Common corncockle vs Guacamaya roja

Agrostemma githago compared with Ara macao

Key Differences

Common corncockle is Critically Endangered while Guacamaya roja is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common corncockle	Guacamaya roja
Kingdom	Plantae (planta)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)	Psittaciformes (Parrots)
Family	Caryophyllaceae	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus	Agrostemma	Ara (Macaws)
Species	Agrostemma githago	Ara macao

Conservation Status

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

Guacamaya roja

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common corncockle	Guacamaya roja
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	85 cm
Average Weight	—	1.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common corncockle

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including montane grasslands and shrublands, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho), Asia (7 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Guacamaya roja

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Population trends indicate a declining trajectory in parts of its range.

Common corncockle

<em>Agrostemma githago</em>, commonly known as common corncockle, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Once a widespread weed of cereal crops across Europe, Asia, and beyond, this species is now Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the dramatic decline caused by modern agricultural practices, particularly improved grain cleaning and herbicide use. Corncockle is a tall, slender plant covered in silky white hairs, bearing large, solitary pink to purple flowers with distinctive dark veining. Its seeds contain toxic saponin compounds called githagins, which historically contaminated grain supplies. The species now survives primarily in wildflower conservation areas, seed banks, and traditional farmland conservation schemes. It typically grows in open, disturbed arable soils with full sun exposure. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Guacamaya roja

Una de las aves mas vistosamente coloreadas de las Americas, la guacamaya roja (Ara macao) exhibe un brillante plumaje rojo, amarillo y azul con una envergadura de hasta 1 metro. Habita en bosques humedos de tierras bajas desde Mexico hasta Bolivia; es muy inteligente, longeva -hasta 75 anos- y forma parejas de por vida. Viaja largas distancias hasta saladeros donde consume suelo rico en minerales para desintoxicar semillas. Clasificada como Preocupacion Menor, aunque localmente amenazada por la perdida de habitat y el comercio de mascotas.