This large parrot has red on its forehead, shoulders, and thighs, with blue on its wings. It occurs in central Bolivia and uses dry woodland and thorn scrub.
Its body is olive-green, with red on the forehead, shoulders, and thighs and blue on parts of the wings.
The Red-fronted Macaw is an endangered parrot endemic to Bolivia's inter-Andean valleys. Researchers analyzed genetic data from 146 wild and captive birds and identified 94 distinct wild individuals. Nine microsatellite loci were used to examine genetic diversity and connections among breeding colonies across the species' restricted range.
The wild birds formed four genetic clusters. The analysis found low gene flow among clusters even though the macaws forage over long distances and move seasonally. The authors said geography and habitat alone did not explain the pattern and discussed colony fidelity and social behaviour as possible factors.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The study identified four genetic clusters among 94 distinct wild Red-fronted Macaws sampled in Bolivia. Researchers used nine microsatellite loci; the estimated mean migration rate among clusters was 0.056, and assignment tests identified three potential migrants. Low genetic exchange appeared despite seasonal movement and long-distance foraging. The authors proposed assessing threats in each cluster as independent conservation units.