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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Parrots (Order Psittaciformes)

-New World and African Parrots (Family Psittacidae)

-Typical Macaws (Genus Ara)

-Military Macaw (Ara militaris)


Military macaws are native to scattered parts of Central America and South America, extending from Mexico to Argentina. They inhabit humid lowland forests and adjacent cleared areas, wooded foothills, and canyons. They have also been seen in and around agricultural fields, orchards, and shade coffee plantations. The Military Macaw is a large macaw with a black beak, about 70cm in length. Its plumage is largely brilliant green, with a red patch at the front of the head, more red and blue on the tail, and blue flight feathers, giving it an impressively colourful appearance. The Military Macaws diet consists of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and other vegetation found on treetops in the rainforests.


Military Macaw

Ara militaris

Diet

  • Primarily seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and figs.

  • Also feeds on flowers, leaf buds, and occasionally cultivated crops such as corn.

  • Uses its powerful bill to crack hard nuts and seeds.

  • Frequently visits clay licks to consume mineral-rich soil, which may help neutralize plant toxins and aid digestion.

Range

  • Found from western and northeastern Mexico south through Central America to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina.

  • In Mexico, it occurs in scattered populations along the Pacific slope, the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre del Sur (including Guerrero), and parts of the Gulf slope.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn forests, pine-oak woodlands, canyon forests, and foothill forests, typically from 500–2,600 m elevation.

  • Generally a year-round resident but may make local seasonal movements in search of food.

Male / Female

  • Male: Green plumage with a red forehead, blue flight feathers, and a long red-and-blue tail; slightly larger with a broader head and heavier bill.

  • Female: Nearly identical in plumage to the male, although usually slightly smaller with a finer bill.

  • Sexes cannot be reliably distinguished by appearance in the field. Accurate sex determination generally requires DNA testing, endoscopic examination, or observation of breeding behaviour.

Size

  • Length: 70–85 cm (27.5–33.5 in)

  • Wingspan: 99–110 cm (39–43 in)

  • Weight: 900–1,100 g (2.0–2.4 lb)

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