Chestnut-fronted Macaw Identification Guide

Key Field Marks

• Small macaw (among the smallest of the true Ara macaws), overall green plumage.
• Distinctive chestnut or maroon patch on the forehead, contrasting with the green crown.
• Bare, whitish facial skin marked with fine, thin lines of tiny dark feathers.
• Blue tinge on the flight feathers and crown area.
• Reddish patch on the underwing coverts and bend of the wing, most visible in flight.
• Long, pointed tail that appears brownish-red beneath in flight.

Similar Species

• Red-shouldered Macaw (Red-shouldered/Noble Macaw): Considerably smaller still, with a blue (not chestnut) forehead patch — the smallest of the "mini-macaws."
• Military Macaw: Much larger overall, with a red forehead rather than chestnut, and a longer tail.
• Other all-green Amazona parrots: Lack the long pointed macaw tail and bare facial skin pattern; body shape alone usually separates macaws from amazons at a glance.

Habitat & Range

• Found in lowland tropical forest, forest edge, gallery forest, savanna woodland, and palm groves across much of northern and central South America, from Panama south through the Amazon basin to Bolivia and Brazil.
• Often near water courses and in semi-open, disturbed, or edge habitats rather than deep unbroken forest interior.

Behavior

• Typically encountered in pairs or small flocks, flying with quick, shallow wingbeats distinctive of the species.
• Feeds on fruit, seeds, and nuts in the canopy and subcanopy.
• Often noisy and conspicuous in flight, less so when perched quietly feeding.

Voice

• Harsh, raspy screeches and guttural squawks, frequently given in flight; a common call is a dry, repeated "krak-krak" note.