Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys Scientific name definitions

The Red-fronted Macaw is a large charismatic macaw which, due its extremely restricted range, is highly endangered. It is only found in the arid semi-desert, intermontane valleys of three rivers in the Andes of central Bolivia. In these valleys it inhabits fairly undisturbed dry forest. This habitat that was once found throughout the inter-Andean valleys of Bolivia, but it has been highly degraded in the last century, resulting in the macaw’s restricted distribution and small, declining population. Within its range, the Red-fronted Macaw is still common and can most readily be seen at its nests, which are situated in the crevices of large cliffs, often over river courses.

55–60 cm; 450–650 g. Broad red forehead running up and back to above eye ; bare orbital ring and strip at base of bill pale pinkish red; rear ear-coverts, shoulder patch, underwing-coverts and thighs red; rest of body green except turquoise in flight-feathers and distal half of tail . Immature has reduced red throughout.

C Bolivia (S Cochabamba, W Santa Cruz, N Chuquisaca and NE Potosí).

Arid montane scrub, deciduous and cactus woodland in intermontane valleys and gorges at 1100–2700 m (locally to 3000 m), common tree genera being Prosopis, Carica, Acacia, Mimosa, Gourleia, Schinus, Schinopsis, Aspidosperma, Jacaranda, Erythrina, Salix, Alnus and Dodonea, with such cacti as Cleistocactus, Lobivia, Echinopsis, Opuntia, Quiabentia and Cereus.

No evidence of any displacements.

The legumes Schinopsis quebracho and Prosopis chilensis and a cactus Cereus (or Neocardenasia) are important; so also are Schinus, Aspidosperma, Cnidoscolus, Jatropha, Erythrina, Ziziphus and the grasses Tribulus and Cenchrus; also cultivated crops of maize and groundnuts. These and other foods become available at various stages of the year, so each may have considerable value to the species.

Short, shrill ringing call  , similar to A. severus and reminiscent of Aratinga, frequently given in flight, when foraging or at rest. More raucous “raaah” call closer to larger Ara given in alarm. Pairs also emit more melodious calls in duet (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Oct–Mar, sometimes later, but apparently timed so that fledging coincides with period of maximum food availability, in Feb–Mar. Nest in fissure in cliff; often loosely colonial. Nests also reported in holes of the palm Parajubaea torallyi, 14–20 m above the ground (2 Rojas, A., Yucra, E., Vera, I., Requejo, A. and Tella, J.L. (2014). A new population of the globally Endangered Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys unusually breeding in palms. Bird Conservation International. 24(3): 389–392. Close ). Eggs 1–3; in captivity, incubation 26 days, nestling period 70–73 days.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. CITES I. Restricted-range species, largely confined to valleys of R Grande, R Mizque, R Caine and R Pilcomayo in SC Bolivia. Very small and declining population, and all subpopulations extremely small. In 1991–1992 it was estimated to number between 1000 (3 Clarke, R.O.S. and Durán, E. (1991). The Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys) in Bolivia: distribution, abundance, biology and conservation. Unpublished report to Wildlife Conservation International & ICBP. Close ) and 2000–4000 individuals (4 Pitter, E. and Christiansen, M.B. (1995). Ecology, status and conservation of the Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys. Bird Conservation International. 5(1): 61-78. Close ). In 2007, fewer than 500 breeding pairs remained. A comprehensive survey in 2011 counted just 130 pairs, of a total population of 805 individuals External link . An additional, probably small population discovered in 2011 in El Palmar protected area, Chuquisaca, unusually breeding in palms (2 Rojas, A., Yucra, E., Vera, I., Requejo, A. and Tella, J.L. (2014). A new population of the globally Endangered Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys unusually breeding in palms. Bird Conservation International. 24(3): 389–392. Close ). Original natural habitat was inter-Andean dry forest, but centuries of human activity have converted this to arid thorn and cactus scrub with scattered trees; c. 40% of its natural habitat had been converted to agriculture by 1991, with other areas degraded by over-grazing. Several important food trees are harvested for fuel and charcoal. As foodplants are lost and agriculture encroaches, the birds’ predation of local crops results in some persecution by farmers, some of whom appear very recently to have acquired firearms for the purpose (5 Brace, R.C., Hesse, A.J. and White, A.G. (1995). The endemic macaws of Bolivia. Cotinga. 3: 27-30. Close ), and the steady clearance and degradation of woodland by charcoal-burners, firewood-gatherers and goats is rendering the long-term prospects for the species very doubtful. Several hundred birds were reputedly trapped annually up to 1987, and although trade has been reduced by legal protection (4 Pitter, E. and Christiansen, M.B. (1995). Ecology, status and conservation of the Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys. Bird Conservation International. 5(1): 61-78. Close ), the main threat remains nest-poaching and trapping for local pet supply (6 Rojas, A., Zeballos, A., Rocha, E. and Balderrama, J.A. (2009). Ara rubrogenys, Lafresnaye 1847. Pp. 332-334 in: Libro Rojo de la fauna silvestre de vertebrados de Bolivia. La Paz, Bolivia. Close ). It is considered Critically Endangered at the national level in Bolivia (6 Rojas, A., Zeballos, A., Rocha, E. and Balderrama, J.A. (2009). Ara rubrogenys, Lafresnaye 1847. Pp. 332-334 in: Libro Rojo de la fauna silvestre de vertebrados de Bolivia. La Paz, Bolivia. Close ), and its capture, transport and export is prohibited under Bolivian law. There is a need for a captive-breeding programme, incorporating individuals in national and international zoos.