§ : the journal of
—_ Ch eck Lis t ese data

i)
NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTIO

First record of a breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus (Ridgway,
1915), Military Macaw (Psittacidae), in the Alto Balsas Poblano
Region, Mexico

Leopoldo Daniel Vazquez-Reyes', Victor Hugo Jiménez-Arcos’, Patricia Ramirez-Bastida', Jorge Tanit Rodriguez-Malacara’,
Ana Maria Contreras-Gonzalez*, Oscar Salomon Sanabria-Urban*, Francisco Alberto Rivera-Ortiz°

1 Carrera de Biologia, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Auténoma de México, Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México, México

2 Laboratorio de Herpetologia, Vivario, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México,
México

3 Laboratorio de Ecologia Molecular y Evolucién, Unidad de Biotecnologia y Prototipos, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de
México, Tlainepantia de Baz, Estado de México, México

4 Laboratorio de Ecologia, Unidad de Biotecnologia y Prototipos, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Tlalnepantla de
Baz, Estado de México, México

Corresponding author: Francisco Alberto Rivera-Ortiz (francisco.rivera@iztacala.unam.mx)

Abstract. We report a new breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus (Ridway, 1915), Military Macaw, in the
state of Puebla in the Alto Balsas river basin, Mexico. The breeding site is in the Canon Grande area along
the Nexapa River. Observed temporality and breeding behaviors agree with the recorded breeding season
of this species in Central Mexico. Notably, the region has no current designation as a protected natural
area for conservation. We recommend collaboration with the local community to initiate efforts towards
designate the Alto Balsas river basin as a protected natural area.

Key words. Conservation, tropical dry forest, Nexapa River, breeding site, breeding behaviors, Santa Maria
Cohetzala

Vazquez-Reyes LD, Jiménez-Arcos VH, Rodriguez-Malacara JT, Contreras-Gonzalez AM,
Sanabria- Urban OS, Ramirez-Bastida P, Rivera-Ortiz FA (2024) First record of a breeding site of Ara
militaris mexicanus (Ridgway, 1915), Military Macaw (Psittacidae), in the Alto Balsas Poblano Region, Mexico.
Check List 20 (4): 996-1003. https://doi.org/10.15560/20.4.996

INTRODUCTION

Ara militaris (Linnaeus, 1766), Military Macaw, has a wide and disjunct distribution, ranging from northern
Mexico to South America. Its primary habitat includes ravines, canyons and slopes within tropical dry for-
ests, including deciduous, semideciduous forest, and tropical oak forest (Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2013). According
to the geographical distribution, three subspecies of the Ara militaris complex are recognized: A. m. mili-
taris (Linnaeus, 1766), occurring in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; A. m. bolivianus (Reichenow,
1908), distributed in Bolivia and Argentina; and A. m. mexicanus (Ridway, 1915), found in Mexico (Juniper
and Parr 1998; Dehasque 2016). Two primary lineages are identified within the complex: A. m. mexicanus
and A. m. militaris—A. m. bolivianus. Historical isolation between the ancestral populations of these lineages
OPEN Qaccess is suggested by the discontinuous geographical distribution of this species (Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2023).
Rivera-Ortiz et al. (2023) proposed elevating the subspecies A. m. mexicanus to a full species, as A.

mexicanus, although conclusive evidence is lacking. Therefore, A. m. mexicanus should be retained as a

Reston. iceditordonneRocont subspecies of A. militaris. For these reasons, we attribute the breeding population in this note to the sub-

Received: 25 January 2024 species A. m. mexicanus. This subspecies has an approximate length of 67 cm and displays body plumage
Accepted: 24 July 2024 ranging from olive to bright green, with a matte green tone on the nape (Howell and Webb 1995; Macedo
Published: 15 July 2024 2007). The flight feathers are blue on the upper part and olive-yellow on the interior part. The mantle is

pale blue, with the upper tail covert feathers red and the lower cover feathers turquoise blue (Gaucin
2000). The forehead exhibits a crimson red tone, the auricular region varies from white to pink, featuring

Copyright © The authors. This is an open-access ines of small black and red feathers, and the beak is black (Juniper and Parr 1998; Dehasque 2016; Ortega
article distributed under terms of the Creative 9024: Fi 1
Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 » FIgure ).

