Golden nape macaw

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Golden nape macaw
Golden-naped macaws (Ara auricollis), parents with young

Golden- naped macaws ( Ara auricollis ), parents with young

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Tribe : New World Parrots (Arini)
Genre : Little Macaw ( Primolius )
Type : Golden nape macaw
Scientific name
Primolius auricollis
( Cassin , 1853)

The golden- naped macaw ( Primolius auricollis ) is a South American parrot species from the genus of the small macaws ( Primolius ) within the family of real parrots (Psittacidae). The type epithet auricollis comes from Latin (auri from aurum = gold ; collis = neck ).

features

The golden-naped macaw is relatively small for a macaw with a body length of 38 centimeters. His body is elongated. The tail is long and thin, the wings are very broad. The bird has a hump on the forehead and a very strong, sharply bent beak. The neck is yellow, the top of the tail is dark in color, the underside of the same is yellow-gray. The wings , the umbrella feathers and the thumb wing are also blue, but a little lighter. The golden-necked macaw's forehead and throat are black. The entire face is featherless, the skin of the face is white to yellow-white. The feet of the young are dark gray, those of the adults are flesh-colored. The bird's iris is red.

Habitat and Distribution

The golden-naped macaw has a relatively small distribution area in central South America , from southern Brazil to north and east Bolivia and north Paraguay to north-west Argentina

Distribution area of ​​the golden-necked macaw

As with almost all parrot species, the golden-naped macaw population is in sharp decline, as its range is threatened by agriculture and industry. Overall, the golden nape macaw is listed as Least Concern (not endangered) by the IUCN .

The habitats of the golden-naped macaw are tropical to subtropical forests along the rivers and open semi-savannahs. Overall, the golden-naped macaw is very adaptable and has been observed up to an altitude of 2000 meters.

Lifestyle and diet

There are very few reports in the literature on the golden naped macaw's way of life. Groups of over 100 birds were observed. They breed in tree hollows in December, these are also chosen as sleeping places; a clutch consists of two to four eggs.

The diet is varied and includes various fruits , seeds, nuts and berries . In addition, the macaw regularly visits clay walls, the so-called clay licks, which, according to recent research, do not serve to absorb minerals but to neutralize plant toxins.

Offspring and reproduction

Until the beginning of 1970, the golden-naped macaw was a rare parrot bird in Europe . Between 1973 and 1979 major imports of wild-caught animals came to Europe. The first breeding succeeded in the bird park Walsrode in Germany in the year 1976. The offspring is relatively unproblematic and meanwhile often succeeded. The incubation period is 26 days, the nestling period around 70 days. The start of incubation is indicated by increased aggressiveness and increased visits to the incubator. During the incubation period, the males keep the females company. After hatching, the young lose their first fluff at around 7 days, and at 9 days the horn-colored beak turns black.

Systematics

In addition to the classification in the genus Ara , the literature also includes the classification in Propyrrhura as Propyrrhura auricollis . He is sometimes called Primolius auricollis together with the Blue headed Macaw ( Primolius couloni ) and the Illiger ( Primolius maracana ) in the genus Kleinaras ( Primolius provided). The classification in Primolius is controversial, as there are clear similarities to Ara severa . Lepperhoff does not even use this classification in his specialist book published in 2004.

literature

Web links

Commons : Golden- naped Macaw ( Primolius auricollis )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files