Red-bellied Macaw
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| iRed-bellied Macaw | ||||||||||||||
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| Orthopsittaca manilata (Boddaert, 1783) |
The Red-bellied Macaw, Orthopsittaca manilata, is a large, colourful parrot, the only member of the genus Orthopsittaca.
It is a resident breeding bird in tropical South America, from Colombia and Trinidad south to Peru and central Brazil. Its habitat is forest and swamps with Moriche Palms. Although locally common, in places it has been adversely affected by clearing of the palms for use as posts, or to allow cattle ranching, and by capture for the pet trade.
Like most parrots, the Red-bellied Macaw lays two white eggs in a tree cavity, usually a Moriche Palm.
The Red-bellied Macaw is about 46 cm long and weighs 370 g. It is mainly green and has the pointed, graduated tail typical of macaws. It has a red belly patch, blue forehead and upper wings, and a grey tint to the breast. The underwings and undertail are dull yellow. The face has bare yellow skin. Sexes are alike; the main difference between ages is that adults have a black bill, but in young birds it is yellowish.
Red-bellied Macaws make reedy, high-pitched screams. They eat the fruit and seeds of palm trees, especially the Moriche Palm. They roost communally in Moriche Palms, and large numbers can be seen at the roost sites at dawn and dusk.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Orthopsittaca manilata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
- Birds of Trinidad and Tobago by ffrench, ISBN 0-7136-6759-1
