Birds
Military Macaw
Ara militaris · also called military macaws
Wheeling along a cliff face in foothill forest far above the lowland canopy most macaws call home, a military macaw shows off the olive-green plumage and red forehead patch that earned it a name borrowed from old-fashioned uniforms.
Overview
The military macaw, Ara militaris, is a predominantly green parrot native to forest and mountain habitat across a range extending from Mexico through Central America into parts of South America. Its uniform-like green-and-red colouring, unusual preference for higher-elevation foothill forest compared with most lowland macaws, and flexible nesting in both cliff faces and tree cavities make it one of the more ecologically distinctive large macaw species.
A macaw that prefers the highlands
While most macaws are creatures of the lowland rainforest canopy, the military macaw has carved out a niche in foothill and mountain forest, a preference for higher, cooler terrain that sets it apart from many of its lower-elevation relatives.
Status
Vulnerable, with trapping for the pet trade and loss of foothill and mountain forest habitat driving significant declines despite the species’ wide overall range.
Military Macaw: common questions
How did the military macaw get its name?
This species has a predominantly olive-green body offset by a red forehead patch and blue flight feathers, a colouring reminiscent of old-fashioned military uniforms, which gives rise to the common name applied to this and a couple of closely related green macaw species.
Why does the military macaw live at higher elevations than most macaws?
This species favours foothill and mountain forest at higher elevation than most other macaw species, which typically stick to lowland rainforest, a habitat preference that sets it apart ecologically from many of its lower-altitude macaw relatives.
Why is the military macaw considered Vulnerable despite its wide range?
Although this species has a wide overall range extending from Mexico through Central America into parts of South America, populations are often patchily distributed, and trapping for the pet trade combined with loss of foothill and mountain forest habitat has driven significant declines, leaving the species classified as Vulnerable.
Where does the military macaw build its nest?
This species nests in natural cavities, including cliff-face crevices in addition to more typical tree cavities, a nesting flexibility that allows it to use rocky, mountainous terrain not available to macaw species restricted to nesting only in large forest trees.