Of 41 cm.. in length and a weight that varies between 207 and 294 g..

The rare and beautiful Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni), with its striking and vivid plumage green and blue, Unfortunately, now hardly seen in nature.

As its common name indicates, the head is blue, the forecrown with a narrow band of black color that will fade in blue on the area of the crown; the ear-coverts and both sides of the neck are blue, fading to green in the area of the nape. Upperparts olive green with light tint in the tail and in the uppertail-coverts. Small, large and medium-sized coverts green interiors; the large coverts Blue exterior. The flight feather are blue top (with a bit of green in high schools), by below, Yellow olive. Underparts green, slightly more yellow than the upper. The upper part of the tail is an intense Brown, while the underparts is yellowish-green.

The bill is black, Ivory at the end; the bare skin of the lores and the top of the cheeks it is gray with a bluish tint and crossed in front by very small lines of black feathers: the irises yellow; legs grayish pink.

Both sexes are similar, the male, possibly, largest average.

The immature with the irises dark. The bill is completely black and the legs more grey. The skin of the face and lores (area between the beak and eyes) is white. Depending on your age, have queues shorter.

NOTE:

In close relationship with the Yellow-collared Macaw (Primolius auricollis) and the Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana); it has sometimes been considered congeneric with the latter. monotypic.

• Sound of the Blue-headed Macaw.

The Blue-headed Macaw distributed by humid tropical forests, at altitudes between 150 and 1,550 m. They prefer habitats altered or partially open, mainly in forest edges along rivers, in the clearings and in partially wooded areas surrounding; There are also records of these macaws in marshy areas of forest with Mauritia Palms.

This species prefers possibly the wooded foothills of lowlands.

He is not very sociable: The flocks with the largest number of individuals appear between June and October, usually traveling in pairs or groups of three individuals; apparently, not associated with the Chestnut-fronted Macaw.

Known that the reproduction of these birds is correlated with the period of greatest abundance of food due to the breeding of pigeons (before and after leaving the nest) It requires a lot of energy expenditure.
There are no records of their reproductive period, However there has been during the months of April to June shown to the parents with their chicks and that in Peru, species Mauritia flexuosa "guaje" and Dipterix odorata "odorata" are key to its reproduction.

In captivity they reproduce couples chosen by them and have of two to three eggs, two chicks being generally viable.

The Blue-headed Macaw they feed mainly on seeds, mature and immature fruit, and flowers, occasionally supplemented with bark and other inputs.

Unlike many other birds, the parrots of the New world They seem to not be able to modify your diet to predominately insectivorous, reason why they are intimately linked to the patterns of flowering and fruit production (Brightsmith et to the, 2008). They have a strong dependency of the colpas clay.

Distributed by the Western basin of the amazon at the West end of Brazil (in Acre, from time to time), Peru Eastern and in the Northwest corner of Bolivia.

In Peru are known from the top of the Valley of the Huallaga River in Loreto, San Martin and Huanuco (including the outskirts of Tingo Maria), in a town on the eastern slope of the National Park of the Sierra of the Divisor in the basin Ucayali, in the basins of the Curanja River and Purus River, in the Apurimac River in the Cuzco and Mother of God to the West of Puerto Maldonado, around Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata River to 50 km of the border with Bolivia; You can see in the Manu National Park.

In Bolivia have been found in Peace and perhaps in the South of Beni with indications that the birds are distributed regularly to the South, in the Eastern foothills of the Andes to the South of Bolivia.

Local and erratic in its distribution, but apparently quite common in some places. Perhaps the enlargement of its range is fairly limited in the southwest of the Amazonia due to the degradation of forests.

Rare in captivity.

• Red List category of the UICN current: Vulnerable

• Population trend: Decreasing

Until recently it was considered quite common., but a review in 2006 by BirdLife International suggested that it was rare, with a decrease in the total population to the 1.000-2.500 individuals. Thus, has been placed in the category in danger of extinction in the 2007 (Red list of the UICN).

Parts of the distribution of this species are still little known, but Tobias and Brightsmith (2007) It has been suggested that the previous estimates were too low, with the most probable real number of 9.200 to 46.000 mature individuals. It is suggested that vulnerable could be a more appropriate category for this species.

