Great Green Macaw

Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus )

The Great Green Macaw or Bechsteinara (Ara ambiguus ) is a species of bird in the family of parrots authentics.

Description

The Great Green Macaw is 85 inches tall, his plumage mainly olive-green. The forehead is red. The naked face is covered with fine Federstricheln that are red and black below the eye on the reins. The flight feathers are blue and have greater wing-coverts with blue edge. The tail feathers are maroon to blue at the top. The upper tail coverts are bluish. The beak is black with gray top. The feet are dark blue and the iris yellowish- gray. The two subspecies differ little. Ara ambiguus guayaquilensis is slightly smaller and the beak is narrower. From small Macaw, the large Macaw different besides the size by the yellowish color of the plumage.

Systematics and distribution

There are two subspecies:

• Ara ambiguus guayaquilensis: From West to southwest Ecuador - Colombia

Habitat

The Great Green Macaw, are occasionally found in the tropical rainforest of the lowlands usually below 600 m, even at altitudes up to 1500 m. They prefer the dense tropical rainforest and visit little areas with open vegetation.

Way of life

The diet consists of seeds, nuts, fruits and berries from the upper tree regions. Main food are 80% the fruits of the forest Mandel ( Dipteryx oleifera ). Only the Military Macaw has with its powerful beak enough torque to crack the hard shell of almond. Even the Scarlet Macaw, a close relative of the Macaw, is not in a position. They live in small companies or families of max. 5 to 6 individuals together and are very site faithful. Only after the food resources of an area are depleted, they move on. They often work with scouts, which requires flying and looking food -rich areas. The breeding season begins in the southern parts of the range in about December. Some weeks later, in the northern regions. The nest consists of up to 3 eggs. The young fledge after about 100 days and are capable of reproduction after 7 years.

Endangering

Until recently these macaws were relatively common on both sides of the Panama Canal, but are there now disappeared by the people due to the destruction of their environment. Special Reports to conservation programs of Ara ambiguus in Panama and Ecuador can be found on the pages of the World Parrot Trust. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) classified the species as endangered ( Endangered, EN).