Great Green Macaw
Ara ambiguusAlso known as Buffon's Macaw, Great Military Macaw
Great green macaws are majestic canopy dwellers, recognizable by their massive size, pale green plumage, and brilliant scarlet forehead patch. These highly social parrots form lifelong pairs and travel in noisy family groups, communicating with deep, raucous squawks that echo across the forest. In Central America, their survival is intimately tied to the towering almendro tree, which provides both their primary food source and essential nesting cavities.
- diet
- Herbivore (seeds, nuts, fruits, and flowers)
- family
- Psittacidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, logging of nesting trees, and the illegal pet trade
- life Span
- 50 to 60 years in the wild
CR
Capable of a powerful defensive bite; observe wild birds from a respectful distance.
Possesses an incredibly strong beak designed to crack hard nuts, which can inflict severe crush injuries if the bird is cornered or handled.
Never attempt to approach, corner, or handle wild macaws; maintain a safe distance and use binoculars for viewing.Critically endangered due to extreme habitat fragmentation and the loss of mature nesting trees like the almendro.
Keep noise levels low near known nesting sites, avoid disclosing exact nest locations publicly, and support local habitat conservation initiatives.- Listen closely: Listen for their loud, metallic squawks to locate them high in the canopy before they fly.
- Use binoculars: Observe their foraging behavior from a distance to avoid disrupting their feeding sessions.
- Watch the flyways: Position yourself near forest edges at dawn or dusk to see pairs commuting between roosts.