Dominican Green-and-Yellow Macaw or Atwood’s Macaw (Ara atwoodi)

The extinct Dominica(n) Macaws (Ara atwoodi) – also known as Dominican Green-and-Yellow Macaws or Atwood’s Macaws – were endemic to the island nation of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea.

These macaws are only known through the writings of zoologist Thomas Atwood in 1791, who described this species of macaw as having a mostly green and yellow plumage and “a scarlet coloured fleshy substance from the ears to the root of the bill.” His records also indicated that this macaw was larger than the two other local species of parrots – namely the Dominican Blue-faced Amazon (Amazona arausica) and Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis).

It is believed that the Dominican Macaws became extinct in the late 18th or early 19th century and as the likely causes of their demise Atwoods listed as hunting for food and capturing for pets.

Since this macaw is only known from Atwood’s notes – no skins, bones or any archaeological remains are known to be in existence – this species is considered a hypothetical extinct parrot species.

Macaw Information … Photos of the Different Macaw Species for Identification

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