Great Green Macaw: where and when to see them

The great green macaw is a large forest parrot with predominantly green plumage, a red forehead and blue flight feathers. Its powerful bill opens hard fruits and seeds, including those of the mountain almond tree in Costa Rica. Habitat loss and capture have severely reduced its populations. Protecting mature lowland forest is essential because the same large trees can supply both valuable food and the cavities needed for nesting.

Size

85-90 cm long

Weight

1.1-1.5 kg

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Critically Endangered

Pairs and small groups travel above the forest canopy with strong wingbeats and loud, far-carrying calls. Birds often move seasonally as favored trees fruit, so an occupied feeding area may later fall quiet. Pairs maintain close bonds and nest in large tree cavities. Adults spend substantial time handling tough fruits with the bill and feet, while family groups may remain together as young birds develop independent feeding skills. Social grooming, or allopreening, is a common pair-bonding behavior, strengthening the relationship between mates. These long-lived birds typically mate for life, and a strong pair bond is crucial for successful breeding and raising young.

• Mountain almond is Dipteryx panamensis, not the tree that produces commercial almonds.
• The bill can break into exceptionally hard seed cases.
• Suitable nest cavities may take many decades to develop.
• Pairs often advertise their approach with calls before they become visible above the canopy.

There is no dependable coast-wide viewing season for Costa Rica because macaws track fruiting trees and occupy a restricted range. Late winter and spring can suit targeted Caribbean-lowland visits, but local guides should confirm current feeding activity without disclosing or approaching active nests. In specific Caribbean lowland areas, guided tours during the dry season (December to April) can coincide with the peak fruiting of key food trees, offering better viewing opportunities. However, the precise timing of fruiting varies annually and regionally, so current local information is essential for successful sightings.

This macaw inhabits humid lowland forest and adjacent wooded landscapes, using large mature trees for food and nesting. In Costa Rica, Caribbean lowlands are particularly important. Fragmented pasture with remnant trees may be crossed or visited but cannot replace connected forest. They require extensive primary forest tracts, often near rivers, that contain large emergent trees. These majestic birds are highly sensitive to habitat degradation and loss, particularly the destruction of their specific nesting and feeding trees.

Seeds, nuts and fruits form the core diet, with flowers and other plant material also taken. Costa Rican birds depend strongly on mountain almond resources in parts of their range. Seasonal movement reflects changing food availability across a wider forest landscape. Their robust beaks are perfectly adapted for cracking the hard shells of nuts, including the critically important mountain almond (Dipteryx panamensis). Young macaws learn foraging skills by observing parents and other group members, demonstrating cultural transmission of feeding knowledge.

Common name

Great Green Macaw

Scientific name

Ara ambiguus

Animal group

Birds

Size

85-90 cm long

Weight

1.1-1.5 kg

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Critically Endangered

Identification

It is larger and generally paler green than the similar military macaw, with a heavier bill and different geographic distribution. Note the distinctive patch of bare, pinkish-white skin around the eye and at the base of the bill, which distinguishes it from other macaws. The underparts of the flight feathers can appear yellowish in good light, contrasting with the green body plumage.