Behavior of Individuals and Social Interactions of the Red-Fronted Macaw Ara Rubrogenys in the Wild During the Midday Rest
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1997 |
Authors: |
Elin Pitter, Mette Bohn Christiansen |
Publication/Journal: |
Ornitologia Neotropical |
Keywords: |
ara rubrogenys, behavior, behaviour, bolivia, non-social interactions, red-fronted macaw, social interactions |
Abstract:
Behavior of the Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys was studied from September 1991 to March 1992 in south-central Bolivia. The macaws spent many hours at midday in groups of 2-30 individuals in quiet gorges and valleys. The birds always sat in pairs and spent most of the time sitting/resting or autopreening. Social interactions such as allopreening and playing/fighting took up 11-18% of their time. Social activities appeared to increase up to the breeding period. Certain interactions such as allopreening, copulation and courtship feeding presumably serve to maintain the pair-bond. AII types of interactions between pairs were rare. Individuals in the flock normally communicated by vocalizations and immediate copying of behavior, vocalization as well as movement, of one individual by another (social facilitation). Aggressive interaction between the pairs was exceptionally rare, and always sitting in pairs as well as performing allopreening seemed to keep the aggression at a low level.