A closer look: Juveniles vs Adult Macaws!

How to tell the difference between a juvenile and an adult Macaw.

Large Macaws were one of the first birds that I could easily spot and identify in Kabalebo. Years later, 2016,  we continue with the identification: how to spot a juvenile between the adults.

Here you see a fully grown Red-and-Green Macaw enjoying the Maripa nuts at the river cabin. 

A couple of minutes later it was accompanied by 2 other Red-and-Green Macaws. As you can see the one in front looks a bit different next to the other Macaws. Notice how its crown is raised while eating a nut. As it is still learning and growing everything looks new. While I was taking pictures of them, it raised its crown as a sign that it was pretty alert of its surrounding. The adults didn't mind my company at all.

After zooming into the same picture you can clearly see its iris: grey and also notice the change in color of its lower mandible.

Here you can see two adults eating maripa nuts. Their iris are (light) yellow and their lower mandibles are total black … and their crowns are flat.

After eating a lot of maripa nuts this family decided to take a rest in the afternoon. Here you can see how the two grown-ups are at ease and trying to take a nap, while the juvenile looks kind of restless. It still needs to get used to everything, but eventually it will grow out of it.

​Another closer look:

Scarlet vs Red-and-Green macaws!