Discover the 10 largest parrots in the world.

With their bright coloration and amazing ability to mimic human speech, parrots are among the most popular birds among enthusiasts and the general public. There are more than 398 species worldwide, divided into three superfamilies: “real parrots” (Psittacoidea), cockatoo (Kakatuoid) and New Zealand parrots (Strigopoid). They are common in tropical and subtropical climates, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. Their lifespan is one of the longest among all bird species, and some species are intelligent enough to manipulate tools.

From the tiny dwarf parrots of Papua New Guinea to the giant macaws of South America, parrots come in all sizes. But what is the largest parrot species? To answer this question, you must measure their length and weight, with weight being the final determining factor for distinguishing between species. In this list, we rank the ten largest parrots in the world to determine the largest ones.

# 10: Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Originally known as the burial cockatoo, a yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Zanda funerea) is a large species from eastern Australia. They can be 22 to 26 inches long and weigh up to 1.9 pounds. Its plumage is predominantly brownish black with pale yellow stripes on the tail feathers, neck, nape and wings. You can hear their loud and varied cries from great distances, which helps to distinguish them from other black cockatoos.

Yellow-tailed black cockatoos are found throughout southeastern Australia, including Tasmania, the Bass Strait Islands and Kangaroo Island. They tend to live in temperate forests, but will also settle in pine plantations and in urban areas where food is plentiful. Their diet includes seeds of native trees, nectar, insect larvae and cones. Although the IUCN classifies the yellow-tailed black cockatoo as the least dangerous species, their numbers continue to decline due to habitat loss.

# 9: scarlet macaw

Scarlet macaw (Macau) is a large macaw species from Central and South America. They can reach 32 inches in length and weigh nearly 2.2 pounds at their heaviest. Their name comes from the vibrant red, blue and yellow plumage that distinguishes them from other macaws and makes them one of the most popular exotic birds in the poultry industry. Honduras recognizes the scarlet macaw as its national bird.

Scarlet macaws are common from southeastern Mexico to the Peruvian Amazon, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Brazil. They emit loud, guttural screams that echo for miles in all directions. While they usually meet singly or in pairs, they sometimes travel in packs. Their diet consists of fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers, and nectar. Although their population is declining in several regions, large numbers still exist in the wild. As a result, the IUCN ranks the scarlet macaw as the species of least concern.

# 8: Blue-throated Macaw

Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is also known as Wagler’s macaw, after the German herpetologist Johann Georg Wagler, who first described the bird to European readers. They can grow up to 33 inches long and weigh 2.0 to 2.5 pounds. Their upper plumage appears turquoise blue, and their belly is usually bright yellow. In addition, they have a blue stripe on their necks, from which they got their name “blue beard” in Spanish.

The blue-throated macaw is found only in the Llano de Moxos region of Bolivia. Unlike most species of parrots, they do not live in forests, but prefer to nest on islands of palm trees. Although most blue-throated macaws live in monogamous pairs, they sometimes occur in groups of 7-9 individuals. They feed mainly on palm fruit, although they will also eat seeds and nuts if fruit is not available. The blue-throated macaw is one of the rarest species of parrots, as fewer than 400 individuals still exist in the wild. They are classified as endangered by the IUCN.

# 7: War Macaw

War macaw (Military area) is a large parrot native to Mexico and regions of South America. They are typically 27.5 to 33.5 inches long and weigh about 2.5 pounds. Their name comes from the predominantly green plumage, a bit like a military uniform. Although they look like large green macaws, they are not as large and their beaks are black instead of white.

The military macaws are found in deciduous and semi-deciduous forests in limited regions of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, southern Mexico and Argentina. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, but they also eat fruits and leaves. In addition, they will visit clay deposits known as macaw licks to eat clay deposits that detoxify the seeds and vegetables they eat. There are about 2000-7000 individuals in the wild, although many of them live as pets. Due to the decrease in their number, IUCN classifies them as vulnerable species.

# 6: Palm Cockatoo

Also known as goliath cockatoo or great cockatoo, palm cockatoo (Common proboscis) is the largest parrot in Australia and the largest cockatoo in the world. Palm cockatoos, although not as long as some cockatoos or macaws, weigh more than their longer counterparts. They can be 22 to 24 inches long and weigh up to 2.6 pounds. Their gray-black plumage is disturbed only by protruding red spots located on the eyes. In addition, they possess huge beaks that are only surpassed by the beak of the hyacinth macaw.

