Macaws

There are 17 species of macaws, all vividly coloured and yet well camouflaged in the rainforests of Central and South America as their plumage blends in surprisingly well with the foliage, and colourful fruits and flowers.

Macaws differ from other parrots in that they have relatively bare facial patches that vary in size, with tiny feather tracts forming facial patterns that are as unique as fingerprints.

Macaws can be taught to mimic sounds and human speech. Coupled with their beauty and intelligence, these birds are highly desired as pets.

As such, wild macaws face heavy trapping pressures that have led to plunging populations. Their forest homes are also being lost to development.

These factors threaten their existence, with several species listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered.

In the Amazon forest, many herbivores including macaws regularly pop by clay licks to obtain micronutrients like sodium and magnesium. These minerals supplement their low-salt, plant-based diets.

Geophagy (the eating of clay) is also thought to neutralise plant toxins, get rid of parasites, and relieve diarrhoea.

Ecotourists are fond of visiting mineral licks to see mixed flocks of colourful birds concentrated in one place.