Great Green Macaw

Ara ambiguus

The Great Green Macaw, *Ara ambiguus*, is a magnificent, large parrot species reaching an imposing length of 85-90 cm (33-35 inches) and weighing 1.3-1.5 kg (2.9-3.3 lbs). Its plumage is predominantly a brilliant, iridescent green, punctuated by a striking red forehead patch and pale blue feathers adorning the wing edges and lower back. A distinctive bare, white facial patch, often etched with fine lines of small black feathers, serves as a key identification mark in the field. Taxonomically,...

Habitat

This macaw primarily inhabits humid lowland to foothill tropical rainforests, typically found at elevations below 1000 meters, though occasionally recorded up to 1500 meters. It strongly prefers mature, old-growth forests with large emergent trees for nesting and foraging.

Diet

The Great Green Macaw primarily feeds on a diverse array of seeds, nuts, and fruits, with a strong preference for the hard seeds of large legume trees like the Almendro (*Dipteryx panamensis*). They forage almost exclusively in the arboreal canopy, using their powerful beaks to access the nutrien...

Behavior

Great Green Macaws are diurnal birds, becoming active shortly after dawn and returning to communal roosts at dusk, often with considerable noise. Their foraging strategy is predominantly arboreal, where they use their powerful beaks to crack open hard nuts and seeds, often selectively feeding on ...

Range

The Great Green Macaw has a fragmented and rapidly declining range extending from Central America south into northwestern South America. The northern subspecies, *Ara ambiguus ambiguus*, is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and western Colombia, with a disjunct population in north...

Conservation Status

Endangered

Fun Facts

- The Great Green Macaw is one of the largest parrot species in the Americas, with a wingspan that can reach over a meter. - Its powerful beak has an incredible crushing force, allowing it to crack open nuts that are too hard for many other animals. - These macaws are highly dependent on the "Alm...

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