Red-shouldered macaw

Red-shouldered macaw
Hahn's macaw (D. n. nobilis)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Tribe: Arini
Genus: Diopsittaca
Ridgway, 1912
Species:
D. nobilis
Binomial name
Diopsittaca nobilis
Subspecies

D. n. cumanensis (Lichtenstein 1823)
D. n. longipennis Neumann 1931
D. n. nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution across South America
Synonyms
  • Ara nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Psittacus nobilis Linnaeus, 1758

The red-shouldered macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis) is a small green South American parrot, a member of a large group of Neotropical parrots called macaws. The species is named for the red coverts on its wings. It is the smallest macaw, being 30–35 cm (12–14 in) in length – similar in size to the Aratinga parakeets. It is native to the tropical lowlands, savannah, and swamplands[2] of Brazil, the Guianas, Bolivia, Venezuela, and far south-eastern Peru. There are three subspecies: The noble macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis cumanensis), Hahn's macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis nobilis), and the long-winged macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis longipennis). The long-winged macaw is a poorly distinct third subspecies that has longer wings, but is otherwise similar to the noble macaw. The Hahn's subspecies is named for German zoologist Carl-Wilhelm Hahn, who in 1834 began compiling Ornithologischer Atlas oder naturgetreue Abbildung und Beschreibung der aussereuropäischen Vögel (Engl: Ornithological Atlas or natural depiction and description of birds from outside Europe).[3]

Red-shouldered macaws are frequently bred in captivity for the pet trade, where they are sometimes described as mini-macaws.

Though wild populations of red-shouldered macaws have declined locally due to habitat loss, they are listed as Least Concern by IUCN. They are listed on Appendix II of CITES, trade restricted.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Diopsittaca nobilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T61958763A95183956. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61958763A95183956.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Online Book of Parrots – Genus Diopsittaca Archived 29 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Blue Macaws". www.bluemacaws.org.