Scarlet macaw

The scarlet macaw also called the red-and-yellow macaw, red-and-blue macaw or red-breasted macaw, is a large yellow, red and blue Neotropical parrot native to humid evergreen forests of the Americas. Its range extends from southeastern Mexico to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Honduras, and Brazil in lowlands of 500 m (1,600 ft) up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), the Caribbean island of Trinidad, as well as the Pacific island of Coiba. Formerly, the northern extent of its range included southern Tamaulipas. In some areas, it has suffered local extinction because of habitat destruction, or capture for the parrot trade, but in other areas, it remains fairly common. It is the national bird of Honduras. Like its relative the blue-and-yellow macaw, the scarlet macaw is a popular bird in aviculture as a result of its striking plumage. It is the third most common macaw species in captivity after the blue-and-yellow and red-and-green macaw respectively. In recent years it has become much rarer in captivity and much more expensive due to stricter laws, its price being higher than even red-and-green macaws.

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Distribution

Region

Central and South America

Typical Environment

Inhabits humid evergreen and semi-deciduous lowland forests from southeastern Mexico through Central America into parts of northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. It also occurs on Trinidad and the Panamanian island of Coiba. Prefers intact rainforest but will use riverine gallery forests, forest edges, and partially disturbed areas when large trees remain. Often follows waterways and congregates at exposed riverbanks for mineral-rich clay.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size81–96 cm

Wing Span95–110 cm

Male Weight1.1 kg

Female Weight1 kg

Life Expectancy40 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The scarlet macaw is a large, brilliantly colored Neotropical parrot known for its strong pair bonds and loud, far-carrying calls. It regularly visits clay licks to ingest minerals that help neutralize plant toxins from its diet. Populations have declined locally due to habitat loss and trapping, though it remains widespread overall. It is the national bird of Honduras.

Gallery

Copan, Honduras

A partnered pair of wild scarlet macaws rub against each other in Costa Rica

Ara macao feeding on Attalea fruits

An egg of Ara macao - MHNT

Behaviour

Temperament

social and noisy

Flight Pattern

strong flier

Social Behavior

Often seen in bonded pairs or small family groups, occasionally forming larger flocks at roosts and feeding sites. Pairs are typically long-term and nest in cavities of large emergent trees. Both parents participate in chick rearing, with extended dependence of fledglings.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Calls are loud, harsh squawks and screams that carry over long distances, especially in flight. At close range, pairs exchange grating chatters and softer croaks.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Scarlet minivet

The scarlet minivet is a small passerine bird in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. This minivet is found in tropical southern Asia from Northeast India to southern China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They are common resident breeding birds in forests and other well-wooded habitats including gardens, especially in hilly country. While the male of most subspecies are scarlet to orange with black upper parts, the females are usually yellow with greyish olive upper parts. Several former subspecies have been elevated to a species status in recent works. These include the orange minivet. All subspecies have the same habits of gleaning for insects and are often seen in mixed-species foraging flocks, usually foraging in small groups, high up in the forest canopy.

Scarlet myzomela

The scarlet myzomela or scarlet honeyeater is a small passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to Australia. It was first described by English ornithologist John Latham in 1801. At 9 to 11 cm long, it is the smallest honeyeater in Australia. It has a short tail and relatively long down-curved bill. It is sexually dimorphic; the male is a striking bright red with black wings, while the female is entirely brown. The species is more vocal than most honeyeaters, and a variety of calls have been recorded, including a bell-like tinkling.

Scarlet robin

The scarlet robin is a common red-breasted Australasian robin in the passerine bird genus Petroica. The species is found on continental Australia and its offshore islands, including Tasmania. The species was originally split in 1999 by Schodde and Mason, and as the original collection by Gmelin was from Norfolk Island, this retained the name of multicolor, and is now known as the Norfolk robin.

Scarlet tanager

The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Until recently, it was placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), but it and other members of its genus are now classified as belonging to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family, although the Piranga species lacks the thick conical bill that many cardinals possess. The species resides in thick deciduous woodlands and suburbs.

Scarlet-and-white tanager

The scarlet-and-white tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia and northern Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. The male is highly distinctive and has bright scarlet upperparts, darker red wings and undertail coverts, and white underparts with a scarlet median stripe running down the throat and belly. Females are patterned like the males, but are olive-brown instead of scarlet.

Scarlet-backed flowerpecker

The scarlet-backed flowerpecker is a species of passerine bird in the flowerpecker family Dicaeidae. Sexually dimorphic, the male has navy blue upperparts with a bright red streak down its back from its crown to its tail coverts, while the female and juvenile are predominantly olive green. It is found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and occasionally gardens in a number of countries throughout South and East Asia.