Military Macaw

Ara militaris

The Military Macaw, considered “vulnerable” as a wild species, is found in the forests of Mexico and South America.

Military Macaws live in large flocks and can live about 50-60 years in the wild. They feed on seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and other vegetation found on treetops. Their beaks are well adapted for breaking open the hardest of shells with relative ease.

Military Macaws blush when excited, their white face turning deep pink. The Military Macaw is so similar to the Buffon’s Macaw (Ara ambigua) that they are almost indistinguishable in the field.

The above picture was taken in August 2006.

Genus Ara
Subfamily Arinae
Family Psittacidae
Order Psittaciformes
Class Aves
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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