Photo: neiljs / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Parrots

Military Macaw

Ara militaris

Military Macaw (Ara militaris) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Central America & Caribbean.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Colombia Birds of Ecuador Birds of France Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of Mexico Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of England Birds of Lancashire

By family

Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Argentina Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Colombia Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Ecuador Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of France Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of the United Kingdom Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Mexico Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Peru Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of the United States Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of England

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The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
Genus Ara
Species militaris

Where it lives

Western Mexico and northwestern, western SA

Quick facts

Weight: 1.1 kg
Diet: Fruit-eaters
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Endangered

Lear’s Macaw

Anodorhynchus leari

Critically Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Military Macaw is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Military Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) is a member of the Psittacidae family, within the order Psittaciformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA w Mexico and nw, w SA.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 36.7 cm and a tail of around 36.6 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 282,000 km².

Songs & calls

Military Macaw — Call

Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza Licence: Public Domain

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Military Macaw?

The Military Macaw is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Military Macaw live?

The Military Macaw is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA w Mexico and nw, w SA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Military Macaw belong to?

The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.

What does the Military Macaw eat?

The Military Macaw is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Does the Military Macaw migrate?

The Military Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Military Macaw endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Military Macaw make?

1 real field recording of the Military Macaw — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Military Macaw's range?

The Military Macaw has a mapped global range of about 282,000 km².