International — CC BY 4.0) Historically in western Mexico, A. militaris mexicanus extended continuously from Sonora to Chiapas,

996

Vazquez-Reyes etal. - New breeding breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus in Mexico 997

Figure 1. Observation of Ara militaris
mexicanus with breeding activity in the
Cafion Grande in the Paraje del Reloj,
Santa Maria Cohetzala Puebla. A, B.
Courtship. C. Mating. D. Incubation of

eggs.

including the Balsas basin influence area in Michoacan, Guerrero, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Additionally, it is
found in the eastern mountainous regions of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Querétaro
(IAigo-Elias 1999). However, its distribution and populations are currently in decline due to unsustainable
capture for the illegal bird trade and habitat fragmentation resulting from land-use changes. Specifically,
the habitat of this species in Mexico experiences an annual deforestation rate of 3.27—5.21%. Additionally,
habitat loss has intensified in recent years of approximately 270,000 km* of potential habitat; by 2010, the
loss had reached 150,000 km? and increased to 160,000 km? by 2016 (Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2013; Marin-Togo
et al. 2012). These factors have led to the local extirpation of A. militaris over much of its range (Loza 1997;
Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2008; Rios-Mufioz and Navarro-Siglienza 2009; Marin-Togo et al. 2012). Consequently, A.
militaris is now listed under Appendix | of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES 2013), and as Vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN 2022), and in Mexico, it is considered as an endangered species (SEMARNAT 2019).

Ara militaris undertakes altitudinal movements that range from 600 to 2200 m in elevation, and it has
been suggested that these movements are influenced by variations in the abundance of food resources
(Contreras-Gonzalez et al. 2009) and the northern region of western Mexico by cooler temperatures in fall
and winter (Nocedal et al. 2006). Its diet encompasses fruits, seeds, leaves, buds, and stems, making it a
highly specialized species, as it consumes 10—23% of the available plant resources (Ifigo-Elfas 1999; Con-
treras-Gonzdlez et al. 2009). This species exhibits gregarious nesting behavior, typically selecting cavities
in vertical karstic walls or tree cavities with a diameter at breast height greater than 60 cm (Carreon 1997;
Gdmez 2004; Nocedal et al. 2006; Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2008, 2013).

Before 1999, the state of Puebla was not considered to be within the historical or potential distribution
of A. militaris in Mexico, despite some unverified reports in the southern portion of Puebla (Arizmendi and
Valiente-Banuet 1999). However, between 2008 and 2010, Salazar et al. (2010) documented the first sight-
ings of the species in the state, with an average of six individuals recorded in Cerro Colorado Tehuacan,
Puebla (150 km from our study area). They also recorded macaws to the south of Puebla, bordering the
state of Oaxaca, in the vicinity of Teotitlan de Flores Magon, about 180 km from our study area (Salazar et
al. 2010). It is noteworthy that within the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve, located between Puebla
and Oaxaca, approximately 190 km from our study area, exists a documented breeding population in
Cafion del Sabino with an average of 80 individuals of A. militaris (Direccidn de la Reserva de la Biosfera
Tehuacdn-Cuicatlan 2001; Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2008; Contreras-Gonzdlez et al. 2009). Additionally, 45 km
from our study area in the Santa Cruz Achichiplilco in the municipality of Teotlalco, western Puebla, Hernan-
dez-Castan et al. (2012) reported an average of 36 macaws bordering the Sierra de Huautla Biosphere
Reserve in the state of Morelos (Urbina-Torres et al. 2009) (Figure 2).

Since 2006, records of A. militaris have been documented in the Alto Balsas basin, which includes
parts of the state of Guerrero, more than 20 km to west of southeastern Puebla (Jiménez-Arcos et al.
2012; Vazquez-Reyes et al. 2018). Jiménez-Arcos et al. (2012) reported a breeding colony with an average
abundance of 23 individuals in the Canon Xicuhuetztlan of Cerro del Tecaballo, Papalutla in Guerrero.
Vazquez-Reyes et al. (2018) conducted a survey on A. militaris habitat conservation in the Alto Balsas basin
in Guerrero, estimating an abundance of 100 individuals in the region (Naturam Sequi 2015, 2016). They
also identified probable roosting and feeding areas near the locality of Santa Marfa Cohetzala, Puebla,

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Vazquez-Reyes etal. - New breeding breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus in Mexico 998

MORELOS

99°0'0"W

approximately 20 km from the Papalutla breeding colony (Figure 2).

