Animal-World > Birds > Macaw Types > Large Macaw Parrots > Green-winged Macaw

Green-winged Macaw

Family: Psittacidae

• Puzzles
• Postcards

Green-winged MacawAra chloropteraPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Cheryl Galloway

     The Green-winged Macaw, often called the 'gentle giant', is one of the sweetest tempered of all the large macaws!

     Even though the Green-winged Macaw is one of the largest of the macaw family, it is considered to be one of the gentlest. This bird is often confused with the Scarlet Macaw because of the large amount of red feathering. However the Scarlet has a broad band of yellow feathers across the back rather than green ones like this bird has.

     Personality wise, the Scarlet Macaw can be quite a fiery bird and needs a firm hand. while the Green-winged Macaw is just about the opposite. This very sweet tempered bird is thought of as being more like a gentle giant. Greenwing Macaws 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.

For information about the care of Macaws see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Macaw

Scientific name:      Green-winged Macaw - Ara chloroptera

Distribution:      The Green-winged Macaw's natural habitat runs from eastern Panama in Central America south across northern South America, east of the Andes, to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.

'Banjo' - Green-winged Macaw (male) Photo  © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

Description:      Green-winged Macaws are a full sized macaw that are very colorful. The head, shoulders, and breast are a deep red. The wings next to the body are greenish turning bluer on the outside edge of the wing. It has very long tapering tail feathers.      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:    A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.

     See About Macaws: Housing and About Macaws: Care and Feeding for more information.

Size - Weight:      A full sized macaw, the Greenwing Macaw can get over 2 lbs. Lengths up to 90 cm (35.5 inches).

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 they they are usually seen in pairs, family groups of three, or small group of up to a dozen. They are rarely seen alone. They are a social bird and enjoy the company of their flock or of a mate as well. 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. See About Macaws: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded friendly macaw. (Also information on handling and activities)

Breeding/Reproduction:      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 plenty of greenstuffs, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, and fruit laced with food supplement while they are rearing the youngsters. See About Macaws: Breeding/Reproduction for information on breeding.

Sexual differences:      No visible differences.

Potential Problems:     Can be noisy (as can all macaws).   See About Macaws: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:      The Green-winged Macaw is fairly common, generally available, and are easy to obtain.

