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.
