{IUCN2008|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2009|id=142576/0|title=Primolius auricollis|downloaded=8 April 2010}}</ref>
| trend = down
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Parrot|Psittaciformes]]
| familia = [[True parrots|Psittacidae]]
| genus = ''[[Anodorhynchus]]''
| species = '''''A. leari'''''
| binomial = ''Anodorhynchus leari''
| binomial_authority = [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1856
| range_map = Distribuicao-geografica-anodorhynchus-lean.png
| range_map_caption = Range is shown in green
}}
[[File:Sandstone cliffs -Bahia - Brazil-17Dec2007a.jpg|right|thumb|Sandstone cliffs in Bahia, Brazil]]
[[File:Sandstone cliffs -Bahia - Brazil-17Dec2007.jpg|right|thumb|Nests in sandstone cliffs in Bahia, Brazil]]
The '''Lear's Macaw''' (''Anodorhynchus leari''), also known as the '''Indigo Macaw''', is a rare [[Brazil]]ian [[parrot]] with a highly restricted range. It is metallic blue with a faint, often barely visible, tinge of green, and a yellow patch of skin at the base of the heavy, black bill. It weighs around 950 g (2 pounds) and is 75&nbsp;cm (30&nbsp;inches) long. It was named after the poet, author, and artist, [[Edward Lear]], who published many drawings and paintings of live parrots in zoos and collections. One of his paintings in his book ''[[Illustrations of the Family of the Psittacidae, or Parrots]]'' strongly resemble this species, although at the time it was believed to be a [[Hyacinth Macaw]] — a species which is larger, darker, and has a differently shaped patch of yellow skin adjacent to the base of the bill.


==Description==
One of the popular mini-macaw species, the Severe Macaw reaches an average of about 18 inches in length from the beak to the tip of the tail feathers.
The Lear's Macaw is 70–75&nbsp;cm (27.5–30 in.) long. The body, tail, and wings are dark blue and the head is a slightly paler shade. It has an area of bare pale-yellow skin adjacent to the base of its beak, and orange-yellow eyerings. It has a large blackish beak and dark grey feet. The general appearance of the Lear's Macaw is similar to the larger [[Hyacinth macaw]] and the smaller [[Glaucous Macaw]].<ref name = birdlife-1544>{{cite web| publisher =BirdLife International (2008) |url = http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1544&m=0 |title = Species factsheet: ''Anodorhynchus leari'' | accessdate = 24 July 2008}}</ref>
Average Lifespan:


==Habitat==
A well cared for pet Severe Macaw can be expected to live for up to 30 years, some living even longer.
The Lear's Macaw lives in stands of [[Syagrus coronata|Licuri]] [[Arecaceae|palm]], the nuts of which form a prominent part of its diet. This [[habitat]], while never plentiful, is currently estimated to be around 1.6% of its original cover. The Lear's Macaw also requires a sandstone cliff in which to nest. In order to nest there they apply their saliva to the sandstone which softens it, then excavate small crevasses using their beaks and scrape the dust out of their soon-to-be nests with their feet.
Temperament:


==Behavior==
Friendly and comical, the Severe Macaw's large personality makes it a favorite with bird lovers. With adequate socialization, Severe Macaws bond quickly with their owners, responding well to training and boasting impressive speech abilities. Because these birds need a lot of mental stimulation, potential owners should make sure that they have plenty of free time to spend with their new pet.
Lear's Macaws adapt to their environment in interesting ways. For example, when a group of macaws are searching for food or a new nesting ground, a small advance party of males will "scout out" the approaching terrain for the safety of the rest of the group. In addition, when danger is found on these hunts for new territory the macaws will let out their signature call which can be heard for miles. The macaw can reach flight speeds of up to 35 miles per hour to escape predators or poachers.<ref>[http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/Animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/psittaciformes/lears-macaw.htm Animal Bytes – Lear's Macaw]</ref>
Colors:


===Breeding===
Severe Macaws are mostly a shimmery green with dark, chestnut patches on their foreheads and under their beaks. The crown of their head boasts a patch of iridescent blue feathers, and they bear distinctive red patches on the edges of their wings. The tailfeathers are blue with red undersides, and they exhibit the classic bare macaw facial patch with fine, dark feather lines circling the eyes.
The Lear's Macaw’s rate of reproduction is 1–2 eggs per year during their mating season from December to May. However, not all pairs of birds mate often or at all. Lear's Macaws reach sexual maturity at around 2–4 years of age, but its life span can be anywhere from 30–50 years or more
Feeding:


==Conservation==
Like any other pet bird, Severe Macaws must have adequate nutrition to thrive. Feed your Severe Macaw a varied diet consisting of a high quality seed/pellet mix and daily offerings of fresh bird-safe fruits and vegetables to insure meeting dietary requirements.
The population of the Lear's Macaw, as of 1994, was 140 birds. As reported by the [[American Bird Conservancy]] and [http://www.biodiversitas.org.br Fundação Biodiversitas], the population of the Lear's Macaw rose to 751 birds as of July 2007.<ref name= ABC>[http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/070718.html Lear's Macaw Making a Remarkable Comeback in Protected Reserve] American Bird Conservancy. Press Release from 18 July 2007</ref> It is currently listed as an [[Endangered species]] ([[CITES]] I). As well as [[habitat destruction|habitat loss]] the Lear's Macaw has historically suffered from hunting and more recently, trapping for the [[aviary]] trade. In addition, the cows that live near its nesting grounds often stand on the roots of young Licuri palms causing a large loss of food for these birds. In fact, though the life span of these palms can be 30–50 years most trees do not make it over 8–10 years causing a critical shortage of food supply for the birds. Various conservation organizations such as Fundação Biodiversitas, SAVE Brasil, Loro Parque Fundación, Parrots International, and the Lymington Foundation, along with local ranchers and other independent organizations are working to help conserve the species. Biodiversitas created the Canudos Biological Station in 1993 to protect the sandstone cliffs used by the macaws to nest.
Exercise:


All present Lear's Macaw conservation projects are managed under the authority of [[Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources|IBAMA]]. The Committee For The Conservation And Management Of The Lear's Macaw advises IBAMA on the conservation of the Lear's Macaw. Participation in the Committee is by invitation by IBAMA and includes Brazilian and international organizations and individuals.
Severe Macaws might be Mini Macaws -- but they are still built for muscle power. In the wild, a Severe Macaw might fly several hundred miles a day looking for food. Because of this, it's important to provide enough exercise for your pet to maintain a healthy body condition. Pet Severe Macaws should be allowed a minimum of 2-4 hours playtime outside of their cage each day. This will allow the bird to stretch its muscles and exercise its wings and beak.
Severe Macaws as Pets:


From the American Bird Conservancy 18 July 2007 Press Release:<ref name= ABC/>
Eye-catching and charmingly easy-going, Severe Macaws have exploded in popularity as pets in recent years. The largest of the Mini Macaws, these birds pack a lot of personality into a smaller, easier to care for package.
<blockquote>''The count of the Lear's Macaw population was undertaken by Fundação Biodiversitas staff in June 2007 at the Canudos Biological Station in Brazil, a reserve supported by ABC. A total of 751 individuals were counted as they flew out of the canyons where they roost and nest to their licuri palm feeding areas. The global population in 1987 was just 70 birds, the 2003 census was 455, and until last month’s count, the current population was estimated at 600.''</blockquote>


In 2009 the conservation status of the species was downgraded to [[endangered]] from [[critically endangered]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN).<ref name=IUCN/> This was prompted by an increase in the population, which based on annual 2009 counts at the Toca Velha and Serra Branca roosting sites is estimated to be approximately 1000 individuals.
While Severe Macaws are known to be very social, all parrots require a certain amount of training to insure that the bird remains tame. If you want to adopt a Severe Macaw, the first thing you should do is make sure that you have enough time to spend with your pet each day. Without socialization and adequate mental stimulation, Severe Macaws can grow bored and depressed, leading to destructive behaviors and stress-related illness.


