Macaw - Equadorian Buffon's

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Great Green Macaw, Guayaquil Macaw, Ecuadorian Buffons Macaw Scientific Name: Ara ambigua guayaquilensis

Basic Info

The Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw looks almost exactly like the Buffon's Macaw, with yellowish-green feathers with a forehead and feather-lines of red (with a slight tinge of blue on the back of the head, for the males). A bare cheek area with black feather-lines turns a pinkish color when excited, causing the appearance of a blush. The feathers underneath towards the back are light blue, while the top side of the tail is a lighter, reddish-brown with blue on the edges. The bill is black with a pale tip and the eyes are generally yellow. The body is usually about 26-34 inches in length with a wingspan of 44 to 50 inches and weighs in at between 1200-1600 grams.

Health

Seeds, nuts, fruits and berries collected in trees are the diet that sustains an Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw in the wild. Hopefully, with tougher enforcement of species endangerment laws, we will not lose these beautiful birds.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw is a subspecies hybrid of the regular Buffon's Macaw, which is one of the few hybrids that occur in the wild. Its beauty and intelligence both match well with those of its genetic predecessors though, unfortunately, the Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw also shares the endangerment of its fellow wild macaws. Both in the wild and in captivity, the Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw is a shy and a somewhat solitary bird. In the wild, they generally form in pairs and small family groups of perhaps eight to 12 birds, and are less social than other macaws. Once common on both sides of the Panama Canal, this beautiful bird has all but vanished in the wild due to large-scale clearance of lowland wet and dry forests. In addition, law enforcement is attempting to keep the captivity of the Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw limited to educational purposes and captivity breeding attempts, the results of which would later be released into reserves. The only difference in appearance between the Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw and the Buffon's Macaw is the Ecuadorian has a slightly narrower bill and slightly greener underside flight and tail feathers.

Origin

Ecuador

History

The Ley Forestal de Ecuador (Forestry Law of Ecuador) heavily penalizes the illegal hunting and captivity of this protected species, but the enforcement of these laws up until now has been weak. The Ecuadorian Buffon's Macaw continues to hang precariously close to the edge of extinction, along with the Buffon's Macaw.

Common Foods

N/A