BrokenWing Chronicles
The Cuban Red Macaw
Ara tricolor
Common Name: Macaw - Cuban

Other Common Names: Cuban Red Macaw

Scientific Name: Ara tricolor (Full Taxonomy)

Group: Parrots - Macaws

Origin or Range: Cuba

Relative Size: Much Larger Than Average
(as compared to other parrots)

Compatibility: Average
(as compared to other parrots)
Animal Description:
Little is known about the Cuban Macaw, as this species has been considered extinct for over 100 years. The last reported sighting of a Cuban Macaw was in 1864, when one was shot on the southern coast of Cuba. In 1885, this breed vanished all together.

It is speculated that the Cuban Macaw kept to the open country of Cuba, around trees, forests and swampland, living on a diet of fruits, seeds, and various plant shoots. The Cuban Macaw was social and could usually be found with a mate or a family, much like other Macaws, probably breeding in tall palms.

Along with the Cuban Macaw, nine different species of Macaws have already become extinct due to trapping, hunting, deforestation, habitat destruction and possibly hurricanes. All of these birds were native to the Caribbean Islands.

The Cuban Macaw was approximately 20 inches in length and a dull, ruddy brownish red in color with a bright red throat and yellowish crown, which turned to orange on the nape. Its upper back was tinged with green and the lower back was blue. The lesser wing-coverts were brown in color with red edging. The outer primary-coverts were a beautiful dark blue as were the primaries. There were feathers of red underneath and the topside of the tail was brownish-red with blue tips. The underside of the tail and flight feathers both were ruddy and its beak was black with a pale tip. The Cuban Macaw's eyes were yellow, the cheeks white, and the feet brown.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Red_Macaw

http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/naturalis/detail?lang=uk&id=59


BW

BrokenWing Chronicles
The Glaucous Macaw (extinct)
Anodorhynchus glaucus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucous_Macaw
http://www.bluemacaws.org/glau6.htm
http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/naturalis/det...?lang=uk&id=49
http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/zma3d/detail....on&type=family
http://www.centralpets.com/animals/b...ts/prt847.html

BrokenWing

Blushing bird
As many other macaws, the Hispaniolan Macaw was favoured as a cage bird, though local people also hunted it for its meat. The combination of factors led to its extinction. The bird occurred in Cuba and Hispaniola, and some believe that it also inhabited Jamaica. This assumption is based on a red macaw which was shot in 1765. Unfortunately, this skin was lost so it is impossible to determine whether it was indeed identical to the birds from Cuba and Hispaniola. On the basis of old descriptions, it has been proposed to treat the parrots from the latter island as a separate subspecies, since their bill is somewhat smaller and the bare parts of the face have a slightly different coloration. The latter feature is of little use, since the colour of the cheeks of a parrot may change with its moods. A parrot which becomes aggressive or excited will start to 'blush'.

The last record of the Hispaniolan Macaw was of a specimen shot on Cuba in 1864 at La Vega, in the neighbourhood of Zapata Swamp. The species may have survived for another 20 years or so.

Museum specimens
Only 19 specimens of the Hispaniolan Macaw remain. They are in museums in New York, Washington, Havana, Tring, Paris and Vienna. The provenance of the Leiden specimen is unknown. It is simply labelled 'Cuba'.
http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/naturalis/detail?lang=uk&id=59

That is such ashame

Sos sad... I google searched images of both, and they were both georgous! I find it so sad they were all killed off for food or trade. They were beautiful and would have definalty been popular on the pet trade ring if they were still in existance.

But, here is something to think about:
Many people thought the Blue Whale was extinct. I think that went on throughout the '90s until they were recently rediscovered. Wouldn't it be just so awsome IF there were some found? IF someone had a few and no one kew about it? I think it would be so amazing if they were still out there. Which, who knows, perhaps they are; on some unknows island. I was watching a show the other night about how they are still discovering islands all over. Most are small, but who knows, maybe there is some parrot we have not yet discovered out there

They sure are beautiful, it's a nice thought to hope for. I have been reading about several new finds lately of other species.

Thats very sad. They were beautiful

Wouldn't you think that plain old curiosity and common sense would keep a person from shooting, killing, and eating a creature so beautiful! Sometimes I am not very proud to be a human!

What a bird! wow!