Spix's Macaw
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), or Little Blue Macaw, is a large all blue parrot, a member of the group of large Neotropical parrots known as macaws. It was native to the Caatinga dry forest climate of interior northeastern Brazil. It is known as ararinha-azul (Portuguese pronunciation: , lit. "Little Blue Macaw"), in parts of the Brazilian state of Bahia. It is called 'little' because there are several other larger blue macaws with overlapping ranges (see for example Hyacinth Macaw). It has a very restricted natural habitat due to its dependence on the Caraibeira (Tabebuia aurea) tree for nesting. The bird was extremely rare in the wild as well as in captivity throughout the last century.
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| Spix's Macaw |
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They are critically endangered, probably extinct in the wild (IUCN 3.1) It is listed on CITES Appendix I, trade forbidden except for legitimate conservation, scientific or educational purposes. The last known wild specimen vanished in 2000. The species is conserved through several captive breeding programs under the auspices of the Brazilian government.
Taxonomy
Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii, Wagler 1832) is a member of the monotypic genus Cyanopsitta (Bonaparte 1854), one of 6 genera of Central and South American macaws.
A molecular phylogenetic study of 69 parrot genera by Wright (2008) reached the surprising conclusion that the closest extant relative of Cyanopsitta spixii was Nandayus nenday, the Nanday Parakeet, a type of conure, which also resides in a monotypic genus. However, not all of the macaw genera were represented in the study. The clade diagram(s) of that study support the interpretation that C. Spixii split from the ancestral conures before the differentiation of the modern macaws. The author notes that the study challenges the classifications of Collar(1997) and Rowley (1997). Others have noted the Spix similarity to conures based on general morphology(Dutton, 1897); Sick (1981) stated "it's not a real Macaw".
A molecular phylogenetic study of 69 parrot genera by Wright (2008) reached the surprising conclusion that the closest extant relative of Cyanopsitta spixii was Nandayus nenday, the Nanday Parakeet, a type of conure, which also resides in a monotypic genus. However, not all of the macaw genera were represented in the study. The clade diagram(s) of that study support the interpretation that C. Spixii split from the ancestral conures before the differentiation of the modern macaws. The author notes that the study challenges the classifications of Collar(1997) and Rowley (1997). Others have noted the Spix similarity to conures based on general morphology(Dutton, 1897); Sick (1981) stated "it's not a real Macaw".
Description
Spix's Macaw is 55–57 cm (21.5–23.5 in) long with a tail length of 26–38 cm (10.2–15 in), weights 330-390g (11.6-13.7 oz) and has a wingspan of 64 cm (25.2 in). It is various shades of blue, including a pale blue head, pale blue underparts, and vivid blue upperparts, wings, and tail. The underside of the wings and tail are black. They have a bare area of grey/black facial skin which sometimes fades to white when they are juveniles. The beak is entirely black except for juveniles which have a white stripe down the center of the beak. The white beak stripe and facial skin of juveniles disappears after 1–2 years. The birds' feet are light grey as juveniles, then become dark grey, and are almost black as adults. In common with many parrots, they have zygodactyl feet with two forward facing and two rearward facing toes. The eyes are dark as juveniles but fade to white as the birds mature. The species does not exhibit sexual dimorphism - the males and females appear identical.
The mating call of Spix's Macaw can be described as the sound "whichaka". The sound is made by creating a low rumble in the abdomen bringing the sound up to a high pitch. Its voice is a repeated short grating. It also makes squawking noises.
Its lifespan in the wild has been estimated at no more than 28 years, though scant data is available. Captive specimens can live to 32–34 years.
The mating call of Spix's Macaw can be described as the sound "whichaka". The sound is made by creating a low rumble in the abdomen bringing the sound up to a high pitch. Its voice is a repeated short grating. It also makes squawking noises.
Its lifespan in the wild has been estimated at no more than 28 years, though scant data is available. Captive specimens can live to 32–34 years.
Behavior
Food and Feeding
In the wild, the most commonly mentioned seeds and nuts consumed by Spix's were from Pinhão (Jatropha pohliana var. mollissima) and Favela (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus). However Yamashita pointed out that these trees are colonizers, not native to the bird's habitat, so they couldn't have been historical staples of the diet.
Also mentioned are seeds and nuts from Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro), Baraúna (Schinopsis brasiliensis), Imburana (Commiphora leptophloeos), Facheiro (Pilosocereus pihauiensis, Phoradendron sp., Caraibeira (Tabebuia caraiba), Angico (Anadenanthera macrocarpa), Umbu (Spondias tuberosa) and Unha-de-gato (Acacia paniculata). Reports from previous Spix’s Macaw researchers seem to add another two plants to the list: Maytenus rigida and Geoffroea spinosa. Another researcher notes that Combretum leprosum was also a possibility.
