Noble Macaws

... about me

Ara nobilis

Red-shouldered Macaw

Description: general plumage green forehead and forecrown dark blue; bend as well as edge of wing, greater under wing-coverts red; outer webs of outer primaries blue; underside of tail and flight feathers olive-yellow; bare area around eyes and lores whitish; bill dark grey; iris brownish-red; feet dark grey.

Immatures without blue to forehead and crown; red less extensive; bill horn-coloured.

Length: 30 cm (12 ins), winglength 163-177 mm (6.5-7 ins).

Distribution: Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, eastern Venezuela and Brazil north of the Amazon in the states of Roraima and Para.

Ara n. camanensis (Lichtenstein 1823)

Noble Macaw

Description: as nobilis, but with horn-coloured upper mandible; blue to forehead and crown lighter; larger

Length: 33 cm (13 ins), winglength 173-190 mm (7-7.5 ins).

Distribution: Brazil south of the Amazon in the states of Para, Maranhão, Piaui and Bahia; hybrid population with longipennis in central Goiás.

Ara n. longipennis

Neumann's Macaw

Description: as cumanensis, but larger

Length: 35 cm (13.75 ins), winglength 181-200 mm (7-8 ins).

Distribution: Brazil in the states of Goias, Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Espirito Santo.

Habitat: open forest, savannah with adjoining forest, caatinga areas, palm groves, edges of rain forest, occasionally in plantations.

Status: common in large parts of distribution area; numerous in localities.

Habits: usually in small groups of 10 and more birds outside breeding period; occasionally larger gatherings of up to 100 or more; fairly shy; only approachable when feeding; mostly only noticed when flying past; then noisy; flight swift and direct with rapid, jerky wingbeats; call shrill or rapidly repeated raucous screeching.

Natural diet: seeds, fruits, berries, nuts and flowers.
Accommodation: outside flight 3 x 1 x 2 m (9 x 3 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter; metal construction advantageous; minimum temperature 5°C (41°F).

Diet: seed mix of sunflower, safflower, wheat, oats, groats, canary grass seed and various millets; various fruit and vegetables, especially carrot and apple; half-ripe maize; rose-hips; rowanberries; greenfood (chickweed, dandelion etc.); regular mineral supplements.