Bird
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macaoAlso known as Red-and-yellow Macaw, Red-and-blue Macaw, Red-breasted Macaw
Scarlet macaws gather in vibrant canopy flocks, using their immensely powerful beaks to crack open tough tropical nuts that other forest birds cannot break. Pairs mate for life, flying side by side with synchronized wingbeats as they commute between daily feeding sites and high tree hollow nests. Along riverbanks across their range, clay licks serve as vital social hubs where these parrots congregate to ingest mineral-rich soil.
ColorfulTropicalSocial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPalm Nuts, Hard Seeds, Ficus Fruits
Predators
- Harpy Eagle
- Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle
- Large Tree Boas
ThreatsIllegal pet trade, habitat destruction, and nest poaching
HabitatsHumid lowland rainforests, gallery forests, and savannas
Life span40–50 years in the wild; up to 75 years in captivity
Classification
- OrderPsittaciformes
- FamilyPsittacidae
- GenusAra
- SpeciesAra macao
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Powerful beak can inflict severe bites if handled; observe wild flocks from a comfortable distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by brilliant red plumage with bright yellow wing coverts and electric blue flight feathers.
- Support conservation
- Keep a respectful distance using telephoto lenses and never share precise nest tree coordinates publicly.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Use binoculars to spot pairs flying overhead, easily identified by their loud, guttural squawks.
- Habitat Respect: Avoid approaching nesting trees or disturbing riverbank clay licks during active feeding hours.
- Photography: Capture flight shots against open canopy gaps using high shutter speeds to freeze their movement.
Predator (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
Close Relative "Blue and Yellow Macaw" by Steve Wilson - over 10 million views Thanks !! is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative "Red-and-green Macaw" by ~Shanth is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative David McCorquodale / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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