Ara militaris mexicanus

(Ridgway, 1915)

Vernacular names
English : Military macaw
French : Ara militaire

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Psittaciformes
Family : Psittacidae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a length of 71 cm for a weight of 1100 g. Large black bill, white skin on cheeks with black feather stripes. Red forehead, plumage green, blue flight feathers. This subspecies is larger, sometimes darker, with turquoise nape.

Range and habitat
This subspecies is endemic to western and north-east Mexico. Species also found from Venezuela to Colombia, south to Bolivia. Lives in tropical dry forests and woodlands, rarely humid forests, up to 2600 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species is globally declining because of habitat destruction and over trapping for trade. Mexican population highly endangered.
Ex-Situ Programs : ESB in Europe

Observation

 

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