The Green-winged Macaw Ara chloroptera is one of the largest of the Macaw parrots. It is quite beautiful in color and very distinguished its own right. It is considered to be one of the most docile Macaws and often referred to as the ‘gentle giant’. This pet bird it is appreciated for both its coloration and its temperament. It tends to be gentler, quieter, and a more affectionate Macaw than many of its relatives, making it a superb companion and family pet.

This large Macaw has been kept in captivity as far back as the 17th century. In these early times there was not a lot of emphasis placed on breeding. As with most parrots at that time, the Green-winged Macaws were usually kept singly and it was not possible to determine their gender visually. Breeding parrots began in more earnest around the turn of the 19th century and breeding the Green Wing was highly successful. Today this large Macaw is well established in aviculture and readily available as a pet.

The Green Wing is colored in a rich, deep red from its head down through the upper mantle of the back and wings, the underparts, and the tail. Below the red, running across the middle of its back and wings, is a band of green and thus its common name “Green-winged”. The green then yields to a light blue on its rump, the upper and lower tail coverts, and tip of the tail, and to a dark blue on the wings.

It is second in size only to the Hyacinth MacawAnodorhynchus hyacinthinus which is the largest Macaw and is itself the second largest parrot in the world. Both of these Macaws are big birds. The Green Wing averages a length of about 35 1/2″ (90 cm), compared to the Hyacinth at 37″ (95 cm), and a weight of about 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg) compared to about 3.7 lb (1.7 kg).

The naming of this bird has a rather twisted history, its been called a variety of names that reflect both its size and color. Both this Macaw and the Hyacinth Macaw have been referred to as a ‘gentle giant’ because of their large size yet very pleasant personalities. In color, this bird is often confused with the Scarlet MacawAra macao because of the large amount of red in its feathering. However the Scarlet has a broad band of yellow feathers across the back rather than green ones like this bird has.

Common names were flurried about to depict this bird as well as its red cousin with the yellow band of feathers. This Macaw was referred to as the Green-winged Macaw, Green Wing Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, Red and Blue Macaw, Crimson Macaw, and Maroon Macaw. At the same time names to depict the smaller Macaw with the yellow band ranged from Red Macaw, Red and Gold Macaw, Red and Yellow Macaw, Red, Yellow and Blue Macaw, and Scarlet Macaw. It was in 1949, when a Dr. Osmond Hill, after careful researched of all available materials on these species, suggested that everything be simplified. He suggested that Ara macao simply be called the “Scarlet Macaw”, and Ara chloroptera simply be called the “Green-winged Macaw”. And these are the two common names primarily used for each of these Macaw species today.

Despite its overall red appearance, the personality Green-winged Macaws is just about the opposite of the Scarlet Macaw. The Green-winged Macaws are very sweet tempered birds that are affectionate, inquisitive, and intelligent. They make them a great companion not only for a single person, but when well socialized, they are friendly with everyone, even other birds. This is quite the opposite of the brilliant red Scarlet, which can be quite a fiery bird and needs a firm hand.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Psittaciformes
Family:Psittacidae
Genus:Ara
Species:chloroptera

Scientific name

Ara chloroptera

Distribution

The Green-winged Macaw Ara chloroptera was first described by Gray in 1859. Its natural habitat runs from eastern Panama in Central America south across northern South America, east of the Andes to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, with a rare occurrence in northern Argentina. It is found living in tropical rainforests along lowlands and the lower foothills of interior regions rather than in coastal zones. It lives in pairs or small groups rather than flocks. A true forest bird, it spends it day feeding in the treetops. Its food consists of seed, nuts, fruits, and green vegetation.

Status

The Green-winged Macaw Ara chloroptera is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Least Concern (LC).

Description

Green-winged Macaws are very colorful parrots. The head, shoulders, and breast are a rich deep red. There is a greenish band below the shoulders and wings, yielding to a dark blue on the wing, and a light blue on the rump and the upper and lower tail coverts. It has very long tapering red tail feathers that are tipped in blue as well. Its legs are dark gray and the iris of the eye is yellow. The upper beak is horn colored with a dark gray on the lower sides, and the lower beak is also a dark gray.

Green-winged Macaws are a full sized Macaws. They have an average length of about 35 1/2″ (90 cm), and a weight of up to about 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg), and a lifespan of up to 60 years. A younger bird will be similar to the adult in color, but with a shorter tail. The lower part of its beak is a be paler gray and they have a brown iris.

The Greenwing differs in appearance from the similar Scarlet Macaw by the band of green feathers across its back. On the Scarlet there will be a broad band of yellow feathers across the back.

“Banjo”, seen in the picture to the right, is a surgically sexed Green-winged Macaw. He is a male, and after sexing, a tattoo was placed under his wing as a record.

Care and Feeding

In the wild the Green Wing Macaw eats a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetation in the treetops. There are name brand commercially prepared seed or pellet mixes for the Macaw. They can also eat anything nutritious that you eat and these foods should be offered. Most parrots enjoy eating with their family. They eat some protein in the wild and they do like chicken. Avocado and chocolate are toxic to parrots.

Housing

Large Macaws require a roomy cage, at least 2 1/2 by 3 feet. The Green Wing Macaw is quieter than other large Macaws, but it is a still a good idea to place the cage is in a room where the amount of noise the neighbors hear is a minimal as possible.

A large sturdy perch needs to be mounted in the cage. Fresh fruit tree branches work great because they can chew on them as well, but then they will have to be replaced occasionally. Food and water dishes, along with a treat dish work best mounted above the perch at the side of the cage. A variety of toys for playing and chewing should also be provided. As alternatives to a cage, they can be kept in an outdoor aviary where the weather permits, and some people like to provide their bird with its own “bird room”.

