I2- GLAUCOUS MACAW

Description

The glaucous macaw has a greenish-greyish blue plumage with its head and wings more bluish. The underparts of the tail feathers are brownish-black. It also has a black bill, its eyes have a dark brown iris, and it has brownish black legs. 

Habitat

  
You may find the glaucous along major rivers, but this may reflect travellers' dependence on river transport rather than the species's true habitat requirements. They might have been adapted to consume palm nuts as its principal diet, and therefore presumably wandered into palm-savannas and potentially lightly wooded areas. It nested on cliffs and the average clutch-size was probably two eggs. 

Distribution  

This macaw was widespread in Brazil from Paraná state southwards as well as in other places. It was originally from the middle reaches of the major rivers (Uruguay, Paraná and Paraguay) and adjacent areas, with most records coming from Corrientes, Argentina. It became rare before or early in the second half of the 19th century. A recent, thorough survey of Corrientes Province (Argentina) and Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) examining suitable palm groves and nesting/roosting cliffs found no evidence of its presence and concluded that it had become extinct in the first half of the 20th century. While it has been generally treated as extinct, persistent rumours of recent sightings, local reports and birds in trade indicate that a few birds may still survive. 

Population  

This species was last recorded in the 1960s and it might have declined severely as a result of hunting and trapping, plus habitat degradation and destruction. However, it may well exist, because not all of its formerly large range has been adequately surveyed, and there have been persistent and convincing local reports. Any remaining population may not be very large, and for these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered.

Threats

The building of lots of houses on the major rivers within its range was presumably accompanied by the widespread loss of palm-groves, either through direct clearance for agriculture or the suppression of regeneration by colonists' cattle. The size and appearance of the bird probably made it a significant target for hunters, and even the taking of young as pets could have been important. They might have been traded, but there won´t be a great of evidence that there has been recent trade in live specimens. Any current trade in eggs, skins or live specimens would obviously be extremely harmful.

Conservation

The glaucous macaw is protected under Brazilian law and there have been various attempts to rediscover the species.

adapted from  conservationoutdoors.org