Common Name: Red-fronted Macaw
Scientific Name: Ara rubrogenys
ENDANGERED Red-fronted Macaw Distribution: Central Bolivia Habitat: Forest & Scrubland Height: 55- 60cm Weight: 450 - 650g Diet: Herbivorous
The bill is black to grey in colour and the forehead and crown of the head is red. There is also red in a patch on the neck over the ear and at the top of the wings. The bird is green, with turquoise in the flight feathers and on the tail. The area around the eye and at the base of the bill is bare. The species is found in Central Bolivia and occurs in scrub, deciduous and cactus woodland in valleys and gorges. They are found between 1100 – 2500 m altitude and are associated with specific tree and cacti species. The red fronted macaw feeds on specific species of leguminous tree and specific grasses and cacti. They also eat groundnut and maize crops. The breeding season is timed so that there is maximum availability of food and runs from October to March. The nest is built in a cliff crevice and the female lays 1 – 3 eggs. These are incubated for around 26 days and once hatched the chicks spend up to 75 days in the nest before fledging. The species is endangered due to trapping and habitat destruction.