Chestnut-fronted Macaw(Ara severus)
They are sometimes called the Severe Macaw. They are mostly green in colour with patches of red and blue on the wings. The head has a chestnut brown patch just above the beak. The beak is black and the patches around the eyes are white with lines of small black feathers. It is the only one of the miniature macaws that has lines of feathers in the bare patches around its eyes. In the wild their typically gregarious personality can become more aggressive at puberty giving them the name Severe.
This tendency can be curbed in captivity but the species requires significant handling to make a tame pet. It is 45–50 cm long and weighs 300–410 g. There are two known subspecies.
Habitat
Severe Macaws are native to South America. These parrots can be found in Panama, Brazil, and Bolivia. They can be found over a large part of Northern South America from Panama south into Amazonian Brazil and central Bolivia. A feral population has also been established in Florida.
Diet
During their food hunt, they may be seen eating fruits, palm seeds, or blossoms. Many have been seen feeding on insects. These omnivores eat a variety of foods; although, we don’t know the full gamut of what other foods they be eating.
Breeding
The chestnut-fronted macaw nest in a hole in a tree. During the breeding season, these parrots will branch off into pairs and look for cavities in dead trees, or holes made by mammals in healthy trees to raise their young. Once the female finds a cavity that is safe from predators, she will spend some time inside the nest expanding the cavity and prepping the nest for her offspring. Both male and female partake in the raising of their young. The female will incubate the eggs while the male helps to feed the hen and the chicks. Once the chicks hatch it is a nonstop grueling schedule of feeding the chicks. Most baby macaws will fledge around 2 ½ months and wean around 10 -12 weeks. The eggs are white and there are usually two or three in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 70 days after hatching.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Least Concern(LC). The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as fairly common. This species is suspected to lose 19.2-31.5% of suitable habitat within its distribution over three generations (38 years) based on a model of Amazonian deforestation. However, in view of the species's tolerance of fragmentation/degradation/edge-effects, it is suspected to decline by <25% over three generations.
Threats
Seems able to withstand, and even benefit from, selective logging and land clearing. Local declines reported (Cauca Valley, Colombia and W Ecuador).
Conservation
There are currently no conservation actions for this species.