Due to the morphological variability of ssp. "guayaquilensis", with a number of specimens of this taxon being identifiable as the military macaw, in 1996 Berg and Horstman, themselves referencing Fjeldså "et al"., mentioned it might best be synonymised with "A. militaris", or suggested there might be gene-flow between all three populations. A 2015 study comparing the mitochondrial DNA of different populations of the military macaw and this species found that while these two species are clearly differentiated, as well as different populations of the military macaw in Mexico, no genetic difference between ssp. "guayaquilensis" and the nominate taxon was found (at least regarding the mitochondria). This indicates that the division of this species into two subspecies is likely not taxonomically valid. It is also possible that the Ecuadorian populations do not all belong to ssp. "guayaquilensis".