About Green-Winged Macaw (Click-Readmore)
 GREEN-WINGED MACAW
Scientific name: Ara chloropterus
Higher classification: Macaws
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Parrots
Mass: 1.2 kg
Conservation status: Least Concern
Description
The Green-winged macaw, known as the "Gentle Giant", is second in size only to the Hyacinth Macaw. The breast of the Green-winged macaw is bright red, but the lower feathers of the wing are green. Iridescent teal feathers are surrounded by red on the tail. In addition, the Green-winged macaw has characteristic red lines around the eyes formed by rows of tiny feathers on the otherwise bare white skin patch. The Green-winged macaw powerful beak is designed to crush or open even the hardest nuts and seeds.
Size/WingSpan
A full sized macaw, the Green-winged macaw averages length up to 90cm with wingspans averaging approximately 102-122.5cm Weight average approximately 1250-1700g
Habitat
The Green-winged macaw has one of the largest, broadest ranges of any macaw species. It occurs in Central & South America, including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay in tropical forests, mangrove swamps, and savannas.
Behaviour/Adaptations
Green-winged Macaws are frequently seen in pairs or family groups and occasionally gather in small flocks of six to twelve birds.
Diet and Nutrition
Nuts, fruit, berries, seeds and some vegetable matter foraged from trees constitute the typical diet of these macaws in the wild. They are able to eat some poisonous fruits due to their habit of eating river clay, which appears to neutralize the toxins.
Reproduction
The Green-winged macaw are normally monogamous, having only one mate for life. In the wild, the breeding season for the green-winged macaw begins in November and December in the southern part of their range, and February and March in the north. Nests are fashioned in hollow tree trunks or holes in damaged palms high above the ground. The female typically lays two or three eggs in the nest, incubates the eggs for about 28 days, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 90 days after hatching. |
Education & Conservation