In this study, we present, for the first time, evidence of the presence and establishment of a new breed-
ing population of A. militaris in the state of Puebla within the Alto Balsas basin river. In addition, we include
data spanning from 2016 to 2023, accompanied by detailed observations of their natural history.

METHODS

Our records were made in Santa Marfa Cohetzala, located in the Alto Balsas basin in the southwestern
portion of the state of Puebla, Mexico. The area is characterized by having rugged terrain with substantial
elevated landforms and extensive ravines, intersected by the Nexapa and Atoyac rivers (Figure 2). The
elevation varies from 700 to 1900 m a.s.|. The region has a warm subhumid climate, with an average annual
temperature of 26 °C and an annual precipitation ranging of 600-800 mm (Garcia 1998). The predominant
vegetation type is tropical dry forest, including deciduous and semi-deciduous woodlands (Martinez-Gor-
dillo et al. 1997) (Figure 3).

Five exploration and observation routes were surveyed, using existing trails in the tropical dry forest on
Tecaballo Mountain and in the subdecidous tropical forest along the Nexapa River, each route with an aver-
age duration of 8 h. The total area explored was 5 km?, which included 3.5 km? in the deciduous forest and
1.5 km? in the subdeciduos forest. The routes were chosen based on previous studies by Naturam Sequi
(2015, 2016) and local residents, who reported the presence of A. militaris in the area. The first route, in
Pefia del Sol, was surveyed on 12 December 2016 and had a length of 6 km. The second route, in Pena del
Sol and Pefia del Reloj in the Cahén Grande on Tecaballo Mountain, was surveyed on 12 February 2020 and
had a route length of 8 km. The third route was surveyed on 6—7 March 2022 in Pefia del Reloj and Cafién
Grande and had a route length of 9 km. The fourth route, towards the upper part of the Cafidn Grande in
the Tecaballo Mountain, was surveyed on 5—7 June 2023, with the aim of locating viewpoints that would

97°0'0"W

Cafion Grande, Cohetzala
(this report)

Records of Military Macaw
(Ara militaris)

C] State Boundary

=== Rivers

- Potential Distribution

98°0'0"W 97°0'0"W

Figure 2. Records of Ara militaris mexicanus: 1 = Santa Marfa Cohetzala Puebla, 2 = Papalutla Guerrero, 3 = Rancho Viejo Morelos, 4 = Teotlalco Puebla, 5 = Santa
Marfa Tecomavaca Oaxaca,6 = Teotitlan de Flores Magon Puebla, 7 = Tehuacan Puebla. The red area indicates the potential distribution model recognized for Ara
militaris mexicanus (from Navarro-Sigtenza et al. 2018).

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Vazquez-Reyes etal. - New breeding breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus in Mexico 999

Figure 3. Canon Grande where Ara
militaris mexicanus was recorded, Sierra
del Tecaballo, Santa Maria Coheizala,
Puebla.

provide better visibility of the canyon walls and A. militaris individuals, had a route length of 12 km. Finally,
the fifth route, in Pena del Sol, was surveyed on 21-23 May 2024 and had a route length of 10 km, and the
search was specifically for cavities used as nests. In each route there were five observers and two local
guides (Table 1). During the exploration trips, natural history data were recorded, such as vegetation type,
geographical coordinates, and the activities of A. militaris individuals, including foraging and breeding
behavior. Photographic evidence was captured.

RESULTS

Ara militaris mexicanus (Ridgway, 1915)
Figure 3

New records. MEXICO — PUEBLA « Santa Marfa Cohetzala, Nexapa river, Pefia del Sol, Pefa del Reloj, Cafion
Grande; 18.1936°N, 098.8226°W — 18.1530°N, 098.8153°W — 18.1531°N, 098.8161°W; 700-850 m elevation,
12.X11.2016, 12.11.2020, 06-O7.III.2022, O6.VI.2023; Vazquez-Reyes LD., Jimenez-Arcos VH., Rivera-Ortiz FA. obs.

