Ara (genus) - Morphology and Appearance

Morphology and Appearance

The Ara macaws are large parrots ranging from 46–51 cm (18–20 in) in length and 285 to 287 g (10 oz) in weight in the Chestnut-fronted Macaw to 90–95 cm (35–37 in) 1708 g (60 oz) in the Green-winged Macaw. The wings of these macaws are long and narrow which is typical for species of parrot which travel long distances in order to forage. They have a massive downward curved upper mandible and a patch of pale skin around the eye that extends to base of the beak. The skin patch bears minute feathers arranged in lines that form a pattern over the otherwise bare skin in all species of the genus except the Scarlet Macaw in which the skin in bare. In most species the bill is black, but the Scarlet Macaw and Green-winged Macaw have a predominantly horn coloured upper mandible and a black lower one.

The colours in the plumage of the Ara macaws are spectacular. Four species are predominately green, two species are mostly blue and yellow, and three species (including the extinct Cuban Macaw) mostly red. There is no sexual dimorphism in the plumage, and that of the juveniles is similar to adults, although slightly duller in some species.