Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis Scientific name definitions

The Bolivian endemic Blue-throated Macaw is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. This species was thought to be extinct in the wild, but new individuals were observed in the international pet trade, leading to the realization that a wild population must exist. In 1992 the Blue-throated Macaw was indeed discovered to still remain in a distant area of Beni Department, Bolivia. Initially the population was estimated to be only 50 birds but recent surveys have estimated that 300 birds are remaining and they are found in a more extensive area than previously thought. This macaw is found often along side the similar and much more widespread Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna). The Blue-throated is identified by its blue throat patch, reddish facial skin, and entirely blue wings. This macaw lives in savanna habitat, and forages primarily on mocatú palm (Attalea phalerata), the primary food of several macaw species found in the region.

85 cm; 600–800 g. Very similar to A. ararauna, but lighter and thinner tailed , crown all blue , and bare facial patch (pinkish around base of bill) almost totally obscured by thick blue feather lines merging into blue lower cheek, chin and throat . Immature has darker blue on throat.

N Bolivia E of upper R Mamoré in Llanos de Mojos (Beni).

Seasonally inundated savanna with groves of Attalea phalerata and A. princeps palms, scattered Acrocomia and Copernicia palms, and small slightly raised patches of low tropical forest dominated by Scheelea and Acrocomia palms and large Tabebuia impetiginosa trees. Occurs in lowlands at 200–300 m, on occasion near human habitation.

No information.

Mesocarp of fruits of Attalea and Acrocomia palms, occasionally opening unripe Attalea nuts to drink liquid within.

Loud raucous calls , but higher-pitched and rather softer than A. ararauna, so that the two can be told apart already from a distance (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

At the Llanos de Moxos, Beni, laying Aug–Dec, during the end of dry season and the beginning of the wet season, with nests in holes in dead palms (mostly Attalea phalerata), live hardwood trees (including Gallesia integrifolia and Anadenanthera colubrina), or nestboxes, the entrance hole being at c. 7–10 m above the ground when in natural cavities (2 Berkunsky, I., Daniele, G., Kacoliris, F.P., Díaz-Luque, J.A., Silva Frias, C.P., Aramburu, R.M. and Gilardi, J.D. (2014). Reproductive parameters in the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw: limits to the recovery of a parrot under intensive management. PLOS One. 9(6): e99941. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099941. Close ). Clutch 2·5 eggs on average (range 1–3 eggs, n = 29); hatching success 72%, hatchling survival 59%, and 45% of the breeding attempts producing at least one fledgling, on average two, after a 85 days nestling period (2 Berkunsky, I., Daniele, G., Kacoliris, F.P., Díaz-Luque, J.A., Silva Frias, C.P., Aramburu, R.M. and Gilardi, J.D. (2014). Reproductive parameters in the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw: limits to the recovery of a parrot under intensive management. PLOS One. 9(6): e99941. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099941. Close ). In captivity: 2–3 eggs; incubation 26–28 days; nestling period 90–94 days.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. CITES I. Restricted-range species, occurring in two disjunct areas of N Bolivia , separated by várzea forests of the R Mamoré. N subpopulation found from W of Santa Ana, E across the upper R Mamoré, Beni, where wild population was discovered in 1992 (3 Duffield, G.E. and Hesse, A.J. (1997). Ecology and conservation of the Blue-throated Macaw. PsittaScene. 9(2): 10-11. Close , 4 Yamashita, C. and Barros, Y.M. (1997). The Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis: characterization of its distinctive habitats in savannahs of the Beni, Bolivia. Ararajuba. 5(2): 141-150. Close ), to the E savannas; S subpopulation  found mostly in Maraban province in Beni, in vicinity of town of Loreto. Known range 12,900 km², but 52,000 km² perhaps available (5 Herzog, S. K., O. Maillard Z., D. Embert, P. Caballero, and D. Quiroga (2012). Range size estimates of Bolivian endemic bird species revisited: the importance of environmental data and national expert knowledge. Journal of Ornithology 153(4):1189–1202. Close ). Always very rare and originally known only via skins from undetermined localities and captive specimens until 1992, when 28 birds were discovered in the Llanos de Mojos in Beni department (6 Jordan, O.C. and Munn, C.A. (1993). First observations of the Blue-throated Macaw in Bolivia. Wilson Bull.. 105(4): 694-695. Close ). The population was suggested to be 500–1000 in early 1980s, falling to 120 in 1996–1997 (7 Hesse, A.J. and Duffield, G.E. (2000). The status and conservation of the Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis. Bird Conservation International. 10(3): 255-275. Close ). An additional 70 individuals were discovered at a dry-season roost site in 2007 and the entire population was calculated to be 250–300. Seen in flocks of up to five, never in large ones like some macaw species; in occupied areas, outnumbered by A. ararauna by factor of 20, and may suffer competition from this larger congener. The principal danger up until end of 20th century was from trapping for trade, e.g. six wild-bred birds stolen from Santa Cruz Zoo in Dec 1996; 390 birds recorded in international trade in period 1981–1992 (although, this has been considered an underestimate, with the true number more than 1200 during the 1980s, a figure which suggests that the population was formerly much higher (4 Yamashita, C. and Barros, Y.M. (1997). The Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis: characterization of its distinctive habitats in savannahs of the Beni, Bolivia. Ararajuba. 5(2): 141-150. Close ) ), most in 1981–1984; CITES I since 1983, and additional Bolivian legislature in 1984 and 1986. Capture for international trade no longer appears to be a threat BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Ara glaucogularis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/08/2016. . Also significant is agriculture, as all populations located to date are on ranchland: burning to improve pasture destroys potential nesting trees and may reduce food supplies; cattle too cause serious damage to vegetation. Current conservation initiatives include discussions with local ranchers and also with schoolchildren in order to enlist local support to save the species; requirements include more exhaustive census work and also research into biology and ecology. The 11,000 ha Barba Azul Nature Reserve protects important foraging and roosting sites for over 100 Blue-throated Macaws from March to early November BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Ara glaucogularis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/08/2016. . Since 2000, this species has qualified as Critically Endangered because its population is extremely small, and each isolated subpopulation is tiny and declining as a result of trade and habitat loss; its population also appears to have decreased extremely rapidly in recent years. For the same reasons, it is considered nationally Critically Endangered in Bolivia (8 Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua, Editor (2009). Libro Rojo de la Fauna Silvestre de Vertebrados de Bolivia. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua, La Paz, Bolivia. Close ).