Chestnut-fronted Macaw vs

Ara severus compared with Chrysomyxa abietis

Key Differences

  • Chestnut-fronted Macaw is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Chestnut-fronted Macaw
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class Aves (Birds) Pucciniomycetes (Pucciniomycetes)
Order Psittaciformes (Parrots) Pucciniales (Pucciniales)
Family Psittacidae (True Parrots) Coleosporiaceae
Genus Ara (Macaws) Chrysomyxa
Species Ara severus Chrysomyxa abietis

Conservation Status

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Chestnut-fronted Macaw
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (Belgium, Norway), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries).

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

A medium-sized macaw of Central and South American tropical forests from southern Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil, chestnut-fronted macaws have predominantly green plumage with a chestnut forehead, red shoulder patches, and blue flight feathers. The smallest of the true macaws, they inhabit forest edges, savannas, and secondary woodland and often raid crops, making them locally unpopular with farmers. They are popular aviary birds, but wild populations face pressure from trapping and deforestation.

Chrysomyxa abietis is a macrocyclic rust fungus in the family Coleosporiaceae (Basidiomycota) that causes spruce needle rust disease on Norway spruce (Picea abies) and related conifers across Europe. The fungus completes its life cycle entirely on conifers, infecting current-year needles in spring through airborne urediniospores and aeciospores, causing yellowing, deformation, and premature needle drop. Infected spruce stands show characteristic orange-yellow stripe discoloration on young needles, affecting photosynthesis and tree vigor. The rust is widespread in central and northern Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia, and the broader boreal forest zone, wherever susceptible Picea hosts occur. Unlike many rust fungi, C. abietis does not require an alternate host (heteroecious cycle); it is autoecious, cycling between different spore stages on the same host genus. Heavy infections can weaken trees and increase their susceptibility to other stressors including bark beetles and drought. The fungus is not evaluated for conservation status by the IUCN, as it is classified as Not Evaluated. While typically a natural component of coniferous forest ecosystems, outbreaks may intensify under warmer, wetter springs that favor spore dispersal and infection.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

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