The big yellow bird commonly seen in Costa Rica is the Great Green Macaw. Also known as Buffon’s Macaw or Great Military Macaw, this large parrot is native to Central and South America and can be found in several countries including Costa Rica. With its distinctive green plumage and bright yellow/orange upper chest, the Great Green Macaw is easily recognizable. Though threatened by habitat loss and poaching, conservation efforts in Costa Rica have helped protect populations of this magnificent bird.
Description
The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is a member of the macaw family. It is a large parrot, measuring about 90 cm (35 in) long and weighing around 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs).
Size
As one of the largest parrots in the world, the Great Green Macaw has a very imposing appearance. Its total length from the tip of its tail to the top of its head is approximately 90-100 cm (35-39 in). Its wingspan ranges from 51-63 cm (20-25 in).
Plumage
The plumage of the Great Green Macaw consists of mostly bright green feathers, which cover the majority of its body. The upper chest has a large patch of yellow/orange feathers. Some blue feathers can be seen on the top of the head. The upper side of the flight feathers are blue, while the undersides are dark red. The long tail is also green on top and red/purple underneath. The facial area is featherless and white in color.
Beak
As with all macaws, the Great Green Macaw has a large, curved beak. The beak has a charcoal grey-black color. It has a very powerful bite force, estimated at over 300 pounds per square inch. The beak is used for cracking open hard nuts and seeds, which make up the bulk of the macaw’s diet.
Eyes
Great Green Macaws have light grey/white colored eyes surrounded by rings of bare white facial skin. As in other parrots, their eyes are specially adapted to see colors better than humans.
Range and Habitat
The Great Green Macaw occupies a wide range across Central and Northwestern South America:
Countries
Its range includes parts of the following countries:
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- Panama
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Bolivia
In Costa Rica, they are found across the Pacific lowlands and foothills up to 1,500 m elevation.
Habitat
Great Green Macaws inhabit lowland rainforests and woodlands. They rely on large, mature trees for roosting and nesting sites. The availability of groves of almond trees (Dipteryx panamensis), which provide their favorite food, heavily influences their habitat preferences. They avoid higher altitude cloud forests and open savannahs.
Behavior and Diet
Social Behavior
Great Green Macaws have a very social lifestyle, gathering in flocks that can number over 30 individuals. The core of a social group consists of a mated pair and their offspring from recent years. These family groups will stay together constantly. Outside of the breeding season, larger flocks congregate at clays licks and roosting sites.
Vocalizations
This species uses loud, raucous squawks and screams to communicate within the flock. They make harsh “raaak” sounds when alarmed or angry. So their boisterous calls are often the best way to detect their presence when they are up in the forest canopy.
Feeding
The diet of wild Great Green Macaws is specialized. Over half of their food intake comes from the large, hard nuts of almond trees (Dipteryx panamensis). Using their powerful beaks, they are able to crack open these nuts that other animals can’t access.
They also eat a variety of other nuts, seeds, fruits, and occasionally insects. Important food sources include:
- Palm nuts
- Wild figs
- Cecropia fruits
- Orchid pseudobulbs
Clays Licks
Great Green Macaws visit clay licks sites where they ingest clay material. This helps neutralize toxins from unripe seeds and provides extra minerals. The most important clay lick for them in Costa Rica is located at the Tapantí National Park.
Breeding
The breeding season of Great Green Macaws varies across their range, based on local weather patterns.
Nest Sites
They nest in holes in tall, mature trees, either dead or living. Most nests are 25-50 meters off the ground. Competition for suitable nest cavities is fierce. Macaw pairs will occupy and defend a nest site for their exclusive use. Often the female will stay in the nest cavity overnight.
Courtship
Courtship displays include loud vocalizations the pair makes together at the nest site. The male feeds the female as part of bonding. Then the female solicits copulation by positioning herself at the cavity entrance.
Eggs
The typical clutch size is 1 to 3 eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days until hatching.
Chicks
Both parents help feed and brood the young chicks. For the first 2-3 weeks, one parent always stays at the nest. The chicks fledge at 12-14 weeks old.
Population and Conservation
The global population of Great Green Macaws is estimated between 1,000-4,000 mature individuals. Their numbers have suffered drastic declines due to:
Habitat Loss
Large-scale deforestation has reduced their breeding and feeding habitat. Rampant logging destroys the big trees they depend on. Approximately 70% of the Costa Rican rainforest has already been cleared.
Poaching
Illegal capture for the pet trade is a severe threat. Their extreme popularity as an exotic pet drives trapping activities. Between 1980-1994, an estimated 3,000 Great Green Macaws were taken from the wild in Costa Rica.
Persecution
Local farmers often view the macaws as pests for crop damage. They may deliberately poison or shoot the birds. Collisions with power lines are also a problem.
Conservation Status
Due to declining populations from these threats, the Great Green Macaw is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Trade of the birds is also restricted under CITES Appendix I.
Protective Measures
Conservation efforts in Costa Rica include:
- Establishing protected areas in key habitats, including Maquenque and Tapantí National Parks
- Banning export and internal trade of the species
- Nest monitoring and protection programs
- Captive breeding and reintroduction program at the San José Rescue Center
- Desired ecosystem restoration efforts in degraded areas
Recent population increases show these conservation actions are working. But continued protection efforts will be vital for the future survival of these spectacular green macaws in Costa Rica.
Conclusion
The Great Green Macaw is an integral and iconic part of Costa Rica’s avian diversity. With its bright plumage and boisterous nature, this magnificent bird has captured the attention of nature lovers in the country. Thankfully, through dedicated conservation work, populations seem to be recovering after decades of decline. The preservation of rainforest habitats and enforcement of protective laws remain essential to ensure the Great Green Macaw continues to thrive for generations to come in Costa Rica.
Scientific Name | Ara ambiguus |
---|---|
Other Common Names | Buffon’s Macaw, Great Military Macaw |
Length | 90 cm (35 in) |
Weight | 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) |
Wingspan | 51-63 cm (20-25 in) |
Coloration | Green back and wings, yellow/orange chest, blue flight feathers, red undertail |
Diet | Nuts, seeds, fruits, insects |
Range | Lowland rainforests from Costa Rica to Bolivia |
Conservation Status | Endangered |
Key Threats Facing the Species
Threat | Details |
---|---|
Habitat Loss | Deforestation destroying breeding and feeding areas |
Poaching | Trapping for the illegal pet trade |
Persecution | Deliberate poisoning or shooting by farmers, collisions with power lines |