Macaw Species · Central America
Great Green Macaw
Endangered ally of the mountain almond tree — loud and long-tailed.
By WARN Research & Conservation TeamLast updated
In brief
The Great Green Macaw — Buffon's Macaw — is an Endangered Central American forest specialist tied to mountain almond trees. Its defining trait is shy, wide-ranging forest dependence with loud, far-carrying calls.
What are the key facts about a Great Green Macaw?
The Great Green Macaw is a macaw species from Central America: large (85 cm), shy, forest-dependent. Endangered ally of the mountain almond tree — loud and long-tailed.
| Origin | Central America |
|---|---|
| Size | Large (85 cm) |
| Typical length | 85 cm (33 in) typical length |
| Lifespan | 40–60 years (large macaws) or 30–40 years (mini macaws) |
| Plumage | Mostly olive-green with red forehead and blue flight feathers; tail is long and tapered with red and blue. Facial skin is white with black feather rows. Forest-adapted birds need large flight space and chewing outlets mimicking natural nest and foraging behaviour. |
| Temperament | Shy, forest-dependent |
| Conservation note | Expert aviculturists only — wild Great Green Macaws are Endangered with CITES Appendix I protection and reliance on disappearing mountain almond habitat. Captive birds are uncommon; conservation prioritises reforestation and nest protection in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama over pet trade expansion. |
Should you keep a Great Green Macaw?
Usually no. A Great Green Macaw is a macaw species from Central America, not a starter pet. Most of the birds in this library are pressured by habitat loss and the pet trade; a legal captive bird still needs decades of specialist care.
Parrots are long-lived, loud and socially demanding. A Great Green Macaw from Central America is not a weekend project. If you already share a home with one, this page is about honest husbandry and why wild populations still need habitat, not about encouraging a purchase.
Never buy a wild-caught bird. If you are choosing a companion parrot at all, work with a rescue or a documented captive-bred source, budget for an avian vet, and assume the animal will outlive several house moves.
What is a Great Green Macaw?
Endangered ally of the mountain almond tree — loud and long-tailed. Origin is Central America; coat or markings are described as Mostly olive-green with red forehead and blue flight feathers; tail is long and tapered with red and blue. Facial skin is white with black feather rows. Forest-adapted birds need large flight space and chewing outlets mimicking natural nest and foraging behaviour..
Treat “species” here as a library label for a wild species or distinct form, not as a kennel-club product.
Where does the Great Green Macaw come from?
Great Green Macaws come from Central America. Great Green Macaws follow seasonal food across lowland and foothill forest from Honduras to Ecuador.
Deforestation for cattle and agriculture removed mountain almond — their primary nest tree in much of Central America. Reintroduction and corridor projects in Costa Rica show promise. Legal captive breeding is limited; most conservation funding targets habitat restoration.
That origin still shows. A Great Green Macaw is large (85 cm) and shy, forest-dependent, typically living 40–60 years (large macaws) or 30–40 years (mini macaws). Use the history as context for care and conservation, not as folklore to repeat without sources.
What does a Great Green Macaw actually need?
A wild Great Green Macaw needs the habitat and social system of Central America, not a spare room. Size (Large (85 cm)) and a shy, forest-dependent life history are why private keeping fails.
In the wild that means connected habitat, a diet the species evolved with, and distance from the pet and selfie trades. Captive “care sheets” for wild macaws are how trafficking gets laundered as husbandry.
If you already work in accredited rescue, follow specialist protocols and licensing. Everyone else: do not acquire a Great Green Macaw. Support habitat and anti-trafficking work instead.
What surprises people about the Great Green Macaw?
A few details about the breed, alongside the practical care information in this guide.
- Great Green Macaws can travel 30 km daily between feeding and roosting areas.
- Mountain almond trees are protected in Costa Rica partly because of this species.
- They are also called Buffon's Macaws after French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc.
- Wild pairs reuse nest cavities in large trees for many years.
What health issues should you know about in a Great Green Macaw?
Health concerns to discuss with your vet, including changes to watch for and everyday care. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — always speak to your vet.
Habitat loss (wild)
Removal of primary forest and nest trees directly reduces breeding success in wild populations.
Care: Support reforestation NGOs; captive birds cannot offset wild habitat decline.
Respiratory disease
Captive forest macaws remain susceptible to aspergillosis and bacterial pneumonia in poor air quality.
Care: HEPA filtration, dry clean bedding and avian veterinary treatment at first signs.
Feather destructive behaviour
Inadequate space and foraging opportunity trigger plucking in captive settings.
Care: Large aviaries, daily enrichment and medical rule-out with an avian vet.
Who should skip a Great Green Macaw?
Skip a Great Green Macaw if you are anyone hoping to keep a Great Green Macaw as a pet or photo prop. This Central America macaw is large (85 cm) and shy, forest-dependent — the mismatch is usually lifestyle, not a missing accessory.
This page is allowed to say no. Skip if you are anyone hoping to keep a Great Green Macaw as a pet or photo prop. Skip if you are anyone who will pay for a wild-caught or roadside animal. Skip if you are tourists looking for handling or selfies.
A different macaw species on this site may fit. Wanting “a Great Green Macaw” after a film or a colour photo is not a reason to ignore the skip list.
What are the hidden catches with a Great Green Macaw?
The hidden cost of a Great Green Macaw is usually not the purchase price. It is years of care, the health list on this page, and the mismatch between a shy, forest-dependent animal and a busy home.
The pet-trade catch
Cute infant Great Green Macaws in ads were usually taken from wild families. The adult you cannot house is then dumped, euthanised, or passed on. Do not create that demand.
The tourism catch
Paying to hold, ride, or selfie with a Great Green Macaw funds the next capture or a stressed ambassador animal. Distance and accredited viewing are the ethical default.
The habitat loss (wild) catch
Removal of primary forest and nest trees directly reduces breeding success in wild populations. Support reforestation NGOs; captive birds cannot offset wild habitat decline.
The respiratory disease catch
Captive forest macaws remain susceptible to aspergillosis and bacterial pneumonia in poor air quality. HEPA filtration, dry clean bedding and avian veterinary treatment at first signs.
How does a Great Green Macaw compare with Chestnut-Fronted Macaw and Blue-and-Gold Macaw?
A Great Green Macaw is not interchangeable with Chestnut-Fronted Macaw and Blue-and-Gold Macaw. Compare origin, size, lifespan and temperament before you choose — those four lines prevent most regret.
| Macaw fact | Great Green Macaw | Chestnut-Fronted Macaw | Blue-and-Gold Macaw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Central America | South America | South America |
| Size | Large (85 cm) | Medium (45–50 cm) | Large (85–90 cm) |
| Lifespan | 40–60 years (large macaws) or 30–40 years (mini macaws) | 40–60 years (large macaws) or 30–40 years (mini macaws) | 40–60 years (large macaws) or 30–40 years (mini macaws) |
| Temperament | Shy, forest-dependent | Bold, mini-macaw energy | Social, loud, intelligent |
What is the verdict on the Great Green Macaw?
A Great Green Macaw is a wild macaw to understand and protect, not a pet to acquire. If you came here to buy one, the verdict is no. If you came here to learn, use the species guide next.
Help looks like habitat, enforcement and refusing the trade — not a cage in a spare room. WARN is a CIC, not a charity; donate only if you want to fund partner work in our network countries, and do not expect Gift Aid.
Macaws belong in the wild
Every macaw species in this guide is threatened by habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. A symbolic adoption or gift to WARN helps fund anti-trafficking work and sanctuary care for parrots seized from smugglers.