Add your comment here!
Click to see All the comments!
Click to see all of the coolest comments!
Latest Comments
Bama sez "Hi There". Just an update on my life with my Greenwing Macaw Bama. He and I are doing great and enjoying life. I have learned a lot from him over the past year. Training has been on going and fun for both of us most of the time. I have been blessed with a mild mannered guy who takes most everything in stride. If you read my post below from a year ago you know of my two chocolate labs Ty and JJ. Bama gets along well with both and they have taken to taking food from Bama. In the beginning Bama would drop half of everything he ate. Well as you can guess it didn't take long for two starving labs to figure that out, LOL. Now both Ty and JJ will sit and wait for Bama to feed them snacks from his meal. Bama has a varied diet of his peleted food along with fruit and veggies and what ever I am having. So all three of them can't wait for meal times. Ty is the bravest of the two dogs and will lick Bama's beak clean which stimulates Bama's feed instinct I think. Seeing them share spaghetti like Lady and Tramp is hysterical. Hope you enjoy this GWM true story. john 2009-09-23
No matter what size, color, or name of the bird and etc, they are one of the most amazing creatures that god ever put on this earth. m prince 2008-11-14
I am thinking about getting a green-winged macaw and I needed some advice on what they might really like to eat, when they mostly like to mate, suggestions on size cages, and any other information that I might need. Thank You! Sincerly, McKenna Riley McKenna Riley 2008-10-17
Green Wing Macaws are the most perfect bird you can have! They are smart, sweet, funny, and just the perfect Macaw. I really love these birds a lot. ME 2008-09-19
green winged macaws are very pretty. i think their color is the prettiest. Emily 2007-10-05
Some of the coolest comments:
In life, you get what you give. A green wing does take a lot of work, but the rewards are worth every minute of it. You get a companion like no other. A big red dinosour that loves nothing more than to cuddle up and have its feathers stroked, a friend who loves to play, loyalty like you'd never imagine and an intellegence that challenges yours! Mine is called Dino because my friend who has two Blue & Yellow Macaws said he looked like a big dinosour standing next to them. Many ask about the cage size, well I couldn't afford one I personaly feel would be big enough for him, so he has his own room with branches jammed between the walls. During the day I take him out for hours at a time and plonk him on a chair next to me or let him run around the patio and even take him for walks around town, which he loves. But please, anyone thinking of getting one, they do take a big commitment in time. They do sometimes squalk extremely loud, which may well upset your neighbours, and until you teach them not to bite hard, they can do damage to you and you simply cannot leave them unattended outside of their cage. They bite through everything, including electric cables! Are you REALLY ready for that commitment? Gaz 2009-03-06
I have a 16 month old fella (DNA sexed)named Bama that is just the greatest. He and I started out back July of 2007 when he was all beak and feet with just a few feathers on his head. I am a first time GWM owner and had lots of doubts in the beginning. After spending everyday for several hours visiting him in July and August and half way through September I realized he was the perfect bird for me. At the pet shop where I got him there were lots of other birds and none of them were nearly as wonderful. I have always been an animal lover and at 59 and retired I felt that I would have the time to spend with him. Bama is just the best pal in the world and I am so lucky to have found him. I have two chocolate labs and we all get along just great. Bama does require a lot attention. He is out of his cages most of the day. He wants to be with me and follows me around the house. Helps me with what ever task I am trying, ha ha, to accomplish whether I like or not. He says several words like "come back" when I leave the room or "hi there Bama", "Roll Tide", and "hi Bama", plus lots of other sounds that I am not able to decipher just yet. He loves to chew everything and is always trying to get into everything he can reach. I have him clipped so he climbs down his stand and runs across the floor to follow me. He is getting better socialized with others and will let others interact with me most of the time. He has been weened onto a pellet diet from the beginning. I also feed lots of fruits and veggies and nuts for treats. He wants to eat whatever I am eating so dinner time he gets a small sample of my food. He loves to chew up ice from my glass (plastic). He has lots of toys to keep him busy and forage in. I live in New England and the sun light during the winter is not the greatest so I got some natural lite bulbs for his cage so he gets enough. I decided early on to have a roosting (sleeping cage) in another room away from the daily hustle and bustle of the rest of my house and a cage in my family room so if I have to put him up during the day he has a place to go. That has worked out very well he does not fuss at all at night when its bed time. Both he and the dogs have their sleeping cage/crates in the back bedroom. They all go in together and come out together. Less jealousy that way. I am very glad that I have the opportunity to share my life with such a wonderful bird. I will be getting into more training of tricks so he has more things to concentrate on. He steps up regularly with out prompting and even tells me by saying "up up" and putting his foot up when he wants to come to me. He loves to roll over and have his tummy and feet played with and does his throaty macaw style laugh "ha ha ha". Foot toys are also some of his favorite things, usually broken bits of the toys he has chewed to death already. He loves to take a bath in the kitchen sink, it is a divided sink with a center section that he stands on and lets the water run over him. Yes the water goes every where and he has a great time playing in it. Afterwards we go into my bedroom and he has his fun with being blown dry with my hair drier, squaking and laughing and fluffing and shaking the water off. I would only recommend a GWM for someone with lots of time and patience. I have a grown son and Bama is like a new child in the family that will never grow up. If you like having a feathered 3 year old around with a large powerful beak for the rest of your life then have at it. I am sure glad I did. john 2008-10-26
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I just got two greenwing Macaws. They are adults, male and female. I wanted to buy one of their babies but the women loved this baby so much, she offered the parents. I said yes and here I am trying to find out all I can about them. I have had them about 1 month but somehow I love them already. The male will let me feed him and he will say hi. the lady is still not too sure. These are my first Marcaws. I have loved this web sight and have learned alot. Meriel 2005-06-23
hey everyone, i love this website. im in love with birds, and i cant wait until i get one. my favorite type of bird is the scarlet macaw. well i hope you guys keep up the good work, i mean you all have such great tips and information, im loving it. ;) Rebeca Bachur 2005-03-22

Back to Large Macaw Parrots