==History==
Severe Macaws can be fun pets, but they require time and specialized care that not everyone can provide. Make sure that you are prepared before bringing a Severe Macaw or any other parrot into your home. Think about the costs of owning such a pet -- things like veterinary bills, the costs of high quality feed, and the prices of cages and toys add up. If you can't give your bird the best of everything, consider holding off on adopting one until you can!
[[File:Anodorhynchus leari by Edward Lear.jpg|upright|right|thumb|Illustration by [[Edward Lear]] (1812–88) first published in his book ''[[Illustrations of the Family of the Psittacidae, or Parrots]]'' in 1832<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/DLDecArts/DLDecArts-idx?id=DLDecArts.LearParrots |title=Illustrations of the family of Psittacidae, or Parrots |publisher=Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture|accessdate=2010-04-08}}</ref>
]]
For over a century after it had been described, the whereabouts of the wild population was unknown. It was eventually rediscovered in 1978 by [[ornithology|ornithologist]] [[Helmut Sick]] in [[Bahia]] in the interior northeast of Brazil. Some thought the bird was a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] or variant involving the similar Hyacinth Macaw. However, this idea was soon abandoned, as both [[plumage]], size, and proportions of the Lear's Macaw differ from those of its close relatives. The Lear's Macaw was actually first seen by the public in 1950 in a Brazilian zoo.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*American Bird Conservatory. 9 June 2009. [http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/090609.html ''Rare Blue Parrot Back from the Brink of Extinction''].
*[http://www.parrots.org/index.php/encyclopedia/profile/lears_macaw/ World Parrot Trust] Parrot Encyclopedia – Species Profiles
*http://www.parrotsinternational.org/Species_Pages/Lears_photos_1.htm The Parrots International web site
*http://www.bluemacaws.org The Blue Macaws website
*ARKive – [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Anodorhynchus_leari/ images and movies of the Lear's macaw ''(Anodorhynchus leari)'']
*http://www.biodiversitas.org.br Estação Biológica de Canudos – Home of the Indigo Macaw.
*http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/070718.html The American Bird Conservancy web site
*http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0609-hance_learsmacaw.html

{{Macaws}}

[[Category:Anodorhynchus]]
[[Category:Macaws]]
[[Category:Birds of Brazil|Macaw, Lear's]]
[[Category:Brazilian restricted-range endemic bird species|Macaw, Lear's]]

[[de:Lear-Ara]]
[[es:Anodorhynchus leari]]
[[fr:Ara de Lear]]
[[ja:コスミレコンゴウインコ]]
[[pl:Ara błękitna]]
[[pt:Arara-azul-de-lear]]
[[ru:Малый гиацинтовый ара]]
[[fi:Indigoara]]
[[uk:Малий гіацинтовий ара]]
[[zh:李爾氏金剛鸚鵡]]
[[it:Anodorhynchus leari]]

Revision as of 18:34, 24 May 2011

Lear's Macaw
At Rio de Janeiro Zoo, Brazil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Psittaciformes
Family:
Psittacidae
Genus:
Anodorhynchus
Species:
A. leari
Binomial name
Anodorhynchus leari
Bonaparte, 1856
Range is shown in green
Sandstone cliffs in Bahia, Brazil
Nests in sandstone cliffs in Bahia, Brazil

The Lear's Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), also known as the Indigo Macaw, is a rare Brazilian parrot with a highly restricted range. It is metallic blue with a faint, often barely visible, tinge of green, and a yellow patch of skin at the base of the heavy, black bill. It weighs around 950 g (2 pounds) and is 75 cm (30 inches) long. It was named after the poet, author, and artist, Edward Lear, who published many drawings and paintings of live parrots in zoos and collections. One of his paintings in his book Illustrations of the Family of the Psittacidae, or Parrots strongly resemble this species, although at the time it was believed to be a Hyacinth Macaw — a species which is larger, darker, and has a differently shaped patch of yellow skin adjacent to the base of the bill.

