About Primolius maracana (Vieillot, 1816)
This species has a total length of approximately 36–43 cm (14–17 in). It has a moderately sized black bill, a long tail, and primarily green plumage. As suggested by its common name, the upperside of the remiges and primary coverts are blue. The underside of the wings is yellowish, while the tail-tip, crown, and cheeks are bluish. The base of the tail and a small belly patch are red, and the iris is amber. Along with the red-bellied macaw, this species is one of the only two macaws with yellowish bare facial skin; this yellowish color often fades to white when the bird is kept in captivity. Unlike the red-bellied macaw, the blue-winged macaw has a red lower abdomen and a red lower back. In the wild, this species has a described distinctive flight pattern: a jerky, rearing motion. The blue-winged macaw is found in eastern and southern Brazil, with a remaining remnant population in northeastern Brazil. It also occurs in eastern Paraguay, and was at least formerly present in far northeastern Argentina and east of Bolivia. It inhabits both evergreen and deciduous forests, and shows a preference for gallery forest. These macaws feed mainly on seeds from Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, Jatropha, Guazuma ulmifolia, and the non-native Melia azedarach. They also eat fruits and nuts.
