BIRDS of THE WORLD - An Online Bird Book
PARROTS and Allies
South American Macaws
Order Psittaciformes Family Psittacidae
PARROTS and Allies
The order Psittaciformes is comprised of the parrots and their allies. They are found in most warm and tropical regions. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South America and Australasia. Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, and strong legs. Like woodpeckers, they have 2 toes pointing forward (digits 2, 3) and 2 toes pointing backward (digits 1, 4). Most parrots are predominantly green, with other bright colors. They generally exhibit little or no sexual dimorphism. The most important components of most parrots' diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds and other plant material. Almost all parrots nest in tree holes. Parrots are some of the most intelligent birds, and the ability of some parrot species to imitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets.
These links lead to Psittaciformes web pages.
These links lead to Psittaciformes web pages.
African (Psittacidae)
Asian (Psittaculidae)
Australasian(Cacatuoidea): Cockatoo
Australasian (Psittaculidae): Lorikeet, Parrots-and-Parakeet
South American (Psittacidae): Amazon, Macaw, Parrots-and-Parakeet
Asian (Psittaculidae)
Australasian(Cacatuoidea): Cockatoo
Australasian (Psittaculidae): Lorikeet, Parrots-and-Parakeet
South American (Psittacidae): Amazon, Macaw, Parrots-and-Parakeet
South American Macaws
Order Psittaciformes Family Psittacidae
Macaws are New World parrots. There are often quite colorful and with a large bill. Most have substantial bare facial skin.
Genus Anodorhynchus
Macaw,_Hyacinth Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus Found: South America
The Hyacinth Macaw has blue plumage; black bill; yellow bare skin on either side of lower mandible; yellow eye-ring. This is the heaviest parrot.
Similar to: Lear's Macaw. The Hyacinth Macaw is much larger than the Lear's Macaw. Lear's Macaw has a larger yellow spot near the base of the beak.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Jungle Island of Miami 2) Dick - Sylvan Heights 3) Sandy Cole - Jungle Island of Miami 4) Dick - San Diego ZooSimilar to: Lear's Macaw. The Hyacinth Macaw is much larger than the Lear's Macaw. Lear's Macaw has a larger yellow spot near the base of the beak.
5) Nick Athanas - Brazil
Macaw,_Lear's also Indigo Macaw Anodorhynchus leari Found: Brazil
The Lear's Macaw has blue plumage with a greenish tinge on the head and neck; black bill; yellow bare skin on either side of lower mandible; yellow eye-ring.
Similar to: Hyacinth Macaw. The Hyacinth Macaw is much larger than the Lear's Macaw. Lear's Macaw has a larger yellow spot near the base of the bill.
Image by: 1) Marcos Pereira 2) Nick Athans 3) Miguelrangeljr 4) Joao_QuentalSimilar to: Hyacinth Macaw. The Hyacinth Macaw is much larger than the Lear's Macaw. Lear's Macaw has a larger yellow spot near the base of the bill.
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Genus Ara
Macaw, Blue-and-yellow also Blue-and-gold Macaw Ara ararauna Found: South America
The Blue-and-yellow Macaw has blue upperparts; yellow underparts; green forehead; white face with black lines around eyes; black bill.
Image by: 1, 2, 5) Dick Daniels - Jungle Island of Miami
3) Sandy Cole - World of Birds, South Africa 4) Dick - Birds of Eden, South Africa 6) Sandy - Butterfly World in Florida
Macaw,_Blue-throated Ara glaucogularis Found: Bolivia
The Blue-thoated Macaw has blue upperparts, head, throat; yellow underparts, side of neck; black bill.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo 2) Dick - Jungle Island of Miami 3) Steve_Wilson 4) Pinned
Macaw,_Chestnut-fronted Ara severus Found: North America (escapees ), South America
The Chestnut-fronted Macaw has mainly green plumage; chestnut-brown forehead; red and blue patches on wings; black bill; white bare facial skin.
In aviculture, the Chestnut-fronted Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Jungle Island of Miami 4) Sandy Cole - Jungle Island
Macaw, Great Green also Buffon's Macaw Ara ambiguus Found: Central and South America
The Great Green Macaw has mainly green plumage; red forehead; black bill; blue flight feathers; pink or white bare facial skin with brown feathered lines.
Similar to: Military Macaw. The Great Green Macaw is somewhat larger and has a darker upper mandible than the Milatary Macaw.
Image by: 1) Alois Staudacher 2) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 3) Pinned 4) Dick - Summit Zoo, Panama 5) Susanne_Nilsson Similar to: Military Macaw. The Great Green Macaw is somewhat larger and has a darker upper mandible than the Milatary Macaw.
Macaw, Military Ara militaris Found: Mexico, Central America, South America
The Military Macaw has mainly green plumage; red forehead; gray-black bill; blue flight feathers; red tail bordered with blue; pink or white bare facial skin with black feathered lines.