Description

The Lear's Macaw is 70–75 cm (27.5–30 in.) long. The body, tail, and wings are dark blue and the head is a slightly paler shade. It has an area of bare pale-yellow skin adjacent to the base of its beak, and orange-yellow eyerings. It has a large blackish beak and dark grey feet. The general appearance of the Lear's Macaw is similar to the larger Hyacinth macaw and the smaller Glaucous Macaw.[2]

Habitat

The Lear's Macaw lives in stands of Licuri palm, the nuts of which form a prominent part of its diet. This habitat, while never plentiful, is currently estimated to be around 1.6% of its original cover. The Lear's Macaw also requires a sandstone cliff in which to nest. In order to nest there they apply their saliva to the sandstone which softens it, then excavate small crevasses using their beaks and scrape the dust out of their soon-to-be nests with their feet.

Behavior

Lear's Macaws adapt to their environment in interesting ways. For example, when a group of macaws are searching for food or a new nesting ground, a small advance party of males will "scout out" the approaching terrain for the safety of the rest of the group. In addition, when danger is found on these hunts for new territory the macaws will let out their signature call which can be heard for miles. The macaw can reach flight speeds of up to 35 miles per hour to escape predators or poachers.[3]

Breeding

The Lear's Macaw’s rate of reproduction is 1–2 eggs per year during their mating season from December to May. However, not all pairs of birds mate often or at all. Lear's Macaws reach sexual maturity at around 2–4 years of age, but its life span can be anywhere from 30–50 years or more

Conservation

The population of the Lear's Macaw, as of 1994, was 140 birds. As reported by the American Bird Conservancy and Fundação Biodiversitas, the population of the Lear's Macaw rose to 751 birds as of July 2007.[4] It is currently listed as an Endangered species (CITES I). As well as habitat loss the Lear's Macaw has historically suffered from hunting and more recently, trapping for the aviary trade. In addition, the cows that live near its nesting grounds often stand on the roots of young Licuri palms causing a large loss of food for these birds. In fact, though the life span of these palms can be 30–50 years most trees do not make it over 8–10 years causing a critical shortage of food supply for the birds. Various conservation organizations such as Fundação Biodiversitas, SAVE Brasil, Loro Parque Fundación, Parrots International, and the Lymington Foundation, along with local ranchers and other independent organizations are working to help conserve the species. Biodiversitas created the Canudos Biological Station in 1993 to protect the sandstone cliffs used by the macaws to nest.

All present Lear's Macaw conservation projects are managed under the authority of IBAMA. The Committee For The Conservation And Management Of The Lear's Macaw advises IBAMA on the conservation of the Lear's Macaw. Participation in the Committee is by invitation by IBAMA and includes Brazilian and international organizations and individuals.

From the American Bird Conservancy 18 July 2007 Press Release:[4]

The count of the Lear's Macaw population was undertaken by Fundação Biodiversitas staff in June 2007 at the Canudos Biological Station in Brazil, a reserve supported by ABC. A total of 751 individuals were counted as they flew out of the canyons where they roost and nest to their licuri palm feeding areas. The global population in 1987 was just 70 birds, the 2003 census was 455, and until last month’s count, the current population was estimated at 600.

In 2009 the conservation status of the species was downgraded to endangered from critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[1] This was prompted by an increase in the population, which based on annual 2009 counts at the Toca Velha and Serra Branca roosting sites is estimated to be approximately 1000 individuals.

History

Illustration by Edward Lear (1812–88) first published in his book Illustrations of the Family of the Psittacidae, or Parrots in 1832[5]

For over a century after it had been described, the whereabouts of the wild population was unknown. It was eventually rediscovered in 1978 by ornithologist Helmut Sick in Bahia in the interior northeast of Brazil. Some thought the bird was a hybrid or variant involving the similar Hyacinth Macaw. However, this idea was soon abandoned, as both plumage, size, and proportions of the Lear's Macaw differ from those of its close relatives. The Lear's Macaw was actually first seen by the public in 1950 in a Brazilian zoo.

References

  1. ^ a b Template:IUCN2008
  2. ^ "Species factsheet: Anodorhynchus leari". BirdLife International (2008). Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  3. ^ Animal Bytes – Lear's Macaw
  4. ^ a b Lear's Macaw Making a Remarkable Comeback in Protected Reserve American Bird Conservancy. Press Release from 18 July 2007
  5. ^ "Illustrations of the family of Psittacidae, or Parrots". Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
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