The Green-winged Macaw is mostly red, with blue and green wings, a blue tail and grey legs. They have two toes that point forwards and two toes that point backwards on each foot. Their face is white and striped with small red feathers. Their upper beak is whitish and the lower beak is black. The iris of their eyes is white.  This is of the largest of the Macaws, the Green-winged Macaw can grow up to three feet in length and three and half pounds in weight. Their wingspan can reach up to1.3 m (50 inches).

The lifespan of the Green-winged Macaw is 60 to 80

Green-winged Macaws are affectionate, inquisitive, and intelligent. They are usually seen in pairs or family groups and sometimes gather in small flocks of six to twelve birds. Larger groups are found in feeding trees or on clay banks, where they may group with other Macaws. Macaws are normally monogamous, having only one mate for life. They are shy birds and hide very well even though they are brightly coloured. They are usually only heard within the forest; they will fly off making loud screeches when alarmed. Green-winged Macaws have excellent eyesight and hearing.

Breeding season ranges from November to March depending on the latitude the birds live in. They lay from one to three eggs, which incubate and hatch within 28 days. The baby macaws beg for food by flinging their wings and giving loud cries. The young leave the nest within 90 to 100 days. Green-winged Macaws reach reproductive maturity between 3 to 4 years of age. There may be as few as 15 to 25 young born each year to a group of 100 breeding pairs.  They do not breed annually.