The Blue-headed Macaw It is commonly found in the markets of Brazil, still valuable, prices above the 12.000 $, and in high demand due to their rarity.

OBJECTIVES:

Information about the actual state of conservation of the species. It also, This project, that is being conducted under a partnership with the Government of Peru, includes other project, in this case for the conservation of the Grey-cheeked Parakeet, classified as "endangered".

STRATEGIES:

The two projects include the definition of methods for determining the density of populations in key places, the evaluation of the level of the illegal trade in birds, and the promotion of the local social consciousness in relation to the illicit traffic of these species.

ACTIONS:

The field team is carrying out assessments of populations and habitat analysis, and at the same time they updated the assessment of the threats weighing on the two species. The general population trend of the Blue-headed Macaw is one very gradual decrease, but it seems that the species can withstand certain levels of their forest habitat change. By censuses in consecutive years, the population of the Grey-cheeked Parakeet It has not undergone further decline despite the severe fragmentation of the preferred dry forest.

Very rare in captivity.

Couples are formed according to the preferences of the copies, couples chosen by the breeder will not work. The diet is based on the seasonal fruits and vitamin supplements.

The Parque de las Leyendas Zoo in Peru, captive breeding, It has no objective reproduction but the exhibition of animals that are twelve in total. Births have been but manualâ studies have not been performed. In the month of March to April of the 2010, This project through the SERNANP with scientific staff of the aforementioned zoo, he carried out the biometric studies of this species and established the protocols for the reproduction studies.

Are no data about your longevity, Although similar species such as the Blue-winged Macaw have records having lived 31 years in captivity and having raised from the 6 years of age.

The illegal traffic This species is a serious problem that affects their conservation.

– Blue-headed Macaw, Blue headed Macaw, Coulon’s Macaw (English).
– Ara de Coulon (French).
– Blaukopfara (German).
– maracanã-de-cabeça-azul (Portuguese).
– Guacamayo Cabeciazul, Maracaná de Cabeza Azul, Guacamaya cabeza azul (español).
– Parabachi cabeza azul (Colombia).
– Guacamayo de Cabeza Azúl (Peru).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittacidae
– Genus: Primolius
– Scientific name: Primolius couloni
– Citation: (Sclater, PL, 1876)
– Protonimo: Ara couloni

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«Blue-headed Macaw» (Primolius couloni)

Sources:

– Sounds: (Xeno-canto)

Of 43 cm.. of length and a weight of 265 g..

The Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana) It is increasingly rare and exotic.

This small Macaw has the forecrown marked with a narrow band of black color that fades into blue in the area of the crown; the ear-coverts and both sides of the neck are blue, becoming green in the area of the nape.

Upperparts olive green with light tint in the rump and in the uppertail-coverts. Small, large and medium-sized inner coverts are green; the large external coverts blue.

The flight feather blue color above, (a bit of green in high schools), of yellow olive color below. The underparts green, slightly more yellow than the upper. Upper, the tail mostly blue, but the green central feathers, Red opaque in the Center, and with blue tips; undertail, the tail opaque yellow olive.

The bill horn, Black base; bare skin of the lores and cheeks upperparts gray with a bluish tint and crossed in front by lines of small black feathers: the irises yellow; legs grayish pink.

Both sexes similar; female possibly smaller and duller plumage compared to males.

The immature they have a paler plumage and less red coloration in the forecrown. The red spots in the abdomen and back they are stained yellow. Edges of color Horn in its bill. The tail is short and the eyes brown.

• Sound of the Blue-winged Macaw.

They inhabit in tropical and subtropical forests of Evergreen and deciduous forests (including the rainforest of the Atlantic and the Savannah of the Cerrado) with apparent preference for forest edges or forests near water.

At the north end of Bay, Brazil, inhabits tree-lined galleries Tabebuia caraiba in the area caatinga next to the Spix's Macaw, where the birds avoid flying over open field, preferring to remain among the trees.

There are reports of these birds to 1.000 meters above sea level. Usually in small flocks, except when playing.

Evidence of breeding in December (Brazil) and February (Argentina). Nest in the cavity of a tree. The average size of the clutch is three to five eggs and the period of incubation is of 25 days.

Observed birds take the seeds of Melia azedarach introduced in the northeast of Brazil; no more details about the diet, although it is known that they also forage in the fields of cereals and corn, which leads to his persecution by farmers.

