About Primolius auricollis (Cassin, 1853)
Taxonomy and Size
This bird, with the scientific name Primolius auricollis (Cassin, 1853), measures approximately 38 cm (15 in) in total length, and nearly half of this length is made up of tail feathers.
Body Plumage and Collar
Its overall body plumage is green, marked by a clear yellow collar that is widest at the back of the neck. This yellow collar develops as the bird matures, and mature individuals have more vividly colored collars.
Head Coloration
The area at the front of the head and the crown is brownish black.
Wing and Tail Structure
Its remiges and primary coverts are blue, and its long, pointed tail has a red base, a narrow green midsection, and a blue tip.
Underside Coloration
The underside of the tail and the flight feathers are greenish-yellow, a coloration matching that of several other small macaws, including the blue-winged macaw and the red-bellied macaw.
Leg and Iris Color
The legs are a dull pink shade, and the iris ranges in color from reddish to dull yellow.
Facial and Bill Features
The bird has a large patch of bare white skin on its face, and its thick bill is black, often with a pale grey tip.
Main Population Range
The main, continuous population of this species is found in the Pantanal region of Brazil, specifically in southwestern Mato Grosso, western Mato Grosso do Sul, and southern Rondônia; it also occurs in northern Argentina (eastern Jujuy and northern Salta), far northern Paraguay (Alto Paraguay and Concepción), and most of northern and eastern Bolivia (Beni, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, and Tarija).
Disjunct Population Range
A second, separate disjunct population lives in far northeastern Mato Grosso, southeastern Pará, and western Tocantins in Brazil.
Habitat Types
It inhabits forest (though it does not enter the Amazon rainforest), woodland, savanna, and grassland with scattered trees.
Elevation Range
It is found mostly in lowland areas, but can locally be found at altitudes up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft).