Identification. The species was morphologically identified through observations, photographic docu-
mentation, vocalizations, direct sightings (Figure 1), and verification by specialists in Psittacidae who are
co-authors (FARO, LDVR, and AMCG).

Table 1. Record and activity of Military Macaw (Ara militaris mexicanus) in Santa Marfa Cohetzala, Puebla.

Date (d/m/y) Location Georeference No.of Activity/time
individuals
12/12/2016 PefiadelSol 18.1763°N, 098.8174°W 6 Flying/10:00
12/02/2020 PefadelReloj 18.1530°N, 098.8158°W 10 Flying/10:00
PefiadelSol = 18.1625°N, 098.8205°W
06/03/2022 PefadelReloj 18.1544°N, 098.8158°W 20 Cortege, copulation and flying/13:00 and
PefiadelSol = 18.1591°N, 098.8177°W 16:00
07/03/2022 PefiadelReloj 18.1530°N, 098.8153°W 18 Flying/06:00
06/06/2023 CafdénGrande 18.1502°N, 098.8201°W 16 Flying, perched and entering cavi-
ties/17:00 and 19:30
07/06/2023 CafdénGrande 18.1502°N, 098.8201°W 20 Flying, perched and cavities coming
out/05:30 and 06:14
22/05/2024 Pefia del Sol 18.1591°N, 098.8177°W 10 Egg incubation/11:00 a 17:00

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Vazquez-Reyes etal. - New breeding breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus in Mexico 1000

Remarks. The first record of the macaws was from 12 December 2016, at 10:00 h by one of us (LDVR), who
noted three pairs flying over the Nexapa River and perching on the emerging trees towards the northwest
of the Pefia del Sol site. It is possible that the birds were heading towards the Canon Xicuhuetztldn in Papa-
lutla, Guerrero. On 12 February 2020, at 14:00 h, 10 macaws were observed flying in circular movements
over the Pefia del Sol site along the course of the Nexapa River. They were heading towards Pena del Reloj,
where they were seen entering the Cafién Grande (Table 1). Only their vocalizations could be heard, as the
canyon was inaccessible to us, preventing further data recording.

On 22 March 2022, at 12:00 h, four individuals of were observed flying over the course of the Nexapa
River at the entrance of the Cafién Grande. They were feeding on the fruit of the Bonete Tree, Jacaratia
mexicana A.DC. for approximately 30 min. After eating, two of these macaws flew and entered the Cafién
Grande, while the other two macaws perched on a Parota Tree, Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb.
and engaged in courtship behavior for 5 min. Subsequently, they returned to the Bonete Tree, continued
courtship for a couple of minutes, and were observed mating (Figure 1). At 13:00 h, they also entered the
Cafion Grande. Later, at 16:00 h, a flock of 16 macaws was recorded, heading towards the Cafién Grande. On
the same day, a walk through the canyon, six individuals were observed, and their vocalizations heard. On 7
March 2022, at 06:00 h, nine pairs of A. militaris were recorded as they exited the Cafién Grande. They were
heading northwest, making circular movements over the Nexapa River, and then headed towards the Teca-
ballo Mountain (Table 1). Once again, the vocalizations of the macaws were heard from within the canyon.

On 6 June 2023, 16 macaws were recorded entering the Cahn Grande between 17:00 h and 19:30
h. They engaged in flights within the canyon, with some perching on the Cuajiote Colorado Tree, Bursera
morelensis Ramirez and the Cacaloxuchil Tree, Plumeria rubra L. Others macaws entered the cavities in the
walls of the Cafhién Grande. On 7 June 2023, at 5:30 h, macaw vocalizations were heard within the canyon.
At 6:15 h, a flock of 20 individuals emerged, spreading out over the course of the Nexapa River (Table
1). Cavities used to roost by the macaws were marked with guano on the walls of the Cafidn Grande and
identified, although their use for nesting were not identified. On 22 May 2024, two cavities occupied by A.
militaris with reproductive activity were recorded. We observed that one individual, a male, arrived to feed
another individual, the female, in the cavity. This occurred in both cavities throughout the day, indicating
egg incubation (Figure 1).