Distributed by East of South America from south amazon.

In Brazil stretching from the South of For, South of Maranhão (including a record on the coast) and to the West by Piauí, Pernambuco, Bay, Tocantins, Goiás and Minas Gerais, Brazil, Mato Grosso, with a recent recolonization in the State of Rio de Janeiro and records in Rio Grande do Sul until 1930.

In East Paraguay and time back in the northeast of Argentina, in Missions and North of Currents.

Apparently resident, with a significant decline in recent decades, probably due to the large scale deforestation.

In the news rare and local; the remaining population common only in the Sierra Negra, Pernambuco, and Serra do Cachimbo, For in Brazil.

Scarce in Paraguay, where it seems to persist in small fragmented populations; previously common in Argentina, now apparently extinct. A small number in captivity.

They are distributed in several protected areas, at least in small quantities. Legally protected in all the States of the area.

• Red List category of the UICN current: Near Threatened

• Population trend: Decreasing

The population of the Blue-winged Macaw It is estimated that it may be in the band of 2,500-9,999 individuals in total, which is equivalent to a strip between 1,667-6,666 mature individuals.

A population decline moderately rapid and permanent is suspected it may be due to the habitat loss, the capture for the cage bird trade and the persecution as a pest of crops.

Its decline It is only partly explained by the deforestation, Since it has disappeared from areas where have apparently disappeared suitable habitats (Juniper and Parr 1998).

They suffer from the capture for the bird trade cage. 183 individuals came to the EE.UU. from Paraguay between 1977 and 1979 (Chebez 1994).

At least in Argentina his downfall could have been caused in large part by the persecution of the Blue-winged Macaw consider them a pests for crops (Et Bodrati to the., 2006).

• Conservation Actions Underway:

– CITES Appendix I and II.

– Has been recorded in numerous protected areas in Brazil, but Serra do Cachimbo is unprotected and the Serra Negra biological reserve is to only 10 km (Wege and Long 1995, Clay et to the., 1998).

– Twenty birds have been released in Bahia, Brazil, with the intention of correlate differences in the ability to survive in nature with differences of history in captivity (Waugh, 1997).

• Conservation Actions Proposed:

– Collate data from the latest specimen records to provide an enhanced assessment of the distribution and status of the Blue-winged Macaw.

– Monitor known populations to assess trends.

– Investigate the impact of the trade.

– Protect habitat in areas known to host high concentrations of the species and develop captive breeding programs to further extend this.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Blue-winged Macaw It was considered quite uncommon in captivity in United States and in other countries. The Busch Gardens of Florida were one of the first successful breeding facilities and is probably responsible for this species being so common in aviaries across the country today. The fact is that the Blue-winged Macaw It has become very common and is currently also in the pet market while it is considered vulnerable in the wild.

Evidence shows that the Blue-winged Macaw It adapts well to captivity. Despite the apparent inbreeding, this species remains prolific in captivity, and have obtained a minimum of three (or possibly more) generations in Aviary everything United States.

Today several generations of this species are produced in captivity.. As this species is very rare in nature, they are increasing the quantities in captivity. This species would be a perfect candidate for future release programs.

They have reports an exemplary live after 31 years in captivity. In captivity, these animals can be raised from the 6 years of age

Mutations in captivity:

There are rumors in Europe the existence of a variety of Lutino. although there is no evidence of the fact through any photograph of it or other forms of documentation. No other mutation has not been documented.

– Blue-winged Macaw, Blue winged Macaw, Illiger’s Macaw (English).
– Ara d’Illiger, Ara maracana (French).
– Blauflügelara, Maracana, Marakana, Rotrückenara (German).
– Maracanã-verdadeira, ararinha, Maracanã, maracanã-do-buriti (Portuguese).
– Guacamayo Maracaná, Maracaná afeitado, Maracaná de Dorso Rojo, Maracaná lomo rojo (español).
– Maracaná de dorso rojo, Maracaná lomo rojo (Argentina).
– Maracaná afeitado (Paraguay).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittacidae
– Genus: Primolius
– Scientific name: Primolius maracana
– Citation: (Vieillot, 1816)
– Protonimo: Macrocercus maracana

Sources:

– Sounds: Eduardo D. Schultz (Xeno-canto)