tary Macaws. This ecological differ­ that a number of the yellow feathers ence enabled them to evolve larger are richly tipped with green. Indeed, size, paler color, and now a different some of the coverts may be entirely pattern ofbehavior. This went to such green. Further, though this has yet to an extreme that they became a differ­ be corroborated by the measurements ent species: Button's Macaw (A. taken of museum skins, so many of ambigua). Elsewhere, the Military the aviary birds obtained from Macaw also became somewhat less South America (some are known to The montane and has now diffused over have been imported from Guyana) much of Mexico. These now differ seem so much larger generally (as subspecifically from those to the well as being brighter) than those south. known to come from northern Macaw Likewise, the Scarlet Macaw of Central America. Mexico and Central America may also The Scarlet Macaws from Panama, have gained entry only towards the and to an increasingly lesser degree end of the last Ice Age (some 12,000 Costa Rica, have examples of both Society years back). Originally, so few indi­ colorations in the population. It is, vidual birds percolated through the therefore, assumed that this area constraints of the Isthmus that they forms a "hybrid zone" between the were limited in their genetic diversity. brighter southern and the duller Once through this geographical northern races. of barrier, the inevitable inbreeding and It would take a study which subsequent evolution from the encompasses more skins than the founder-immigrants ensured that they British Museum, the Smithsonian, America developed a different appearance and the American Museum of Natural from those Scarlet Macaws found on History have supplied, to prove that by Robert Francis the mainland ofSouth America. geographical patterns are present in Burton, Michigan The museum worker is very much even smaller geographical areas. For inclined to subdivide species of birds example, I know that some of the The Macaw Society of America into geographical races (or sub­ most brightly colored Scarlet Macaws (MSA) was formed in the middle of species). The usual reasons are that from Nicaragua, to the northeast of 1990. This national organization was they have differences in coloration or Panama, have blue tips to many of founded to promote the continued size. It is strange that no one has sub­ their yellow feathers. Skins from education of all its members, breed­ divided the Scarlet Macaw. some areas prove smaller. In Brazil ers, owners or others interested in the While in Washington, D.C. for the there is a difference, or appears to be, care, breeding, ownership and preser­ 1990 AFA Conference, I went to between those birds found in the vation of all macaw species. Its pur­ further confirm this in the ornitho­ southeast and northwest portions. pose is also to continue to promote logical section of the Smithsonian. At Perhaps some of these differences the domestic breeding of the endan­ once, I found that Joanne Abramson will prove to be nothing more than a gered species while discouraging the (of Raintree Macaws) had indepen­ "cline" where one form gradually practice of hybridization of all spe­ dently come to the same conclusion, merges into another. This is yet to be cies. It promotes the restriction of for she was there carefully working studied. importation of macaws, limited to through their skins. We might mention that both the breeders for the establishment of new We agree that the Scarlet Macaw Military and the Scarlet Macaws gene pools for the domestic pet trade, has two discernable populations. crowned their pre-Cortez conquest of thereby reducing the pressures on the One, to the north of Panama, tends to Central America by getting into the limited populations in their native have a paler red feathering. Perhaps largest of the Caribbean Islands. lands. this race is more subject to fading, Unfortunately, the macaws from The Macaw Society of America especially to the nape of the neck. these are now totally exterminated publishes a bi-monthly newsletter However, the chief characteristic of and as most went in the years before which provides the information this form is the yellow of the wing descriptive ornithology began, we about macaws or macaw-related coverts. This is fairly extensive and have so little to go on. A few entries items. This newsletter includes input has no, or very little, green edging to have come from buccaneers' log from various avian experts, breeders, these golden feathers. In South books, from ecclesiastics' diaries and owners and veterinarians. Through its America, the macaws tend to be a from sporting (gun-toting) land newsletter, it is the objective of MSA darker (and more sun-fast?) red in owners. Although many species have to provide all the latest information color. Some individuals almost been suggested, it does seem that on the developments in the areas of approach (even if it is never as rich) there were but two on the Greater avian research along with providing the sombre, darker, scarlet red colora­ Antilles. The better known, and only updates on current illnesses and tion of the Green-winged Macaw. The because it survived longer, is the diseases affecting macaws. southern population also tends to Cuban Macaw (A. tricolor). This For more information on the have much less yellow to the wings. smallish macaw was obviously Macaw Society of America, please In some Scarlet Macaws, this is of a derived from the Scarlet Macaw. The contact Robert Francis, President, brighter, richer gold. In others, it has green one from Jamaica (A. erythro­ MSA, P.O. Box 90037, Burton, a faint red suffusion to it. The major cephala) seems to have descended Michigan 48509-0037 or call (313) difference with all of these birds is from the Military Macaw.• 736-5059.•

14 June/July 1991