Golden-collared Macaw

Overview

The golden-collared macaw (Primolius auricollis) is a small, mostly green parrot native to Central South America. It is widely known in aviculture as a 'mini-macaw' and is currently classified as a species of Least Concern.

Identification

• A small bird with a total length of about 38 cm, almost half of which is tail feathers.
• Distinct bright yellow collar on the back of the neck, which becomes more vibrant as the bird matures.
• General plumage is green with a brownish-black front and crown, blue remiges and primary coverts, and a tail with a red base, green centre, and blue tip.
• Features a heavy black bill often tipped with pale grey, dull pinkish legs, reddish to dull yellow irises, and extensive bare white facial skin.

Habitat

The species is distributed across the Pantanal in Brazil, northern Argentina, northern Paraguay, and northern and eastern Bolivia, with a second disjunct population in far north-eastern Brazil. It inhabits forests (avoiding the Amazon rainforest), woodland, savanna, and grassland with scattered trees, primarily in lowlands but occasionally up to 1,700 m in altitude.

Diet

The golden-collared macaw feeds on a diet consisting of fruits, flower buds, and seeds.

Did you know?

In captivity, these birds are extremely social and require three to four hours of daily interaction to thrive, possessing an extensive vocabulary and the intelligence to seek attention by any means necessary.