DISCUSSION

Our results on the natural history and breeding biology of the Ana militaris mexicanus provide important
information about the first record a breeding site of this species in the state of Puebla, Mexico. Breeding
activities, including mating and courtship, strongly suggest that the Canon Grande in the Pena del Reloj on
Tecaballo Mountain represents a breeding site (Forshaw 2006).

In the semi-arid seasonal environments of central Mexico, the nesting season of A. m. mexicanus
is known to start in March with courtship and mating, ending in late September with the first flight of
fledglings (Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2008; Jiménez-Arcos et al. 2012; Vazquez-Reyes 2018). We recorded breeding
activity in March, such as courtship and mating, as well as cavity use in June, which coincides with the
patterns observed in the dry forests of central Mexico (Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2008; Jiménez-Arcos et al. 2012).
The increase in the number of individuals in March likely corresponds to the onset of the breeding season
(March—September) with the arrival of the first pairs. However, we note that our data are not consistent
throughout the year, emphasizing the need for a permanent monitoring program of the population to docu-
ment accurate patterns that may vary over time (Jiménez-Arcos et al. 2012).

The nearest breeding site of A. m. mexicanus to Santa Marfa Cohetzala, Puebla, is in Papalutla, Guer-
rero, approximately 20 km away (Jiménez-Arcos et al. 2012). A more distant population is in Santa Maria
Tecomavaca, Oaxaca, 190 km away, located within the Tehuacdn-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve (Rivera-Or-
tiz et al. 2008). Additional records of A. m. mexicanus in the region have been documented in Higuera,
Teotlalco, Puebla (39 km away from our records) (Herndndez-Castan et al. 2012), Cerro Colorado, Puebla
(150 km away), Teotitlan de Flores Mag6n (180 km away) (Salazar et al. 2010), and Guerrero (216 km away)
(Almazdan-Nunez and Nova Mufioz 2006).

Our observations in Santa Marfa Cohetzala suggest that a metapopulation of A. m. mexicanus inhabits
the Alto Balsas region, which is supported by field evidence from conservation projects (Naturam Sequi,
2015, 2016) and ongoing monitoring data, which show fluctuating abundance between Papalutla and Santa
Maria Cohetzala breeding sites and foraging areas in response to resource availability and even stochastic
events. For instance, a census on 29 January 2024, recorded 46 individuals at the Xicuhuetztlan Canyon
in Papalutla, while the Cafién Grande in Santa Marfa Cohetzala had 25 individuals on 26 February 2024.
Unfortunately, there was a forest fire near Caflén Grande on 12 March 2024 which disturbed nearby forag-
ing areas. Subsequently, on 24 March 2024 at least 80 individuals were recorded in the roosting census at
Xicuhuetztlan Canyon, likely due to macaws seeking refuge and foraging areas after the fire. This behavior
aligns with the species’ capacity for movement between nesting, resting, and foraging areas; this species
can move up to 25 km per day, and it has an average home movement range of 87 km? (Judrez et al. 2012).

Our results may be found to be of importance in determining demographics and migratory movements

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Vazquez-Reyes etal. - New breeding breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus in Mexico 1001

between populations and for determining population connectivity through genetic and genomic analyses
(landscape genetics) of the metapopulation (Ramirez-Albores 2016). Population genetics and phylogeogra-
phy of A. m. mexicanus in the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur show that these popula-
tions maintain genetic flow (Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2017; Rivera-Ortiz et al. 2023).

The breeding site of A. m. mexicanus in Santa Marfa Cohetzala is within the Important Bird Area (IBA)
MX264 Papalutla-Tecaballo, as recognized by BirdLife International (2021). Furthermore, this IBA is acknowl-
edged as within a Priority Region for Conservation in Guerrero, according to CONANP (2021). However, the
distribution of this A. m. mexicanus population does not overlap with any natural protected area, despite
its close proximity (37 km) to the Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve, where A. m. mexicanus has been
recorded at Rancho Viejo locality of Morelos (Urbina-Torres 2017). Regardless, these area designations are
considered insufficient to reduce biodiversity loss in the region (Vazquez-Reyes 2018). This region is among
those in which the least conservation efforts have been invested within Mexico.