A large Macaws needs 2 – 3 hours a day outside their cage. The Macaw’s cage is their territory and a play pen top is great, but it is still their territory. It is better to interact with a Macaw on top of a sturdy perch away from the cage. A separate, free-standing playpen works great for this. Many birds can spend most of their time on a playpen or parrot perch. .

Maintenance

The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.

Social Behaviors

Green-winged Macaws are lovable, friendly, and intelligent. Macaws can be quite loud, being especially loud when anticipating interaction with you. They will also mirror your moods, so if you are agitated, they can become agitated. If you are happy and loving, well so is your pet.

In the wild the Green-winged Macaws are usually seen in pairs or small groups, but never in flocks. They are a very gentle bird that will get along with more than one person. But they are a typical Macaw and can be cranky at times and may prefer only one person or only one gender. To have a well-rounded bird that enjoys more than one person, make sure it is well-socialized with lots of folks

Handling/Training

The Green Wing Macaw is intelligent and eager for attention and play. It has a good disposition and responds well to handling and training. This Macaw adapts quickly. Once it becomes accustomed to a new environment and its keeper it is then ready to start bird training. Generally though, you should give a new arrival a few days to get use to you, your voice and its cage before trying to handle it. A hand fed baby will not need much taming and can often be handled right away, as it is use to human attention.

With all parrots, taming and training takes trust and patience. Macaws are very intelligent making them easy to tame. They are also very adept at learning and quick to train. They excel best at learning tricks and small tasks. They are not as inclined to talk and mimic as some of the other parrots, notably the Amazon Parrots, but they can learn a few words or phrases.

Activities

For the physical well-being and psychological health of a Macaw Parrot, they must have plenty of opportunities to exercise and play. Providing regular interaction and lots of playtime. Having plenty of space and a large selection of toys and activities will help deter distress in your pet Macaw.

These are lovable pets and activities include interactive time with its keeper. Everything from petting, cuddling, and preening is appreciated, as well as performing and learning new tricks. But these are also very large, rambunctious pets that need a good-sized space to play and climb around. Both climbing around inside a large cage, and providing an outside playpen offers them interest and variety.

Macaws are avid chewers, munching intently on anything they can get a hold of. When they are on a playpen, make sure they can’t reach trim or any household items you don’t want destroyed. Provide lots of toys and activities in the form of large link chains, bird ladders, parrot swings, ropes, and wood toys for gnawing and chewing. Rotate in new bird toys regularly.

Sexual Differences

No visible differences. There is no for certain way to distinguish a male Green Wing Macaw from a female. In order to know whether you have a male or female, the bird must be sexed. DNA / Feather or surgical sexing is recommended.

Breeding/Reproduction

The Green-winged Macaw is well established in aviculture, especially in the United States, and is commonly bred in captivity. The usual clutch consists of two or three eggs which incubate for about 28 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. Feed the parents additional high-fat seeds, like sunflower seed, during the breeding season. Also feed the parents plenty of green stuffs, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, protein, and fruit laced with food supplement while they are rearing the youngsters.

The Green-winged Macaw has also been crossed with other large macaw species to develop a number of hybrid Macaws. These include first generation (F1) hybrids like the Buffwing Macaw, Calico Macaw, Harlequin Macaw, and Ruby Macaw, and second generation (F2) and later generations hybirds such as the Cameo Macaw, Flame Macaw, and Jubilee Macaw. It has not been hybridized with Mini Macaws.

Potential Problems

It is definitely true that a Macaw parrot can make noise, but it is not often, and not without some provocation. Usually, if they make a loud squawking noise if they perceive something to be wrong or different. Maybe a car they don’t recognize is coming to the home or the dog is loose. They are also known to make a large noise for about 10 minutes as the sun is setting. This is an alert to their flock to settle in for the evening.

A pet Macaw when well cared for will seldom become ill. Yet they can contract some diseases, and there some also things in the environmental that can cause illness. Behavior problems can also occur, resulting in feather plucking, biting, and loud screeching. Though it is often difficult to determine illness, some visible signs of illness to be aware of are:

  • Ruffled plumage
  • Listlessness
  • Drooping wings
  • Sagging body
  • Extreme mood changes
  • Having no appetite
  • Bulges in feathering
  • Partially closed or watery eyes
  • Swelling of the eyelids
  • Rasping
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Excessive saliva
  • Dirty vent
  • Any change in the feces not apparently diet-related

Some of the more common illnesses are:

  • Proventricular Dilation disease (Macaw wasting disease)
  • Psittacosis (chlamydiosis or parrot fever)
  • Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
  • Feather picking – results of boredom, poor diet, sexual frustration, and lack of bathing
  • Allergies
  • Chewing flight and tail feathers by juveniles
  • Beak malformations in chicks
  • Papillomas
  • Kidney disease (gout)
  • Toxicity – heavy metal poisoning
  • Lipomas in older birds

If you notice any of these bird illnesses in your Greenwing Macaw immediately provide a warm, draft free, secure environment kept at about 86°F (30°C). Place food and water close to the perch where it is easily accessible. An ailing parrot should be taken to an avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Behavior problems in a pet Macaw usually stem from something that is missing in the bird’s environment. Some of the most common are lack of trust, becoming bored, or lack of interaction with people or other birds. When these things are missing that can lead to problems resulting in undesirable behavior. Try to develop a bond of trust and spend time with your bird to help avoid these problems. We have also had good success with Chet Womach’s Parrot Training Course. He offers free 3-day introductory course so you can try it out before you buy anything.

Availability

The Green-winged Macaw is fairly common, moderately priced, and generally available. It is easy to find a Green-winged Macaw for sale.

Sources

 

Featured Image Credit: duangnapa_b, Shutterstock