Red-shouldered Macaw
Encyclopedia
The Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis) is the smallest macaw
being 30–35 centimetres (12–14 inches) in length. It is a parrot
native to the tropical lowlands, savannah, and swamplands of Venezuela
, the Guianas, Bolivia
, Brazil
, and far south-eastern Peru
. It has two distinct subspecies, the Noble Macaw and the Hahn's Macaw, and a possible poorly distinct third subspecies that has longer wings, but is otherwise similar to the Noble Macaw. Red-shouldered Macaws are frequently bred in captivity for the pet
trade, where they are sometimes described as mini-macaw
s.
Red-shouldered Macaws are not considered to be an endangered species, but wild populations have declined locally due to habitat loss. As with most parrots, they are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, which makes the trade and export of wild caught birds illegal.
, Brazil. Previously the Red-shouldered Macaw was included in the genus Ara
with the other macaws.
The Red-shouldered Macaw nests in a hole in a tree. There are usually three or four white eggs in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 24 to 26 days, and the chicks fledge
from the nest about 54 days after hatching.
Macaw
Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
being 30–35 centimetres (12–14 inches) in length. It is a parrot
True parrots
The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order Psittaciformes . The other family is the Cacatuidae which are also parrots, but not classified as true parrots...
native to the tropical lowlands, savannah, and swamplands of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the Guianas, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and far south-eastern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. It has two distinct subspecies, the Noble Macaw and the Hahn's Macaw, and a possible poorly distinct third subspecies that has longer wings, but is otherwise similar to the Noble Macaw. Red-shouldered Macaws are frequently bred in captivity for the pet
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
trade, where they are sometimes described as mini-macaw
Mini-macaw
Mini-macaws are a loosely-defined group of small-to-medium-sized macaw species within the tribe Arini. The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is principally used in aviculture to describe a small macaw belonging to one of a number of different genera, with overall length being the sole...
s.
Red-shouldered Macaws are not considered to be an endangered species, but wild populations have declined locally due to habitat loss. As with most parrots, they are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, which makes the trade and export of wild caught birds illegal.
Taxonomy
The Red-shouldered Macaw comprise two distinct subspecies, D. n. nobilis (Hahn's Macaw) and D. n. cumanensis (Noble Macaw), and some parrots with longer wings might represent a poorly differentiated subspecies, D. n. longipennis, which intergrades with D. n. cumanensis in central GoiásGoiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
, Brazil. Previously the Red-shouldered Macaw was included in the genus Ara
Ara (genus)
Ara is a Neotropical genus of macaws with eight extant species and at least two extinct species. The genus name was coined by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. It gives its name to and is part of the Arini, or tribe of Neotropical parrots. The Ara macaws are large striking...
with the other macaws.
Description
The Red-shouldered Macaw, at 30 cm (12 in) long, is the smallest of all the macaws. Like all macaws, it has a long narrow tail and a large head. It has bright green feathers on the body, with dark or slate blue feathers on the head just above the beak. The wings and tail have feathers that are bright green above and olive-green below. The leading edges of the wings, especially on the underside, are red. (These red feathers appear at puberty.) Their eyes are orange, and the skin around the eyes is white without feathers, just as in the larger macaws. This bare patch of facial skin is smaller in proportion to the head than the one seen in most larger macaws. The Hahn's Macaw and Noble Macaw can be distinguished by the Hahn's having a black upper mandible and the Noble having a lighter, horn-colored upper mandible.Breeding
Fledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state...
from the nest about 54 days after hatching.