The Red Front Macaw is a relative newcomer, only known in aviculture since the mid 1970’s!

The Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys, also called the Red-cheeked Macaw and Lafresnaye’s Macaw, is a lesser known macaw. This pretty little parrot is very friendly and one of the hardiest of the Macaw species. Although it was first described way back in 1847, it didn’t really come to the attention of aviculturists until a specimen was caught in 1973. The most likely reason it didn’t become common is because it’s only found in one place, the small Cochabamba valley in Bolivia.

This is the smallest of the large Macaws. It could almost be classed as a mini Macaw as it only reaches 24″ in total length. Mini Macaws can reach up to to about 20 inches (50 cm) in length, and the Red Front Macaw is just shy of that. Besides its small stature, another characteristic it has in common with the mini macaws is that its not as flamboyantly colored as the other large Macaws.

The Red-fronted Macaw is mostly a green parrot, but with some spectacular red accents up front. The forehead, crown, and a patch just behind the eye are a bright red, as well as the bend of the wing. Thus its common names Red-fronted and Red-cheeked Macaw. There are also some bluish hues framing its wings and on the tip of its tail.

As a pet the Red-fronted Macaw is very docile and affectionate, but also quite intelligent and inquisitive. Chewing and climbing are favorite activities as well as exploring its surroundings, and even digging in the dirt. They are known to be quite loud however, especially so when anticipating interaction from you! These birds are very social in nature and make wonderful pets. They also make a great aviary bird as they enjoy the company of a flock.

For more information about Macaw parrots, see:
Macaw Care Guide: All about Macaws

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Psittaciformes
  • Family: Psittacidae
  • Genus: Ara
  • Species: rubrogenys

Scientific name

Ara rubrogenys

Distribution

Red-fronted Macaw Ara rubrogenys is also known as the Red-cheeked Macaw and Lafresnaye’s Macaw. It was first described by Lafresnaye in 1847. Though there is mention of them in older texts as having been observed as early as 1970, they were first thought to be a simple hybrid between a Blue and Gold Macaw and a Military Macaw. They became known in aviculture as a definite species in the mid 1970’s, becoming more readily available in the early 1980’s.

Like Blue-Throated Macaws, the Red-fronted Macaws are also found in a very small geographic region. They are native to southern central Bolivia between the cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Their habit consists of arid scrub lands and dry sparse trees in the higher elevations, water is scarce. They nest and roost in the holes of trees and on steep-sided river cliffs,. Their diet primarily includes seeds and fruit, with possibly some vegetable and protein matter.

Status

The Ara rubrogenys is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Endangered (EN).

A good part of the Red-fronted Macaws native habitat, about 40%, has been converted to agriculture and other areas have become degraded by grazing. As its food trees have been lost, this parrot has become somewhat of a pest to crops. With these changes in their environment and having such a small natural distribution to start with, they are threatened with extinction in the wild. In the pet industry too they are still rather rare. Yet they have proven to be prolific breeders in captivity and are becoming more widely established and available as a pet.

Description

The Red-fronted Macaw is also called the Red-cheeked Macaw or Lafresnaye’s Macaw. It is the smallest of the large Macaws. They are fairly light green, with more intense green on the head and neck. They have red on the forehead, crown and a spot behind the eye, thus the common names; Red-fronted and Red-cheeked.

The bend of the wing and along the front edges are an orange-red. The outer feathers of the wing are a gray blue and the tail is olive green with a blue tip. They have a smaller white to pinkish naked facial area, with the faint brown cheek feather tracings being restricted to just under the eye. The legs are dark gray, the beak is a gray-black, and the eye is orange.

Red-fronted Macaw 'Polo' is stretching her wings!Red-fronted Macaw “Polo”
in free flight

Photo © Animal-World:
Courtesy Darren L Edwardson
“Polo is a baby Red-fronted Macaw and he is gorgeous. Very loveable and LOVES to lay on his back in my lap and play. He can be a little nippy, but not hard. He is not loud at all and loves attention.

