Scarlet Macaw
Fast Facts
What do they look like?
Scarlet macaws typically weigh about 2 pounds and are 32 inches long, more than
half of which is the tail. Their faces are bare and white in color. They have a large
black and cream-colored beak strong enough to break open nutshells. Their feet
have four toes, with two facing forwards and two facing backwards. Each toe has a
long, sharp claw at the tip. They have vibrant red feathers covering their head, back,
and tail. Their wings also have bands of yellow and blue across the wings.
How do they behave?
Common Name: Scarlet Macaw
Scientific Name: Ara macao
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Class: Aves
Range: Central and South America
Macaws are particularly curious, intelligent, and social birds. They require constant
stimulation, whether entertaining themselves or in the company of other birds. They
form strong bonds with their mate and flock; when these bonds are broken they
exhibit signs of stress, including chewing or plucking out their own feathers. In the
wild, they live in large families or colonies called flocks. To communicate, they make
very loud vocalizations, which can be hear echoing in the forests.
What’s on the menu?
Macaws eat mostly fruits, seeds, and nuts. They may also feed on nectar and flower
buds. They have been observed gathering at clay licks, which provide high levels of
sodium. Some foods are toxic to these parrots, such as cherries and avocados. At
the zoo, they eat fruit, vegetables, greens, seeds, nuts, a specialized parrot food, and
vitamin supplements.
How are they born?
Macaws are typically monogamous, with the mating season lasting 6-8 weeks in the
spring. The female nests in a tree cavity and lays two to three eggs. She incubates the
eggs for approximately five weeks. Chicks hatch with pink skin and little to no
feathers. Until they grow their first down feathers for warmth and protection, the
female will stay close to keep them safe and comfortable. Chicks fledge from the
nest about 90 days after hatching.
What should you know about them?
Habitat: Tropical rainforests,
woodlands, grasslands
Lifespan: 40-50 years on average;
up to 75 years in captivity
Conservation Status: Lower Risk
There are about 18 species of macaw which vary in size and color. They generally live
in the same geographical regions and share habitats – some even interbreed and
form hybrids! Many macaw species are now endangered in the wild. While scarlet
macaws aren’t an endangered species at this time, they are still at risk due to a
combination of factors. They face habitat loss through deforestation, and capture
from the wild for pet trade. Hunting, poaching, and the spraying of pesticides are
just a few more reasons their numbers are decreasing.
What can you do to help?
Due to busy lifestyles, many people cannot provide suitable homes for parrots. Due
to large spatial needs and social interaction, these birds are much better suited for
life in the wild. You can help by leaving these beautiful birds in the wild, rather than
as pets. You can also help by buying wood that is sustainably harvested, coffee that is
shade grown, and produce that is grown locally. These products do not require the
destruction of rainforest land to grow crops.