Park activities

RED-AND-GREEN MACAW

Ara chloropterus

CLASS AVES

ORDER PSITTACIFORMES

FAMILY PSITTACIDAE

DID YOU KNOW?

Red-and-green Macaw has characteristic red lines around the eyes formed by rows of tiny feathers. After Hyacinth Macaw, this species is the second largest parrot species with body length of approximately 90 cm.

DISTRIBUTION

HABITAT

Red-and-green Macaws are widespread in the forests and woodlands of northern and central South America. They live in trees and near water sources with clay-licks. They are more common in areas rich in canopy-emergent trees because they are used for nesting cavities.

LIFE SPAN

They can live from 50 to 60 years in Zoological Gardens.

ACTIVITY

Red-and-green macaws usually socialize along clay-licks between early morning and mid-afternoon, if not disturbed by human activities (it is presumed that macaws lick clay to eliminate toxins or include natrium in their diet). They also socialize with other macaws’ species, such as blue-and-yellow macaws, scarlet macaws, and hyacinth macaws. They warn other members of their species with vocal warnings, in case they spot raptors or predators.

REPRODUCTION

They usually mate for life, and breed from October to May. Female lays 2-3 eggs in the nest. This nest, is made in a hole in a tree. The eggs are incubated for about 28 days.

DIET

Their diet is based on leaves, wood, bark, and stems, seeds, grains, and nuts, fruits and flowers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

In recent years, there has been a marked decline due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the parrot trade.

Text: Francisca Lopes and Dorotea Ćosić
Photographer: Zvonimir Perić and Leonarda Hrvanović