Parrot Hut - Greenwing Macaw

Greenwing Macaw

At about 35 inches from its crimson head to the tip of its tapered tail, and weighing in at between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds, the greenwing macaw (Ara chloroptera) is one of the largest birds in its species, almost as large as the Buffon's macaw or the hyacinth. Of the larger macaws, the greenwing is possibly third most popular large companion macaw beneath the blue and gold macaw and the scarlet.

This big beauty hails from regions in Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil, Peru, Surinam, French Guiana, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia, and covers roughly the same area as the blue and gold macaw. Its wild diet in the tropical lowlands is much the same as the blue and gold's, including fruit, seeds, berries, nuts - it also feeds at the famous "clay cliffs" known for the a high mineral content said to neutralize toxins.

The greenwing has, not surprisingly, a band of forest-green at the center of its wings; below the green is a bright turquoise and above is a cherry-red that extends up and over the whole of the bird's body and head; the flights are dark blue and the tail is very long and is comprised of blue and red feathers. The beak has a black lower mandible and a horn-colored upper mandible and is formidable in size, able to crack difficult nuts with ease.

Many people mistake the greenwing for the scarlet macaw, but it's easy to tell the difference - the scarlet has bright yellow feathers on the wing where the greenwing has green feathers; the greenwing has bands of small, red feathers lining the fleshy patch on its face; the scarlet's face is naked. In most cases, the greenwing is also a far larger bird.

That great big beak can look intimidating, but the greenwing is actually the gentler of the large macaws, not known for biting and massive mood swings. A well-raised greenwing, one that's healthy and well-treated, is a pleasant companion and long-time friend, with a lifespan of over 80 years. The greenwing can talk, but is not known to be a chatterbox; instead, an owner can expect intermittent screaming, which is quite loud, but not persistent, that is, if the bird is being cared for properly. An unhappy greenwing can cause a ruckus that will get someone tossed out of an apartment building.

The greenwing's size alone is a deterrent for many bird owners, who don't have the room for such a large animal. The greenwing needs a very large cage. Stainless steel cages are now becoming popular and less expensive, and are a good material for greenwing housing; this bird can easily bend or break the bars of a cheaply-made cage. Powder coated cages are fine too if they're well-made, and the bird will greatly appreciate a cage with a playtop.

Greenwings get along with most other macaws their size, so keeping two macaws together is fine, but don't allow birds of different species to breed.