Genus: Diopsittaca
Imagine you’re hiking deep in the Amazon rainforest. As with other exotic birds in the jungle, Red-shouldered Macaws fly overhead in a burst of rainbow colors that brighten up the leafy green canopy. What makes these parrots truly stand out are the crimson patches on their wings, which look like two red epaulettes perched on their shoulders.
These macaws belong to the genus Diopsittaca. You’ll find them in parts of northern South America from eastern Peru to mid Colombia and Venezuela. When resting high on an emergent tree, Red-shouldered Macaws chatter loudly in their distinctive nasal voices. The harsh screeches and squawks that echo through the rainforest form part of the overall cacophony of sounds. Their loudness helps the parrots locate each other and communicate within their flocks.
You’ll recognize Red-shouldered Macaws by more than the scarlet spots on their wings that give them their name. Their vibrant green upper body plumage also makes them hard to miss. So too does their long tail which they skillfully maneuver to keep balance when clambering along branches.
Read on to find out more about what makes these colorful macaws special, including:
- Their intellect and social behavior
- The role they play in native culture
- Why their rainforest habitat is under threat
Seeing a flock of Red-shouldered Macaws in the wilderness is an unforgettable sight. But their existence in parts of South America is precarious. Habitat loss puts them at risk, like so many other exotic birds. As wondrous as the Amazon is, you’ll discover the tropical rainforest is just as fragile.
Species Spotlights
The genus Diopsittaca contains two species of small, vibrant macaws native to the rainforests of South America. The most well-known is the Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis). Here are some key facts about this captivating parrot in the wild:
Red-shouldered Macaw
This macaw gets its name from the bright crimson patches on its wings that resemble epaulettes perched on its shoulders. When spread in flight, these red spots are easily spotted among the green.
Size: Reaches lengths of 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm), smaller than larger macaws.
Color: Green upper body plumage along with blue flight feathers on its wings. Yellow underparts with scarlet on the wing bend.
Range: Native to rainforest regions of northern South America including southeast Colombia, southern Venezuela and the Guianas, south as far as the Amazon River.
Habitat: Humid lowland forests, woodlands, forest edge and clearings. Nests in existing holes of tall, mature trees.
Diet: Omnivorous but mostly eat fruits and seeds of forest trees. Will also consume flower nectar and insects. Forage in noisy flocks.
Behavior: Form long-term monogamous pairs and family groups. Highly social and intelligent birds. Their loud screeches help them communicate and locate flock members.
The small but vibrant Red-shouldered Macaw epitomizes the unique biodiversity of the vanishing tropic rainforests they inhabit. But their existence hangs in a delicate balance due to threats of habitat loss.
Behavior and Intelligence
The genus Diopsittaca contains highly social and intelligent macaws. Some interesting facts about their behavior and intellect:
Social Structure
Red-shouldered Macaws are highly gregarious birds that travel in noisy flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. They form lifelong monogamous bonds between mating pairs. Parents remain paired for life and offspring will stay with them for up to two years.
Communication
Flocks keep in constant contact with loud, raucous calls that echo through the forest. Their screeches and squawks audible from over 0.6 miles (1 km) away. Excellent mimics, they can copy sounds and human speech.
Intelligence
Among the most intelligent birds, macaws have the brain power of a five to seven year old child. Their long lives allow them to amass knowledge over 60+ years. They use their beaks much like hands to grasp and manipulate objects.
Playfulness
Young macaws extremely playful and mischievous. They’ll hang upside down or swing by their beaks. Love to chew and shred wood and foliage. Their curiosity and frolicsome nature captivates humans.
Affection
Form strong bonds with mates, offspring and human caretakers. Seek frequent physical affection such as petting and scratching from their owners.
The genus Diopsittaca contains all the attributes we love about macaws: their dazzling colors, loud vocalizations, intelligence, playfulness and capacity for affection. But those qualities also make them popular in the illegal wildlife trade.
Cultural Significance
The vibrant colors and intelligence of macaws like the Red-shouldered Macaw give them great cultural importance across South America:
Pet Trade
Their rarity and vivid plumage made them prized by indigenous tribes as pets. Demand today comes from modern collectors. Capture rates are unsustainable, threatening some populations.
Folklore
Macaws appear in legends and folk tales of Amazonian tribes. They felt the red spot on their wings represented fires that once burned the forest.
Art
Brilliant feathers used in tribal ceremonies and headdresses. Depictions found in rock and cave paintings, pottery, textiles across the continent.
Ecotourism
Birders and nature tourists flock to see endangered macaws in the wild. Generating tourist revenue gives governments incentive to protect habitats.
Conservation Symbol
Red-shouldered Macaws embody the biodiversity of the tropical rainforests they inhabit. Saving these delicate ecosystems starts with preserving rare, iconic species.
The significance of macaws to indigenous culture shows our long intertwined history. While demand for the illegal wildlife trade threatens this bond, their protection can unite conservation efforts.
Threats and Conservation
While captivating to encounter in the rainforest, Red-shouldered Macaws face several threats in the wild:
Habitat Loss
The greatest threat to their survival is rapid destruction of humid forest habitat across South America for logging, agriculture and development.
Illegal Pet Trade
Trafficking for the exotic bird market is another serious threat. Most wild-caught macaws die in transit or soon after from stress and malnutrition.
Current Status
The IUCN Red List categorizes Red-shouldered Macaws as Least Concern. But some isolated populations are endangered from trafficking.
Conservation Actions
Macaws inhabit protected areas across their range. Preserves safeguard populations while anti-poaching efforts curb illegal capture for trade.
Ecotourism
Birding tours bring tourist revenue to remote villages, incentivizing habitat protection. Captive breeding programs help diminish demand for wild parrots.
Climate Change
The long-term threat of global warming could severely disrupt weather patterns and ecology across the Amazon Basin this century.
Saving the homes of endangered species like Red-shouldered Macaws ultimately conserves their rainforest habitat and our planet.
Conclusion
The genus Diopsittaca contains some of the most vibrant yet vulnerable parrots on Earth. These intelligent and highly social macaws play key ecological roles in dispersing seeds across South American rainforests. Tribes have treasured them as pets for centuries, drawn by their colorful plumage, intellect and capacity for affection. Yet rampant habitat loss now threatens the survival of species like the Red-shouldered Macaw.
Seeing a flock of these macaws chatter loudly while foraging high on an emergent kapok tree is an unforgettable memory for any rainforest visitor. Their crimson shoulder patches make them unmistakable as they take momentary flight across the green canopy. We have the responsibility to protect exotic birds like Diopsittaca macaws and their fragile forest homes. If we create guarded sanctuaries, instill pride in indigenous communities and curb trafficking, species can rebound.
The next time you think of macaws, picture them not in cages but up in the rainforest canopy where they belong. This vision can inspire us to conserve both rare species and essential global ecosystems. Achieving this will take cooperation across borders, persistence despite obstacles, and most of all—hope.
