Hyacinth Macaw

Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus

The Birds of the World website introduces the Hyacinth Macaw with this descriptive information:  The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest parrot in the world and easily one of the most spectacular. It is an enormous bird weighing on average 1.5 kilograms (3.5 pounds) and is completely blue save its dark bill and bare yellow orbital ring and stripe at base of its lower mandible. It is completely dependent on the fruits of a number of palm species and has a necessarily massive bill to aid in the cracking of the tough exterior. Due to its dependence on palm fruit its range is regulated by the presence and abundance of its preferred species and is distributed in north central and south central Brazil into extreme north west Paraguay where it can be found in palm savannas, Mauritia palm stands, open dry woodland, gallery forest and the edge of humid lowland forest. 

I met my first Hyacinth Macaw on Thursday morning, August 24, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group had been staying at Southwild’s Fazenda Santa Tereza and on this morning we were headed south on the Transpantaneira Highway enroute  to Porto Jofre and ultimately the Jaguar Flotel.  It was along the Transpantaneira that I watched and photographed this bird, which was all alone, perched high atop a tree.  I only managed one shot, before it flew.  Later in my trip, while staying at the Jaguar Flotel, I got some better looks and photos of this beautiful bird, so I will be posting more photos later.  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a couple of my photos of this beautiful Macaw.

On the morning of Sunday, August 27, 2023, our Jeff Parker tour group visited the Piquiri Lodge for the express purpose of seeing the Hyacinth Macaws that typically are found at that location.  We were not disappointed, and saw a large flock of these colorful and boisterous Macaws.  Here are some of the photos I took that morning.