The red-fronted macaw (''Ara rubrogenys'') is a parrot endemic to a small semi-desert mountainous area of

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

. It is a critically endangered species; it has been successfully bred in captivity, and is available, if not common, as a pet. It is also sometimes known in the literature as Lafresnaye's macaw, named for the French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye, who was one of the first to describe the species.

Description

The red-fronted macaw is long. It is mostly green, and has a red forehead, a red patch over the ears and bright red to orange edged under wing coverts. It has an area of pinkish skin around the eyes extending to the beak. It has red at the bend of wings and blue primary wing feathers.

Range and habitat

The red-fronted macaw is native to a small mountainous area of south-central

situated about 200 km west of Santa Cruz, in the department of the same name, where the climate is medium altitude semi-desert. The natural vegetation consists mostly of cactus (large and small) and thorny trees and scrub. The climate is semi arid with cold nights and hot days. Rain comes in infrequent heavy storms. It is unusual in that it is the only macaw to inhabit such a climatic zone. Most macaws nest in holes in large trees, however here there are no very large trees in its range so it nests in vertical fissures in cliff faces. The bird has been captured for the pet trade in the past and killed by local farmers because it raids their crops. Ara rubrogenys -Jurong Bird Park -8a

Gallery

Image:Ara rubrogenys -Jurong BirdPark-8.jpg, Upper body Image:Ara rubrogenys -head-6.jpg, Head Image:Ara rubrogenys -20030516.jpg, Side – Jurong BirdPark, Singapore File:Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys) -on branch-3cp.jpg, Wing clipped File:Ara rubrogenys -Zoo de Doué-la-fontaine-8a-2c.jpg, In the air File:Ara rubrogenys -Doué la Fontaine zoo-flying-8a.jpg, Flying

References

External links

Red-fronted macaw videos
on the Internet Bird Collection

(for

)
Red-fronted macaw photo gallery
VIREO
Wild macaws (Bolivia section)
{{Taxonbar, from=Q838951 red-fronted macaw Birds of the Bolivian Andes Endemic birds of Bolivia red-fronted macaw Taxa named by Frédéric de Lafresnaye