Red-shouldered Macaw

The Red-shouldered Macaw, sometimes called the Noble Macaw, is among the smallest members of the macaw group, found in savanna woodland and forest edge habitats across northern South America. Despite its diminutive size compared to the large macaws, it shares the same long-tailed silhouette and bare facial patch typical of the group.

This species is often seen in small, vocal flocks moving between feeding trees, and its manageable size compared to larger macaws has made it a familiar species in aviculture as well as the wild.

• Body is green overall, slightly paler on the underparts than the back
• Shoulder (bend of wing) shows a red patch, most visible in flight or when the wing is extended
• Crown has a bluish wash, subtle compared to the brighter blue crowns of some related parakeets
• Tail is long and pointed for the bird's size, green with a reddish tinge at the base in some individuals
• Bare facial skin around the eye is whitish, smaller in extent than in the large macaws
• Distinguished from other small green parrots by its long macaw-like tail and the red shoulder patch, which is not always obvious at rest

Adults of both sexes are similar, green overall with a red shoulder patch and blue-tinged crown present year-round. Juveniles show a duller crown wash and a less defined red shoulder patch, along with a shorter tail, before gradually acquiring the adult pattern. There is no significant seasonal plumage change in this species.

This species is found in savanna woodland, forest edges, and gallery forest across northern South America, particularly in the Guiana Shield region and parts of the Amazon basin periphery. It is largely resident, though flocks move locally between feeding areas depending on fruiting and seeding cycles.

Red-shouldered Macaws feed on seeds, fruit, and blossoms, foraging in small flocks that move noisily between trees. They nest in tree cavities, sometimes reusing old woodpecker or other bird holes. Calls are sharp and chattering, quieter and higher-pitched than those of the large macaws, and flocks are often heard before they are seen flying overhead.