Also mentioned are seeds and nuts from Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro), Baraúna (Schinopsis brasiliensis), Imburana (Commiphora leptophloeos), Facheiro (Pilosocereus pihauiensis, Phoradendron sp., Caraibeira (Tabebuia caraiba), Angico (Anadenanthera macrocarpa), Umbu (Spondias tuberosa) and Unha-de-gato (Acacia paniculata). Reports from previous Spix’s Macaw researchers seem to add another two plants to the list: Maytenus rigida and Geoffroea spinosa. Another researcher notes that Combretum leprosum was also a possibility.
Reproduction
In the wild, pairs mate for life after an elaborate courtship ritual, common feeding and flying. This process is known to possibly take several seasons in other large parrots, and it may also be the case for the Spix's. They make their nests in the hollows of large mature Caraibeira trees, and reuse the nest year after year. The breeding season is November to March, with most eggs hatching in January to coincide with the start of the Caatinga Jan.-Apr. rainy season. In the wild, Spix's were believed to lay three eggs per clutch and one or two clutches per year; in captivity, they lay 2-4 eggs per clutch. Incubation period is 25–28 days and only the female performs incubation duties. The chicks fledge in 2 months and are independent in 5 months. Juveniles reach sexual maturity in 7 years (captive specimens). It is suspected that late maturity in captivity may be an artifact of inbreeding or other artificial environmental factor, as other parrots of similar size reach sexual maturity in 2–4 years.
Distribution and Habitat
Spix's Macaw was most recently (1974-1987) known in the Río Sao Francisco valley, in northeastern Brazil, principally in the basins on the south side of the river in the State of Bahia. In 1974, ornithologist Helmut Sick, based on information from traders and trappers, extended the possible range of the Spix's Macaw to embrace the northeastern part of the state of Goias and the southern part of the state of Maranhao. Other ornithologists reporting the bird in various parts of the state of Piaui further extended the range to a vast area of the dry interior of northeast Brazil. However, recent evidence has shown that anthropic changes that occurred on the northern shore of the São Francisco River, such as a broad scale conversion into agricultural lands and flooding following the construction of Sobradinho dam starting in 1974, have changed the flora structure and displaced the Spix’s Macaw away from its original area of occurrence.
This macaw lived in woodland galleries within “Caatinga” (scrubby, thorny, dry and flat lands along seasonal waters), with several varieties of trees, cacti, Euphorbiaceae and other plants, particularly the Caraiba or Caribbean Trumpet tree (Tabebuia caraiba) used for nesting. Its natural habitat is very restricted along some temporary streams. Notable among these are Riacho Melancia watershed 30 kilometers south of Curaçá, where the last known wild Spix's Macaw nest was located, Riacho Barre Grande and Riacho Vargem all in the State of Bahia south of Rio Sao Francisco. In 1990, these were all that remained of what was once believed to be a vast filigree of creekside Caraibeira woodland extending 50 kilometers into the Caatinga on either side of the Rio Sao Francisco along a significant stretch of its middle reaches.
Since 1980, when there was last a viable population of Spix's Macaw in the wild, much of the Caraibeira riparian woodland which was their historical habitat has been lost. 45% of the Caatinga dry forest in which the woodland galleries are embedded has been cleared for farms, ranches and plantations. Climate change resulting in desertification of significant parts of the Caatinga has permanently reduced the potential reclaimable habitat.
The survival of the bird, should it be re-introduced, depends on an understanding and preservation of the critical interrelationship of the Caatinga dry forest climate, the Caraibeira woodland galleries and the natural adaptations of the bird to the ecological niche which spawned the species.
This macaw lived in woodland galleries within “Caatinga” (scrubby, thorny, dry and flat lands along seasonal waters), with several varieties of trees, cacti, Euphorbiaceae and other plants, particularly the Caraiba or Caribbean Trumpet tree (Tabebuia caraiba) used for nesting. Its natural habitat is very restricted along some temporary streams. Notable among these are Riacho Melancia watershed 30 kilometers south of Curaçá, where the last known wild Spix's Macaw nest was located, Riacho Barre Grande and Riacho Vargem all in the State of Bahia south of Rio Sao Francisco. In 1990, these were all that remained of what was once believed to be a vast filigree of creekside Caraibeira woodland extending 50 kilometers into the Caatinga on either side of the Rio Sao Francisco along a significant stretch of its middle reaches.
Since 1980, when there was last a viable population of Spix's Macaw in the wild, much of the Caraibeira riparian woodland which was their historical habitat has been lost. 45% of the Caatinga dry forest in which the woodland galleries are embedded has been cleared for farms, ranches and plantations. Climate change resulting in desertification of significant parts of the Caatinga has permanently reduced the potential reclaimable habitat.
The survival of the bird, should it be re-introduced, depends on an understanding and preservation of the critical interrelationship of the Caatinga dry forest climate, the Caraibeira woodland galleries and the natural adaptations of the bird to the ecological niche which spawned the species.
