Red-and-green Macaw
Encyclopedia
The Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloropterus), also known as the Green-winged Macaw, is a large mostly-red macaw
of the Ara genus
.
This is the largest of the Ara genus, widespread in the forests and woodlands of northern and central South America
. However, in common with other macaws, in recent years there has been a marked decline in its numbers due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the parrot trade.
as whilst the breast of both birds is bright red, the upper-wing covert feathers of the Red-and-green Macaw are mostly green but can occasionally sport a few yellow feathers above the band of green (as opposed to mostly yellow, or a strong mix of yellow and green in the Scarlet Macaw). In addition, the Red-and-green Macaw has characteristic red lines around the eyes formed by rows of tiny feathers on the otherwise bare white skin patch; this is one of the biggest differences from a Scarlet Macaw to the casual viewer. Iridescent teal feathers are surrounded by red on the tail. If seen together, the Red-and-Green Macaw is clearly larger than the Scarlet Macaw as well.
It is second only in size to the Hyacinth Macaw
, the largest bird of the macaw family. The wingspan of the Red-and-green Macaw can be up to 49 inches (125 cm), with a total body length of 39 inches (100 cm). A healthy adult will weigh between 1,250 and 1,700 grams (2.7-3.7 lbs).
The Red-and-green Macaw has a very powerful beak which can generate a pressure of 2000 psi
and can snap a broomstick in half. This powerful beak has evolved to crush or open even the hardest nuts and seeds.
from the nest about 90 days after hatching.
Macaw
Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
of the Ara genus
Ara (genus)
Ara is a Neotropical genus of macaws with eight extant species and at least two extinct species. The genus name was coined by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. It gives its name to and is part of the Arini, or tribe of Neotropical parrots. The Ara macaws are large striking...
.
This is the largest of the Ara genus, widespread in the forests and woodlands of northern and central South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. However, in common with other macaws, in recent years there has been a marked decline in its numbers due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the parrot trade.
Description
The Red-and-green Macaw can be readily identified from the Scarlet MacawScarlet Macaw
The Scarlet Macaw is a large, colorful macaw. It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. Range extends from extreme south-eastern Mexico to Amazonian Peru, Bolivia and Brazil in lowlands up to up to...
as whilst the breast of both birds is bright red, the upper-wing covert feathers of the Red-and-green Macaw are mostly green but can occasionally sport a few yellow feathers above the band of green (as opposed to mostly yellow, or a strong mix of yellow and green in the Scarlet Macaw). In addition, the Red-and-green Macaw has characteristic red lines around the eyes formed by rows of tiny feathers on the otherwise bare white skin patch; this is one of the biggest differences from a Scarlet Macaw to the casual viewer. Iridescent teal feathers are surrounded by red on the tail. If seen together, the Red-and-Green Macaw is clearly larger than the Scarlet Macaw as well.
It is second only in size to the Hyacinth Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw , or Hyacinthine Macaw, is a parrot native to central and eastern South America. With a length of about 100 cm it is longer than any other species of parrot...
, the largest bird of the macaw family. The wingspan of the Red-and-green Macaw can be up to 49 inches (125 cm), with a total body length of 39 inches (100 cm). A healthy adult will weigh between 1,250 and 1,700 grams (2.7-3.7 lbs).
The Red-and-green Macaw has a very powerful beak which can generate a pressure of 2000 psi
Pounds per square inch
The pound per square inch or, more accurately, pound-force per square inch is a unit of pressure or of stress based on avoirdupois units...
and can snap a broomstick in half. This powerful beak has evolved to crush or open even the hardest nuts and seeds.
Behavior
The Red-and-green Macaw generally mates for life. The female typically lays two or three eggs in a nest made in a hole in a tree. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days, and the chicks fledgeFledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state...
from the nest about 90 days after hatching.
External links
- World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia - Species Profiles
- City Parrots
- The World Parrot Trust Fund
- A page (with photos) devoted to a Red-and-green Macaw
- Red-and-green Macaw videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (9 countries) with RangeMap
- Red-and-green Macaw photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res--"Red-and-green Macaws"-(clay lick) Article