Palm cockatoos are found in northeastern Australia, New Guinea, Sorong, West Papua, and Indonesia. Their diet consists of nuts from the Canari tree and fruits from the Andanus palm, from which they get their name. They participate in unique territorial demonstrations where a bird (usually a male) drumming a large stick on a tree. This makes them one of the few bird species known to use tools. They also have a long lifespan, estimated at 80 to 90 years. Although palm cockato populations are listed as of Least Concern by the IUCN, palm cockatoo populations face threats of habitat destruction and hunting.

# 5: Big Green Macaw

Also known as Buffon’s macaw or large military macaw, the large green macaw (Macaw ambiguous) is a large parrot native to Central and South America. They typically range in length from 33.5 to 35.5 inches and weigh up to 2.9 pounds. Although they look like a military macaw, their plumage is light green and their beaks are white rather than black.

The large green macaw ranges from Honduras to Panama, Colombia and western Ecuador. In addition, some of this species lives and reproduces in Costa Rica. They prefer to live in rainforests or evergreen forests, depending on the region. Their diet includes a wide variety of foods such as seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers, bulbs, roots and tree bark. The total number of large green macaws living in the wild is estimated at 7000 individuals. Due to its limited population and threats from habitat destruction and pet trade, the IUCN classifies the great green macaw as an endangered species.

# 4: blue and yellow macaw

Blue and yellow macaw (Araraun’s route) is a popular species also known as the blue-and-gold macaw. Although they are slightly smaller than the large green macaws, 30-34 inches in length, they can weigh a little heavier, reaching 3 pounds in their heaviest condition. Their shining plumage is bright blue from above, and their belly appears to be light orange. They have a powerful beak, which they use to break nut shells, climb and hang from trees.

Blue and yellow macaws are found throughout Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Paraguay. In the wild, they tend to live in forests, woodlands, and tropical savannas. They can live up to 70 years of age and have remarkable mimicry abilities that allow them to “talk”. These factors, along with their vibrant coloration, make them popular pets. It is one of the most abundant species of parrots, with an estimated population of 100,000 in the world. Although their numbers continue to decline, they are currently listed as the Least Concern species by the IUCN.

# 3: red-green macaw

Red-green macaw (Macaw chloropter), or green-winged macaw, is the largest macaw species in the genus Ara. They range from 35 to 37 inches in length and can weigh between 2.3 and 3.7 pounds. Their plumage is mostly red, but their wings also have shades of green and blue, which is where they get their name. It is one of the most recognizable macaw species due to its striking appearance and general distribution.

Red-green macaws are found in Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay. They tend to nest in forests and woodlands, where they mate and mate for life. The number of red-green macaws in the wild is declining due to hunting, loss of habitat and illegal capture for the pet trade. However, the Red-Green Macaw is currently classified as of Least Concern by the IUCN.

# 2: hyacinth macaw

Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is the largest macaw in the world and the largest species of flying parrots. They can reach 39 inches in length and weigh between 2.3 and 3.7 pounds. Outwardly, hyacinth macaws are similar to Lear’s macaw, but much larger in size. Their feathers are bright blue except for yellow spots around the eyes and just below the beak.

Hyacinth macaws are native to Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay. They prefer to live in palm marshes and forests and try to avoid dense, humid forests. Their diet includes Brazil nuts, local palms and fruits. There is evidence that they use tools to help them crack harder nuts. Due to pet trade and habitat loss, the IUCN classifies the hyacinth macaw as a vulnerable species.

# 1: Kakapo

Kakapo is the largest parrot in the world. Also known as the kakapo parrot owl (Strigos habroptilus) is a large flightless parrot from the Strigopoidea family of parrots endemic to New Zealand. Although not as long as most macaw species, ranging in size from 23 to 25 inches, it is the heaviest parrot in the world. On average, individuals weigh between 2 and 9 pounds, making them one of the most abundant species of parrots. Due to their size, kakapos cannot fly and spend their entire lives on the ground. Spotted yellow-green feathers cover their bodies, which allows them to blend well with vegetation on the forest floor.

In the Maori language, their name translates as “nocturnal parrot” – a name they got because the kakapos are nocturnal. Kakapo are the only parents to exhibit a polygynous breeding system in which one male mates with several females, while females mate with only one male. Their lifespan is exceptionally long, with some individuals reported to live up to 100 years. They feed on native plants, seeds, fruits and tree sap. After the British colonized New Zealand and introduced predators such as ermine, ferrets and weasels to the islands, the indigenous kakapo population almost completely disappeared. Today, fewer than 200 kakapos live on predator-free cod / Venua Howe Island, Little Barrier / Hauturu Island and Anchor Island, with each specimen named and tagged. Due to the decline in their numbers, the IUCN classifies the kakapo as an endangered species.