Hello! We are the Green-winged Macaws. Look at us! We are very big right? Yes, we are big, in fact we are the second biggest of all macaw species. Have a look at some interesting points about us:
- As mentioned above, we are the second-largest macaws after Hyacinth Macaw and are called as “Gentle Giants”.
- You cannot bear our noise! We are very noisy and give our high-pitched screeching sounds when alarmed.
- We have a remarkable habit like any other macaw, we lick the mountain of clay near the shores in our range through which we obtain minerals and essential salts. This is known as “macaw licks”. This diet of ours helps us neutralize the toxins when we eat poisonous fruits.
- We are very sweet and docile compared to other macaws. We are desired pets and companions for humans. However, we cannot mimic very well compared to other macaw species.
- Do you know? We have very powerful beaks that can crack hard shells of various nuts. We have a bite force of 2000 PSI.
- Have you seen Scarlet Macaw? We both look almost same except for our green colored wings.
- We have a maximum flight speed of 56kmph.
- We are an important cultural icon in various countries. We can be seen in several Hollywood films. Many cities in South America and many tourist places have a lot of us attracting people.
SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT US:
Our Scientific Name: Ara chloropterus.
Identification: Big and red parrots with red-green-blue colored wings.
Our Habitat: tropical forests, swamps, savannas, and mangroves.
Our Range:
Food Habits: Herbivorous; feed mainly on fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, and vegetables.
Breeding Period: November to December.
Number of eggs laid: 2-3 eggs.
Incubation period: about 28 days.
Lifespan: 30-35 years; but few of us can live up to 60 years.
IUCN red list status: Least Concern.
CITES: Appendix II.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Ara
Species: A. Chloropterus
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are large birds and are also called as Red and Green Macaw. We are scientifically called as Ara chloropterus.
HOW WE LOOK:
We are very big macaws with a body length of about 90cm, a wingspan of 102cm-122.5cm and weigh 1.25kg-1.7kg. We are often mistaken as Scarlet Macaw as we both have a red- colored body.
We have red-colored upperparts and underparts. Our wings are red in color in the beginning and have blue ends. Green colored feathers are in between red and blue feathers. These green feathers distinguish us from scarlet macaw. We have bare white skin around our eyes with red stripes (another feature distinguishing us from scarlet macaw). We have a long white upper beak that is pointing downwards and a small black lower beak. Our tail feathers are blue and red in color with iridescence. Our legs are greyish-black in color. Males and females of our species look alike while the young ones look like adults.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We prefer living in tropical forests, swamps, savannas, and mangroves. We are neotropical birds (central and south America) and have the biggest range of all the macaws and are found in various countries like Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Bolivia.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are herbivorous birds. We feed on various types of fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, and vegetables available in our range. We have very strong beaks that can crack hard nuts.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We are monogamous birds (having a single mate for a lifetime). We generally live in pairs but sometimes we form flocks. Our breeding season varies with range.
In northern parts, breeding season is in February and March, while in southern parts, breeding season is in November and December.
The pair builds its nest in a tree cavity. The female lays 2-3 eggs at a time and the incubation period is about 28 days.
Incubation is done by the female while the male feeds and defends the female and the nest. The young chicks are taken care of and fed by both the parents. The young become independent after 90 days and leave the parents after a few weeks.
The young reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age. Our lifespan is normally about 30-35 years and we can live up to 60 years.
MORE ABOUT US:
We are large, in fact, we are the largest macaw of the Ara genus and second largest of all the macaws with the first being Hyacinth macaw. We are called the “Gentle Giant”.
We are noisy birds like any other macaws and give our loud screeches when alarmed.
We have a remarkable habit like any other macaw, we lick the mountain of clay near the shores in our range through which we obtain minerals and essential salts. This is known as “macaw licks”. This diet of ours helps us neutralize the toxins when we eat poisonous fruits.
We are very sweet and docile compared to other macaws. We are desired pets and companions for humans. However, we cannot mimic very well compared to other macaw species.
OUR CONSERVATION:
We are abundant in most of our range, but we are extinct and reintroduced in Panama and other small areas in our range. This is due to habitat destruction and illegal trading. We are listed as “Least Concern” in the red list of IUCN and listed in CITES Appendix II. In India, we are protected under Schedule IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Pic Credit: thesprucepets.com
