Military Macaws
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The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) is a large parrot. They may have received their name when they were first imported into Europe by military personnel. This is a protected species, that is native to Mexico, Tropical Zone of Colombia, North-western Venezuela, South-Eastern Ecuador, and Northern Peru.
Sub-Species:
- Mexican Green Military Macaws - From Chiapas and Oaxaca north to southwest Chihuahua, northeast Sinaloa and southeast Sonora, Mexico; and westenmost Guatemala
- Bolivian Green Macaws - From Bolivia, extreme North-western Argentinan
Description:
Military Macaw (Ara militaris) is perhaps the smallest of the large macaws at a length of 27 - 29 inches (70 - 75 cm) from beak to tail. Wing length: 14 inches. Wingspan: 39 - 43 inches. Weight: 862 - 1074g.
The Military Macaw is green in color with a red forehead and small amounts of white, black, blue, and yellow on other parts of the body. The young's plumage is duller in color than that of the mature macaws.
Further, the Military, though smaller, is very similar in appearance to the Great Green Macaw or Buffon's Macaw (A. ambigua).
Military Macaws as Pets:
The Military Macaw readily breeds and is therefore easily available in the pet trade. The military macaw is the quietest and least expensive of the large macaws to acquire.
Like most macaws, the military macaw can get nippy and thus requires more attention and training to maintain a pleasant nature.
Militaries do well in a large macaw cage as an indoor pet. They enjoy toys, especially wood items that they can chew. They are quite capable talkers and can be easily trained, including being potty trained to the cage.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Macaw ownership generally presents multiple challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined macaws will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires.
They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation. Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a macaw and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet macaw.
Overall, it is important to guide parrot behavior, but even more so if your feathered family member is a magnificent and powerful macaw.
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, 
please visit the following websites for information:
- Macaw General Information
- Procuring your Parrot
- BREEDERS:
- FL: Gene & Olga's Birds, Sunshine International Market, 1941 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 - Tel. 561-434-5435
- Recommended Breeders
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- BREEDERS:
- The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Housing Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
Breeding the Military Macaw
The breeding season of the Military Macaw is from about January to March. The female can lay as many as four eggs which are incubated for about a month, 28 days before they hatch. The female is the only one who tends the eggs and the young.
Macaws in captivity may frequently be hybridized with related species.
Military Macaws in the Wild:
Military Macaws inhabit an area from Mexico southward, especially Colombia, northwestern Venezuela, northern Peru, and eastern Ecuador. They live in pairs, in families, or in large flocks.
They prefer to roost in the highest outer branches of trees, and are easily identified even out of sight by their loud screeching and croaking.
Military Macaws eat fruit and nuts that are available in the area.
Distribution & Status:
It occupies a massive but fragmented range from Mexico to Argentina.
Military Macaws were once very common in Mexico, but are now listed as an endangered species due to the clearing of their habitat for agriculture and capture for pets. While the remaining two populations are not endangered, the entire species has been listed on Appendix I of CITES to assure protection of the northernmost race.
BirdLife International classifies this species as "Vulnerable". The main threats are habitat loss and domestic trade. The current population is estimated at 10,000 to 20,000, and is decreasing.
It is divided into three subspecies, A. militaris militaris, A. m. mexicana, and A.m. boliviana. Each subspecies represents a different and distinct population. The nominate form, A.m. militaris occurs in the eastern tropics of Colombia to western Venezuela and south into eastern Ecuador and northeastern Peru. The subspecies, A. m. boliviana, is found in the tropical portions of Bolivia and northern Argentina, and the northernmost subspecies, A. m. mexicana population is located in Mexico from southeastern Sonora and Sinaloa south to the Yucatan and perhaps into western Guatemala. These very distinct populations are separated by thousands of miles of terrain. (Adapted from Source: Wikipedia.org)
Genus: Scientific: Ara ... English: Macaws ... Dutch: Echte Aras ... German: Eigentliche Aras ... French: Aras
Species: Scientific: Ara militaris militaris ... English: Military Macaw ... Dutch: Soldatenara ... German: Soldatenara ... French: Ara militaire
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
Sub-Species:
Mexican Green Military Macaws - Please scroll up for additional information.
Distribution: Range includes Chiapas and Oaxaca north to southwest Chihuahua, northeast Sinaloa and southeast Sonora, Mexico; and westenmost Guatemala
Taxonomy: Genus: Scientific: Ara ... English: Macaws ... Dutch: Echte Aras ... German: Eigentliche Aras ... French: Aras
Species: Scientific: Ara militaris mexicana ... English: Mexican Green Military Macaw ... Dutch: Kleine Mexicaanse Soldatenara ... German: Kleiner Mexikanischer Soldatenara ... French: Ara militaire de Mexice
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)
Bolivian Green Macaws - Please scroll up for additional information
Distribution: Bolivia; extreme North-western Argentina
Taxonomy: Genus: Scientific: Ara ... English: Macaws ... Dutch: Echte Aras ... German: Eigentliche Aras ... French: Aras
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 3 - click on link to view photo.)
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
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