# Military Macaw (*Ara militaris*) The Military Macaw is a colorful bird with bright green feathers and a loud voice! They love to live in trees and can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Rainforests ![Military Macaw](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ara_militaris_-London_Zoo-8a.jpg&width=800) Photo: neiljs, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ara_militaris_-London_Zoo-8a.jpg) ## Appearance The Military Macaw is a striking bird, mostly bright green with a bold red forehead and dark blue flight feathers. Its bare white facial patch features fine black lines, making it visually distinct from other large green parrots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Ara ## Interesting facts - Macaws often mate for life, staying with the same partner for many years! - Their name comes from their green feathers, like old military uniforms! - These birds love to eat clay from riverbanks for important minerals! - They often roost in huge groups, with hundreds of birds together! ## Special abilities - **Nut Cracker:** Military Macaw can crack incredibly tough nuts because of its powerful, hooked beak. - **Sound Mimic:** Military Macaw has vocal cords that help them mimic a variety of sounds, including other animals. - **Keen Eyesight:** Military Macaw has excellent vision that helps them spot ripe fruits and tiny seeds from high in the trees. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 70-80 cm - **Wingspan:** 99-110 cm - **Weight:** 0.9-1.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 50-60 years - **Speed:** 56 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 25-28 days ## Diet & Feeding Military Macaws are plant-eaters, enjoying a feast of seeds, nuts, fruits, and even clay for minerals! - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, Berries, Clay - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** Kapok Tree (*Ceiba pentandra*) — Nests in hollows of this giant rainforest tree. - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — Adults and chicks can be prey for this powerful jungle raptor. - **Eats:** Cashew Tree (*Anacardium occidentale*) — Cracks open tough cashew shells to eat the delicious nuts. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and never try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Military Macaw? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Military Macaw? 70-80 cm ### What is Military Macaw's wingspan? 99-110 cm ### How much does Military Macaw weigh? 0.9-1.1 kg ### How long does Military Macaw live? 50-60 years ### How fast can Military Macaw move? 56 km/h ### What does Military Macaw eat? Military Macaws are plant-eaters, enjoying a feast of seeds, nuts, fruits, and even clay for minerals! ### Where is Military Macaw usually found? Rainforests ## Where to spot - [Tiergarten Delitzsch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-delitzsch) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Military Macaw: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/military-macaw)