Green-winged Macaw

About the species

The Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloropterus), also known as the Red-and-green Macaw, is one of the largest and most recognizable macaw species. It is native to extensive lowland forests and savannas across South America, from Colombia and Venezuela in the north to northern Argentina in the south, where it lives in pairs or small groups and feeds mainly on seeds, fruit and nuts in the forest canopy. It is not considered threatened in the wild, but among keepers of large parrots it is especially valued for an unusual combination - a huge body paired with a relatively calm, even temperament, which has earned it the nickname 'gentle giant' among the large macaws.

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

An adult measures roughly 90 to 95 centimeters from beak to tail tip, making it one of the largest parrots in the world, and weighs between about 1 and 1.7 kilograms. The plumage is mostly intense red, the wing covert feathers are green, the back, rump and part of the tail are blue, and the tips of the long tail are red. A distinctive facial feature is the bare white skin around the eyes and cheeks, patterned with thin lines of small red feathers that create a fine, net-like appearance. When excited, this bare skin can visibly flush red as tiny blood vessels near the surface dilate - a phenomenon researchers have described in macaws as a form of visual emotional communication. The beak is extremely powerful and, in size, is second only to the Hyacinth Macaw among all parrots.

One of the Largest Macaw Species in the World

In both length and weight, the Green-winged Macaw is surpassed only by the Hyacinth Macaw, placing it among the largest parrots ever kept by people. Its beak is also the second-largest and second-most-powerful of any parrot species - strong enough to crack hard nut shells that other species cannot manage, and powerful enough that careless handling can cause a serious injury. This combination of huge body size and an extremely powerful beak means it requires substantially larger and sturdier housing than smaller parrot species.

Temperament: A Calmer Giant Among Macaws

Despite its impressive size and strength, aviculturists often describe the Green-winged Macaw as one of the calmer, more predictable of the large macaw species, less prone to sudden mood swings than, for example, the Scarlet Macaw. This is exactly why experienced breeders often recommend it to people who want a giant macaw but are wary of more temperamental species. That does not mean it is an easy bird by any measure - it remains a highly intelligent, emotionally demanding parrot that bonds intensely with its keeper, needs enormous amounts of attention, and can develop stress behaviors such as feather-plucking or loud screaming without it.

Differences from the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Unlike the Blue-and-yellow Macaw, already featured on this site, the Green-winged Macaw is larger and heavier, and its coloring is completely different - instead of the blue-and-yellow scheme, it is dominated by intense red plumage with green wings and a blue back. Beyond appearance and size, the two species also differ in temperament: while the Blue-and-yellow Macaw is often described as more extroverted, louder and at times less predictable, the Green-winged Macaw is generally considered somewhat calmer and more even-tempered - though this does not make it any less demanding to care for.

Health and Longevity

With good care in captivity, the Green-winged Macaw can live 50 to 60 years or even longer, meaning that acquiring one is often a lifelong decision that can outlast the owner's own life expectancy. Like other giant macaws, it is susceptible to proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), an incurable illness linked to avian bornavirus that affects the digestive tract and nervous system, presenting as weight loss, vomiting, undigested seeds in the droppings, and neurological symptoms. Like all large parrots, it is also prone to behavioral disorders such as feather-plucking if it does not receive enough physical and mental stimulation.

Living Space and Care

Because of its size and extremely powerful beak, it needs a large, very sturdy metal aviary or a dedicated room - it quickly destroys wooden structures, so equipment must be chosen accordingly. Besides space, it needs several hours of daily interaction and supervised time out of the cage, a varied diet based on quality pellets, fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts in the shell, and constant access to branches to chew that wear down its fast-growing beak. The loud calls typical of all large macaws make it unsuitable for apartment living near neighbors.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Green-winged Macaw as a species of Least Concern, given its relatively wide distribution across South America, though it notes that populations are declining at the edges of its range because of habitat loss and hunting. The species is also listed on CITES Appendix II, meaning its international trade is regulated because of its popularity in the bird trade.

Pros & cons