I also free fly Polo indoors and outdoors. This is done only with much training. Do not try this unless you know what your are doing!

They are absolutely fantastic birds and a GREAT joy to have. He is AMAZING .. 😉 “….Darren

The Red Front Macaw is a full sized macaw, though they are smallest of the large macaws. These birds are about 24 inches (61 cm) in length. A younger bird under six months old will be missing the red crown and the orangish red feathers on the wing edge. They also have orange under their wings and red on the legs.

Care and feeding

In the wild the Red-fronted Macaw lives in a rather inhospitable mountainous environment, dry desert scrub lands moving into sparse woodlands at the higher elevations, and water is scarce. They have been observed feeding on corn and peanuts at small local farms, cactus fruits and several native fruits. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, commercial pellets, insects and larvae.

For the Red Fronted Macaw care and feeding in captivity, there are name brand commercially prepared Macaw seed or pellet mixes. They can also eat anything nutritious that you eat and these foods should be offered. Most parrots enjoy eating with their family. They eat protein in the wild and they do like chicken. Avocado and chocolate are toxic to parrots.

See Macaw Care and Feeding for more information.

Housing

A roomy cage is required, at least 2 1/2 by 3 feet, and the bird will appreciate being let out for extended periods. Pet Macaws need at least 2 – 3 hours a day outside their cage. Many birds can spend most of their time on a playpen or parrot perch. As alternatives to a cage, they can be kept in an outdoor aviary where the weather permits, and some people like to provide their bird with its own “bird room”.

A large sturdy perch needs to be mounted in the cage. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. Macaws are avid chewers and should be provided with plenty of natural branches and wooden toys. Fresh fruit tree branches work great for them to chew on, but then they will have to be replaced occasionally. Food and water dishes, along with a treat dish work best mounted above the perch at the side of the cage.

A Macaw’s cage is their territory and a play pen top is great, but it is still their territory. It is better to interact with your Macaw on top of a sturdy perch away from the Macaw cage. A separate, free-standing playpen works great for this

See Macaw Housing or more information.

Maintenance

The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.

Social Behaviors

In the wild the Red-fronted Macaw are very social birds, though generally few birds are seen at a time. In captivity, these birds are lovable, friendly, and intelligent. They are also fun little clowns. They love to play around and can be quite mischievous. Red Front Macaws can be quite loud, being especially loud when anticipating interaction with you. They are a very social bird and enjoy the company of their flock or of a mate as well. They love to dig in the dirt and are quite inquisitive.

They can be a good family type bird. They are a gentle bird that will get along with more than one person, although they will probably have a preference in the family. But they are a typical Macaw and can be cranky at times and may prefer only one person or only one gender. They will also mirror your moods, so if you are agitated, they can become agitated. If you are happy and loving, well so is your pet. To have a well-rounded bird that enjoys more than one person, make sure it is well socialized with lots of folks.

See Macaws Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded friendly Macaw.

Handling/Training

The Red-fronted Macaw adapts quickly. Once it becomes accustomed to a new environment and its keeper it is then ready to start bird training. Generally though, you should give a new arrival a few days to get use to you, your voice and its cage before trying to handle it. A hand fed baby will not need much taming and can often be handled right away, as it is use to human attention.

With all parrots, taming and training takes trust and patience. Macaws are very intelligent making them easy to tame. They are also very adept at learning and quick to train. They excel best at learning tricks and small tasks. They are not as inclined to talk and mimic as some of the other parrots, notably the Amazon Parrots, but they can learn a few words or phrases.

For information about handling and training your Red-fronted Macaw see Macaw Training

Activities

For the physical well being and psychological health of a Macaw Parrot, they must have plenty of opportunity to exercise and play. These are lovable pets and activities include interactive time with its keeper. Everything from petting, cuddling, and preening is appreciated, as well as performing and learning new tricks. But these are also very large, rambunctious pets that need a good sized space to play and climb around. Both climbing around inside a large cage, and providing a outside playpen offers them interest and variety.