Similar to: Great Green Macaw. The Great Green Macaw is somewhat larger and has a darker upper beak than the Milatary Macaw.
Image by: 1) Petr Kosina - Mexico 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Puerto Rico at the Mayaquez Zoo 4) Jorge Montejo - MexicoSimilar to: Great Green Macaw. The Great Green Macaw is somewhat larger and has a darker upper beak than the Milatary Macaw.
Macaw,_Red-fronted Ara rubrogenys Found: Bolivia
The Red-fronted Macaw has mainly green plumage; red fore-crown, forehead; pinkish skin around eyes extending to bill.
Image by: 1) Doug Janson - Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 2) Doug Wertman - Tulsa Zoo 3) Pinned 4) Pinned
Macaw, Red-and-green also Green-winged Macaw Ara chloropterus Found: South America
The Red-and-green Macaw has bright mantle, red head, neck, breast; green wings; blue lower back, rump, tail coverts; white face with red lines around eyes; mainly white upper mandible; black lower mandible.
Similar to: Scarlet Macaw. Red-and-green Macaw has green on the upper-wing covert feathers; Scarlet Macaw has yellow or yellow and green.
Image by: 1) Arno Meintjes 2) Dick Daniels - Butterfly World, Florida 3) Dick - Jungle
Island, Florida 4, 5) Dick - National Aviary 6) Dick - San Francisco ZooSimilar to: Scarlet Macaw. Red-and-green Macaw has green on the upper-wing covert feathers; Scarlet Macaw has yellow or yellow and green.
Macaw, Scarlet Ara macao Found: South America
The Scarlet Macaw has bright red mantle,head, neck, breast; green wings; blue lower back, rump, tail coverts; white face with red lines around eyes; mainly white upper mandible; black lower mandible.
Similar to: Red-and-green Macaw. Red-and-green Macaw has green on the upper-wing covert feathers; Scarlet Macaw has yellow or yellow and green.
Image by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Jungle Island of Miami 3) Sandy Cole - Jungle Island 4) Dick - Aviary, Puerto RicoSimilar to: Red-and-green Macaw. Red-and-green Macaw has green on the upper-wing covert feathers; Scarlet Macaw has yellow or yellow and green.
Genus Diopsittaca - 1 species
Macaw, Red-shouldered Diopsittaca nobilis Found: South America
The Red-shouldered Macaw has mainly green plumage; red wing coverts; bluish forehead; white facial skin. It is the smallest macaw.
In aviculture, the Red-shouldered Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Image by: 1) Walter Maier 2) Chad Bordes - Brazil 3) Nick Athans - Brazil
1) D. n. nobilis 2) D. n. cumanensis 3)lD. n. longipennis
Genus Orthopsittaca - 1 species
Macaw, Red-bellied Orthopsittaca manilata Found: Amazon region of South America
The Red-bellied Macaw has mainly green plumage; blue fore-crown; bare yellow facial skin; brownish-red belly.
In aviculture, the Red-bellied Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Similar to: Blue-winged Macaw. Red-bellied Macaw has a bluer crown and blacker bill than the blue-winged Macaw.
Image by: 1) Michael Nichel 2) A M Moraes - Brazil 3) Nick Athans - Brazil 4) PinnedIn aviculture, the Red-bellied Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Similar to: Blue-winged Macaw. Red-bellied Macaw has a bluer crown and blacker bill than the blue-winged Macaw.
1) Juvenile
Genus Primolius
Macaw, Blue-headed Primolius couloni Found: South America
The Blue-headed Macaw has mainly green plumage; blue head. flight feathers; blue-gray facial skin; greenish-yellow under-wing, under-tail; ivory colored upper mandible; white iris.
In aviculture, the Blue-headed Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Image by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Jungle Island of Miami 
Macaw, Blue-winged also Illiger's Macaw Primolius maracana Found: South America
The Blue-winged Macaw has mainly green plumage; bluish crown, head; yellowish facial skin; red lower belly, lower back; black bill.
In aviculture, the Blue-heade Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Similar to: Red-bellied Macaw. Red-bellied Macaw has a bluer crown and blacker bill than the blue-winged Macaw.
Image by: 1) Jochium Muller - Off Moroccco 2) Arthur Chapman 3) Nick Athans - Brazil 4) Claudio_TimmSimilar to: Red-bellied Macaw. Red-bellied Macaw has a bluer crown and blacker bill than the blue-winged Macaw.
Macaw, Yellow-collared also Golden-collared Macaw Primolius auricollis Found: South America
The Yellow-collared Macaw has mainly green plumage; brownish-black crown; yellow collar; bare white facial skin; dull pink legs.
In aviculture, the Yellow-collared Macaw is known as one of the mini-macaws (length < 50 cm).
Image by: 1) Francis de Laporte de Castelnau 2) Nick Athans - Brazil 3) Pat McGrath 4) Rebecca O'connor
