Latin name: Ara rubrogenys

Protected species and listed in Annex I of the Washington Convention.

Its mountainous habitat is unique among parrots. Very infrequently held in captivity.

Height: approximately 60 cm

Weight: approximately 850 g

Colour: Olive-green plumage, red forehead, yellow-orange epaulettes, red thighs.
No sexual dimorphism between the male and female.

The ara rubrogenys or red-fronted macaw is truly magnificent, but its colours are difficult to describe except that the yellow-orange is rather fluorescent and the olive-green mixes shininess and a khaki green.

It lives in high altitudes (around 2500 metres but, in the tropics, nights are not cool!) in groups of several individuals and nests in cliff holes that are inaccessible to humankind.

The red-fronted macaw flies down into valleys to find several types of fruit to eat and scratches at the soil of farm land for hours to dig up seeds (groundnut and maize).

Local farmers are very poor and sometimes hunt this macaw with slings or other weapons. However, native Indians tolerate its ​​presence.

Few studies have been conducted of this bird in its natural habitat; little is therefore known of the biology of its reproduction. It is one of the few species of parrots rarely held in captivity.

Do not think that this photo is poorly developed: in fact, the male is furious at being photographed and protects his companion who is hidden, hence the pink colour of his cheeks.

Its natural habitat differs from that of other parrots: valleys tucked away in high altitudes of the Bolivian Altiplano (Central Bolivian Andes), a semi-desert environment with very few trees.

Ornithologists have recently identified new groups in very remote valleys, but the exact locations have not been disclosed.

An understandable precaution ...

The map below is currently available only in French. An English version will soon be made available.