Macaws are avid chewers, munching intently on anything they can get a hold of. When they are on a playpen, make sure they can’t reach trim or any household items you don’t want destroyed. Provide lots of toys and activities in the form of large link chains, bird ladders, parrot swings, ropes, and wood toys for gnawing and chewing. Rotate in new bird toys on a regular basis.

Providing regular interaction and lots of playtime. Having plenty of space and a large selection of toys and activities will help deter distress in your pet Macaw. It will also reduce the chance of your parrot developing undesirable behaviors like screeching, biting, and feather picking.

Sexing – Sexual Differences

No visible differences, though it has been stated that the males may be slightly larger. Yet there is no certain way to distinguish a male Red-fronted Macaw from a female. In order to know whether you have a male or female, the bird must be sexed. DNA / Feather or surgical sexing is recommended.

Breeding/Reproduction

In the wild the Red-fronted Macaw will build its nest in holes of trees, or on steep-sided river cliffs. They were first bred in captivity in 1978 (1981 in the United States), and are found to be prolific breeders. The usual clutch consists of two to four eggs which incubate for about 26 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. Feed the parents additional high-fat seeds, like sunflower seed, during the breeding season. The young will also require a high-fat diet as well as additional protein.

See Macaw Breeding for more information.

This Red-fronted Macaw has been crossed with another large macaw species, the Blue and Gold Macaw, to develop a first generation (F1) hybrid Macaw,called the Maui Sunset Macaw. It has not been hybridized with Mini Macaws.

Potential Problems

It is definitely true that a Red-fronted Macaw can make noise, but it is not often, and not without some provocation. Usually if a Macaw makes a loud squawking noise, it’s because they perceive something to be wrong or different. Maybe a car they don’t recognize is coming to the home or the dog is loose. They are also known to make a noise for about 10 minutes as the sun is setting. This is an alert to their flock to settle in for the evening.

A pet Macaw when well cared for will seldom become ill. Yet they can contract some diseases, and there some also things in the environmental that can cause illness. Behavior problems can also occur, resulting in feather plucking, biting, and loud screeching. Though it is often difficult to determine illness, some visible signs of illness to be aware of are:

  • Ruffled plumage
  • Listlessness
  • Drooping wings
  • Sagging body
  • Extreme mood changes
  • Having no appetite
  • Bulges in feathering
  • Partially closed or watery eyes
  • Swelling of the eyelids
  • Rasping
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Excessive saliva
  • Dirty vent
  • Any change in the feces not apparently diet related

Some of the more common illnesses are:

  • Proventricular Dilation disease (Macaw wasting disease)
  • Psittacosis (chlamydiosis or parrot fever)
  • Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
  • Feather picking – results of boredom, poor diet, sexual frustration, and lack of bathing
  • Allergies
  • Chewing flight and tail feathers by juveniles
  • Beak malformations in chicks
  • Papillomas
  • Kidney disease (gout)
  • Toxicity – heavy metal poisoning
  • Lipomas in older birds

If you notice any of these bird illnesses in your Red-fronted Macaw immediately provide a warm, draft free, secure environment kept at about 86°F (30°C). Place food and water close to the perch where it is easily accessible. An ailing parrot should be taken to an avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Behavior problems in a pet Macaw usually stem from something that is missing in the bird’s environment. Some of the most common are lack of trust, becoming bored, or lack of interaction with people or other birds. When these things are missing that can lead to problems resulting in undesirable behavior. Try to develop a bond of trust and spend time with your bird to help avoid these problems. We have also had good success with Chet Womach’s Parrot Training Course. He offers free 3-day introductory course so you can try it out before you buy anything.

Availability:

Red-fronted Macaws for sale, though still rather rare, are becoming more available due to successful captive breeding. Though once they were among the most expensive of the Macaws they are less expensive now, more in line with the readily available species.

References