Military Macaw |
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Also known as: Green Macaw, Blue-green Macaw
Military Macaw
© Justin Wright [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
Photos
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The Military Macaw is so similar to the Great Green Macaw in coloration that it is almost indistinguishable.Programs & Projects
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Related publications: Ara militarisSpecies Profile
Genus: Ara | Species: militaris
Size:
70-75cm (27.3-29.3 in)
Weight:
900g (31.5 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
three: A.m. militaris, A.m. mexicana, A.m. boliviana
Colour Adult:
Large, mostly green macaw with bright red forehead patch, blue flight feathers and bright sky blue rump. Bare face with fine lines of black feathers.
A.m. militaris: Both adults green, olive wash on back and wing covers; blue suffusion on crown to neck, forehead and fine lines on lores red, throat olive/brown, upper tail dark brown/red and tipped dark blue. Bill grey/black, pink/white face which turns darker pink when excited. Fine lines of feathers on face green/black. Eye yellow.
A.m. mexicana: Both adults larger than militaris.
A.m. boliviana: Both adults as in militaris but throat red/brown, red bases to feathers of ear coverts; tip of tail and outer webs of primary feathers darker blue.
Colour Juvenile:
As in adult but tail shorter. Eye grey.
Call:
Loud, harsh; also raucous and drawn out; shrieking. Calls audible at some distance.
Listen NowVideo Links:
Video 1More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 8474, Military Macaw Ara militaris, Kincaid, Edgar, Jalisco, Mexico, Jun. 22 1957, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.
Avian Pediatric Seminar Proceedings, various authors, 1988.
Military Macaw
© Justin Wright [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Military Macaw is so similar to the Great Green Macaw in coloration that it is almost indistinguishable.Programs & Projects
WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn moreAcademic Research
Related publications: Ara militarisSpecies Care
Captive Status:
Fairly common in US; rare in other countries.
Longevity:
50-60 yrs
Housing:
Should have access to a large enclosure at least 15m (49 ft) for at least part of the year; keeping permanently indoors not recommended.
Diet:
Soaked or sprouted sunflower seed; nuts including: walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pine nuts; vegetables and fruit such as: corn on the cob, banana, orange, apple and others; if possible, palm fruits; complete pellet for macaws.
Enrichment:
Are chewers, need bird-safe woods such as: fir, elder, pine and willow to chew on; also heat sterilized pine cones, large vegetable tanned leather and wood toys. Enjoys bathing.
Nest Box Size:
Horizontal macaw box, 16" x 16" x 48" (40.6cm x 40.6cm x 122cm) or 35 gal. (133 L) pickle barrel.
Clutch Size:
2
Incubation Time:
26 days
Fledging Age:
13 weeks
Hatch Weight:
18-25g (0.6-0.9 oz)
Peak Weight:
760-1039g (26.6-36.4 oz)
Weaning Weight:
678-820g (23.7-28.7 oz)
Military Macaw
© Justin Wright [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Military Macaw is so similar to the Great Green Macaw in coloration that it is almost indistinguishable.Programs & Projects
WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn moreAcademic Research
Related publications: Ara militarisSpecies Wild Status
World Population:
3000-10,000
IUCN Red List Status:
Vulnerable
CITES Listing:
Appendix I
Threat Summary:
Range is extensive but highly fragmented. Habitat loss is 32% in Mexico alone and domestic trade is particularly prevalent in Mexico and Bolivia. A sub-population of up to 50 mature birds in the Cauca Valley in Colombia is expected to be lost when a new dam floods the birds' nesting cliff.
Range:
A.m. militaris: Tropics of Colombia and NW Venezuela, south to the E Ecuador and Urubamba region, SE Peru; rarely to Pacific slope of Andes in Peru.
A.m. mexicana: Pacific slope in Mexico from Sonora south to Jalisco.
A.m. boliviana: East slope of Andes in Bolivia, south from Beni, also NW Argentina in Jujuy and Salta.
A.m. mexicana: Pacific slope in Mexico from S Sonora south to Jalisco, formerly to W Chiapas and Atlantic slope from E Nuevo Leon to San Luis Potosi.
Habitat:
Found in foothills of mountainous areas in wooded country with valleys from 500-1500m (1640-4920 ft); sometimes to 2000m (6560 ft). Also regularly to sea-level in Pacific Mexico and Colombia. In Mexico mostly secluded uplands in dry woodland; occasionally in lowland humid and riparian forests. In Colombian Andes humid forest. In Venezuela in rainforest to 600m (1968 ft).
Wild Diet:
Feeds on Jessenia bataua palm, Melia azedarach fruit, and Ficus figs. In tropical dry and oak (Quercus spp.) forests of Cuicatlán, C Mexico, fruits (Bunchosia montana, Neobuxbaumia tetetzo), leaves (Cyrtocarpa procera) and even latex (from the stems of Plumeria rubra); preferred foods are rich in protein and lipids, especially during the breeding season; birds were also observed taking water from Tillandsia grandis leaves.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Mostly found in pairs or small flocks of up to 10; roosts in far greater numbers. Roosts communally on cliff faces or large trees.
Clutch and Egg Size:
2-3 elliptical eggs, 46.5 x 33.0mm (1.8 x 1.3 in).
Breeding Season:
March-July in Mexico. Nest is in tree cavity.
Related Links:
Research: Feeding ecology of Military Macaws in a semi-arid region of C Mexico
Research: Observations of the Military Macaw in northern Oaxaca, Mexico
Military Macaw
© Justin Wright [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Military Macaw is so similar to the Great Green Macaw in coloration that it is almost indistinguishable.Programs & Projects
WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn moreAcademic Research
Related publications: Ara militarisMembers Only Resources
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