Local services
On the 25th of June, Debrecen Zoo welcomed two yellow-winged macaws from Ostrava Zoo in the Czech Republic.
The yellow-winged macaw is relatively rare in Hungarian zoos, only found in two institutions besides Debrecen Zoo.
Native to the lowland rainforests and savannahs of Central and South America, the yellow-winged macaw is one of the most impressive-looking parrot species, with its red-yellow-blue plumage and 120-centimetre wingspan. It feeds on seeds, fruits, berries and nectar during the day and roosts in groups at night. Pairs nest in palm tree cavities; egg hatching is mainly the responsibility of the egg-laying parent, but both parents are involved in the care of the chicks for 3-4 months. Due to habitat destruction and poaching, the species is listed on the IUCN Red List and in Appendix I of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The indigenous people of what is now Honduras have attached great value to it, and it is now the country’s national bird.
The southern subspecies (Ara macao) can also be seen in Debrecen. It can be distinguished from its rarer northern relative partly by its green wing feathers. As is typical of macaws, they form monogamous pairs, often in large flocks.
Source: Debrecen Zoo – dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen Zoo
