"The intense green-and-blue body, highlighted by red tail feathers, make this imposing member of the parrot family a stunning symbol of the country's diminishing rainforests. Unfortunately, it is a victim of both deforestation and the illegal pet trade." The Great Green ranges widely across the Caribbean lowlands in seach of food but the amount of suitable remaining nesting habitat appears very small, the number of feeding trees is declining, and the number of birds left is very low - probably only thirty to thirty-five pairs." (That was in 2000).

The bill of this macaw is larger than that of the Scarlet macaw. It is adapted to cracking open the very tough nuts of the swamp almond tree (Dipteryx panamensis). The life cycle of the Great Green is tied very closely to Dipteryx trees -- it nests in hollow cavities of this tree and depends on its fruits as a major food. Below, a Scarlet macaw competes with a Great Green for food.

Tom Armstrong, now dceased, at his Costa Rican homestead called Finca Lupida – with an injured Great Green. This gives you a feel for how large these macaws are.