Unfortunately, the breeding site of A. m. mexicanus in Santa Maria Cohetzala faced significant distur-
bances in 2016 and 2017 due to an uncontrolled wildfire, during which the State of Puebla deployed heli-
copters and helibuckets within the Cafién Grande (residents of Santa Marfa Cohetzala pers. comm.). Despite
such disturbance, the tropical dry forest in the area remains relatively unaffected, making it a potential area
for A. m. mexicanus conservation.

Tecaballo Mountain, with its two breeding sites of A. m. mexicanus, one in Guerrero and one in Puebla,
should be a focal point for conservation plans Jiménez-Arcos et al. 2012). However, the conservation of the
A. m. mexicanus population requires several important environmental policy actions and decisions. First,
is necessary guarantee the protection and restoration of the forest habitats critical for foraging, roosting,
and breeding of this species. However, this task is complicated by administrative complexities stemming
from the macaw’s distribution across Puebla and Guerrero states (Vazquez-Reyes 2018). Solid knowledge
of the ecology of A. m. mexicanus in Santa Marfa Cohetzala and on Tecaballo Mountain is of paramount
importance. This will enable the formulation of effective conservation strategies in the region (De la Par-
ra-Martinez et al. 2015).

Establishing biodiversity protection areas including two states has been successfully done in Mexico, as
exemplified by the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve which spans the states of Puebla and Oaxaca.
This reserve has effectively allocated targeted funding for conservation focused on forest habitat of A. m.
mexicanus. Indeed, A. m. mexicanus now acts as an umbrella species for biodiversity protection within the
Tehuacdn-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve (Vinculacion Interdiciplinaria para el Desarrollo Ambiental y lo Social
2018). Again, coordinated efforts among Puebla, Guerrero, and the national environmental authorities are
required. Fortunately, there important advances have already been made in documenting endemic biodi-
versity and threats to it, providing solid evidence to support an eventual designation of a federal protected
natural area in the region (Vazquez-Reyes et al. 2018).

The protection of natural systems hinges on the establishment and development of environmental
protection plans that encourage the active participation of residents in the conservation of vegetation cover
and associated animal components (Vazquez-Reyes 2018). Reports like which are crucial for catalyzing
the political will of authorities to allocate necessary budget and management efforts toward achieving the
conservation of A. m. mexicanus and its habitat in the Alto Balsas region.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We express our heartfelt gratitude to the communal authorities and residents of the community of Santa
Marfa Cohetzala, Puebla, as well as to all the individuals who provided valuable assistance during the field-
work. We acknowledge the reviewers and the subject editor for their enriching comments and suggestions.
This work was supported by UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT |A207821 and IA204324 (Francisco A. Rivera-Ortiz), as
well as I[A210820 and IA208124 (Leopoldo D. Vazquez-Reyes). We also extend our appreciation to CONANP
PROCER/DRCEN/003/2015 and PROCER/DRCEN/06/2016 (LDV-R, Naturam Sequi), BioPic (Biosphera Picture
A.C.), the Mexican Alliance of Photography for Conservation (AMFC) for providing the photographs for
Figure 1A—C, and to Jorge Tanit Rodriguez-Malacara for providing the photograph in Figure 1D.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Conflict of interest
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement
No ethical statement is reported.

Funding
This study was financially supported by UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT (IA207821, [A204324, 1A210820, I|A208124).

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Vazquez-Reyes etal. - New breeding breeding site of Ara militaris mexicanus in Mexico 1002

Author contributions

Conceptualization: LDVR, FARO. Funding acquisition: LDVR, FARO. Investigation: VHJA, AMCG, JTRM, OSSU.
Methodology: LDVR, FARO, PRB. Resources: LDVR, FARO. Project administration: LDVR, FARO. Writing —
original draft: LDVR, VHJA, FARO. Writing — review and editing: LDVR, VHJA, JTRM, AMCG, OSSU, PBR,
FARO.

Author ORCID iDs

Leopoldo Daniel Vazquez-Reyes ® https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3344-4594
Victor Hugo Jiménez-Arcos ® https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6948-0071
Jorge Tanit Rodriguez-Malacara © https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8957-7984
Ana Maria Contreras-Gonzdlez © https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4509-7865
Oscar Salomon Sanabria-Urban © https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4079-498X
Patricia Ramirez-Bastida ® https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1260-3768
Francisco Alberto Rivera-Ortiz ® https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5487-4817

Data availability
All data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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