Illiger's Macaw

Illiger's Macaw



COMMON NAME: Illiger's macaw, blue-winged macaw
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Psittacidae (true parrots)
GENUS SPECIES: Ara (macaw) maracana (small macaw)


DESCRIPTION: The Illiger's macaw is a small macaw with a black bill and bare cheek regions. In general the plumage is green. The forehead and sides of abdomen and lower back orange-red to red; the crown is blue; the head, nape, and cheeks greenish-blue; the wings blue with blue primary-coverts and bluish-green edges; the under wing-coverts olive-green. The tail feathers are blue with reddish-brown tips and olive-yellow underside.
SIZE: Approximately 40 cm (15.7 in.)
WEIGHT: Approximately 300 g (10.6 oz)
DIET: Includes seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries
INCUBATION: Approximately 29 days
CLUTCH SIZE Usually 2 eggs
FLEDGING DURATION 11 weeks; then remain with parents for up to a year
LIFE SPAN: 50-60 years
RANGE: Eastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeast Argentina
HABITAT: Inhabit forests (especially palm groves)
STATUS: IUCN Near Threatened
CITES Appendix I
USFWS Not listed


1. These birds enjoy palm groves, feeding almost exclusively on the palm nuts and nesting in holes in the palms. The palms normally grow in water, lending the macaws additional protection against predators.
2. Macaws are monogamous, remaining bonded for life. They are often seenflying in large flocks and the bonded pairs fly close together, their wings nearly touching.



Some research suggests that, in the wild, Illiger's sometimes do not live over 40 years of age because of diseases, predators, stress, and bad eyesight! After the breeding period, their life span rapidly declines due to cataracts, making it difficult to recognise danger or to find food.

Illiger's macaws are seriously endangered in Paraguay because of deforestation due to an ever-increasing demand for tropical wood to supply the European and American markets and a growing human population as the primary causes of deforestation.

This species is targeted for pet trade as well. Bird collectors pay thousands of dollars per bird. Smugglers take the eggs or young birds and sell them to exotic pet stores. Recent observation has led some scientists to believe that Illiger's macaws may already be extinct in Bolivia.





Low, R. Macaws, A Complete Guide. London. Merehurst.


BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Primolius maracana. Downloaded from on 26/8/2008.