Military Macaw Military Macaw
Mexican Military Macaw

Scientific Classification

Common Name
Mexican military macaw, Mexican green macaw
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittacidae (true parrots)
Genus Species
Ara (macaw) militaris mexicana

Fast Facts

Description
The Mexican military macaw is a medium-sized macaw with mostly green plumage except for a red frontal band and a blue tinge on the back of head. The beak is black with a pale tip, the iris is yellow, and the feet are gray.
Size
Approximately 70 cm (27.6 in.)
Weight
Approximately 900 g (31.7 oz)
Diet
Includes seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries
Incubation
Approximately 26 days
Clutch Size
1 to 2 eggs
Fledging Duration
12 weeks
Sexual Maturity
2 to 4 years
Life Span
50 to 60 years
Range
Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina
Habitat
Inhabits arid and semi-arid regions
Population
Less than 10,000
Status 
IUCN: Vulnerable
CITES: Appedix I
USFWS: Vulnerable

Fun Facts

Macaws are monogamous, remaining bonded for life. They are often seen flying in large flocks and the bonded pairs fly close together, their wings nearly touching.

In the wild, macaws often flock to mountains of clay known as "macaw licks."

Macaws are playful and inquisitive and are able to mimic human vocalizations very well.

Macaws are messy eaters. Their incredibly strong beaks are adapted for eating all sorts of nuts and seeds, as seen in their ability to crack open incredibly hard-shelled nuts with ease.

Macaws are able to reach flying speeds of up to 56 kph (35 mph).


Ecology and Conservation

While feeding, these birds drop seeds and play an important role in forest regeneration.

These birds suffer from deforestation. Humans destroy many of their nests and natural factors such predators, storms, illnesses, parasites, and competition for nesting cavities with other species including African bees.

The U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES as threatened or endangered (Appendix II and I) including most parrots.


Bibliography

Forshaw, J.M. Parrots of the World. New Jersey. T.F.H. Publications Inc. 1978. 

Low, R. Macaws, A Complete Guide. London. Merehurst.

Marrison, C. and A. Greensmith. Birds of the World. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. 1993.

Perrins, C. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications. 1985.

audubon.org/local/latin/bulletin6/featured.html

BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Ara militaris. Downloaded from birdlife.org on 26/8/2008.