Green-winged macaw
| Green-winged macaw | ||||||||||
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Green-winged Macaw ( Ara chloroptera ) |
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| Gray , 1859 |
The green-winged macaw , or dark red macaw ( Ara chloroptera ) is a species of bird from the family of real parrots (Psittacidae).
description
With a body length of up to 90 cm, green-winged macaws are one of the largest parrot species. Their plumage is mainly red. The white, naked face is covered with small red pen lines. The iris is light gray to ivory in color. The wings are blue, the middle, eponymous wing covers green. The upper tail feathers are bluish, the tail feathers red, colored blue towards the tip. The beak is large, as with most macaws. The upper beak is ivory colored with darker beak blades, the lower beak colored black. The strong feet, which are suitable for climbing, are gray in color.
Green-winged macaws have no sexual dimorphism, ie males and females cannot be distinguished externally. Gender can be determined using endoscopy . In human care, the macaws are injected with so-called transponder chips on which data such as gender, birthday, etc. are stored.
distribution and habitat
Green-winged macaws are widespread in northern South America . They are found in Brazil , except in the extreme south and east; in northern Paraguay , eastern Bolivia , eastern Peru , eastern Colombia and in the north to Panama ; also in southern Venezuela , Trinidad and Tobago , Guiana , Suriname and French Guiana . The distribution area roughly coincides with that of the yellow and breasted macaw .
Habitat
The green-winged macaw lives in tropical lowlands along rivers and forest edges.
nutrition
Green-winged macaws feed mainly on fruits and nuts, especially Uxi ( Endopleura uchi ), Jatoba ( Hymenaea spec. ) And Brazil nuts ( Bertholletia excelsa ).
Brood
The beginning of the breeding season varies from late November in the south to February / March in the north of the range. The clutch usually consists of up to three eggs, which are incubated for about 28 days. The young leave the brood cavity after 90 to 100 days.
Clay licking
Like many other parrot species, the green-winged macaw visits so-called clay licks at different times of the year. These are places on steep river banks where clay emerges. This is where the birds, often in flocks, take in minerals that they need to detoxify pollutants they have absorbed through their food. The mineral requirement therefore depends on the respective food supply. The most famous places are the clay licks of Tambopata and Timpia .
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Ara chloroptera in the Internet Bird Collection
- Ara chloropterus onthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2013.