In the beginning, Hyacinth Macaw looked like many other birds, just bigger. He was all blue, so it was often difficult to see him against the sky when he rose above the forest. And his beak was straight so that he could peck at trees to eat insects - his favorite food - that lived under their bark and so that he could sip honey from flowers, like his smaller brother, Hummingbird.
Hyacinth Macaw lived a carefree life. Because he was so much bigger than the other birds, he had nothing to fear from them. And because he lived so high up in the trees, he did not have to fear other animals, except for the snakes that can climb trees to steal Macaw babies. But with his long, pointed beak and great size, Hyacinth Macaw was unafraid of most snakes, and few would risk climbing a tree to steal his babies. There were other birds less able to defend themselves. Yes, Hyacinth Macaw was carefree. He was also a foolish bird who thought that he could do anything he wanted. And what he wanted most was to fly up high, so high that he could touch the sun. Hyacinth Macaw loved the sun's warmth that swept the morning mists from the forest and allowed him to fly above the trees. There he would spread his wings and let the air currents, heated by the sun, carry him even higher.
One day, Hyacinth Macaw decided to fly up to touch the sun. He told the other birds and many forest animals of his plan. They told him that he was being foolish again. "The sun is our Father," they said, "and you must treat him with respect. You cannot just fly up and touch him." An old, wise shaman named Tupiyama overheard Hyacinth Macaw telling of his plans. When the other birds and animals had left, he called Hyacinth Macaw to him. When he perched on Tupiyama's shoulder, Tupiyama told him, "My son, you should not do this thing. It is not respectful. Besides, it is not in your nature to fly so high. Only Harpie Eagle, Condor, and King Vulture fly that high, and they are much bigger and stronger than you are. Stay where you belong."
Hyacinth Macaw thanked Tupiyama for his advice, but said that he wanted to fly up to the sun to touch it. With that, he took off, and soon he was high above the trees. Up and up flew Hyacinth Macaw, nearer and nearer to the sun. He had never been so high before, and it took all his strength to fly that high. Closer and closer he came to the sun. He was very warm and very happy, but he was also now very tired. Indeed, he was so tired that he lost control and flew into the sun. Splat! Hyacinth Macaw hit the sun head first.
Hyacinth Macaw found himself falling rapidly down through the sky, toward the forest. Over and over he turned, and down he plunged. Finally, he was able to regain his senses, and he spread his wings. This helped to slow his fall, and just before he was about to fall into the trees, Hyacinth Macaw 
straightened out his flight and landed safely. He sat on the top of a tree for many hours, resting. Then, deciding he was hungry, he flew to a nearby tree to eat some honey from a flower. But he could not eat; his beak was now bent and curled around because he had flown so hard into the sun. He tried to peck a tree to eat the insects beneath its bark, but his newly curved beak could not be used for pecking trees.
Hyacinth Macaw began to cry from hunger and frustration, and soon the other birds and animals gathered around him. When they saw what had happened, they started to laugh. Hyacinth Macaw was angry. "I am hungry, I cannot eat, and all you do is laugh at me." The other birds and animals replied, "Yes, because your beak is bent, and you have yellow spots all over your face." Hyacinth Macaw flew to a river and looked in the water. He saw that he now had yellow spots on his face where some of the sun's color had touched him when he flew into the sun. He ducked his head into the water, but the color would not come off. He put his beak into the crook of a tree and pulled, but it would not straighten out. Hyacinth Macaw began to cry again. Soon, along came Tupiyama. He looked at Hyacinth Macaw and laughed. "Now your looks match your foolish behavior," he said. "I warned you not to fly up to the sun." Hyacinth Macaw replied, "Well, you were right, but I did. Now what am I to do?"
Tupiyama reached into his pouch and withdrew some nuts and fruit. "From now on," he said, "these will be your foods. And from now on, people and the other birds and animals of the forest will laugh at you because of the way you look. You may be a big bird, but the silly look on your face is forever a reminder that you did not heed the advice of those wiser than you, and that you flew into the sun." So that is why Hyacinth Macaw has a curved beak, yellow spots on his face, and eats what he does. And let this be a lesson to all of you to pay attention to those wiser than you and not to behave foolishly, but to follow the life way that the spirits have provided for you.
Back to Newsletter HighlightsBack to Home Page