Scarlet Macaw

About

The Scarlet Macaw is a large, colorful parrot native to humid evergreen forests of the Neotropics. Renowned for its striking red, yellow, and blue plumage, it is one of the most iconic and easily recognizable parrot species. They are highly intelligent, social birds known for their loud vocalizations and long lifespans.

Size & lifespan

Length

81-96 cm (32-38 in), with over half of this being the tail feathers

Wingspan

104-114 cm (41-45 in)

Weight

900-1500 g (2-3.3 lbs)

Lifespan

40-50 years in the wild, up to 75 years in captivity

Diet

Herbivore (frugivore, granivore, nectivore)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Predominantly brilliant scarlet red on the head, neck, back, and underparts. The middle wing coverts are bright yellow, forming a distinct band across the wing. The primary coverts and flight feathers are iridescent blue. The rump and upper tail coverts are light blue, and the underside of the tail feathers are dark red with blue tips. There are small patches of yellow and green on the wing-tips.

Beak shape

Large, powerful, and strongly hooked. The upper mandible is pale horn-colored (whitish-yellow), and the lower mandible is blackish-gray.

Eye color

Pale yellow iris in adults, dark brown in juveniles. The facial skin is bare and white, often with small red feather lines.

Leg color

Dark gray to blackish

Distinguishing features

The combination of brilliant red, yellow, and blue plumage, large size, and distinctive bare white facial patches with fine red feather lines. The large, pale upper mandible and dark lower mandible are also key.

Juvenile appearance

Similar to adults but generally duller in coloration, especially the red. The tail feathers are shorter, and the iris is dark brown, gradually changing to pale yellow over the first few years.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage remains consistent year-round.

Sexual dimorphism

Monotypic; males and females are outwardly identical in plumage and size. Sexing requires DNA analysis or endoscopic examination.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plumage Coloration

   Look for the unmistakable combination of brilliant scarlet red body, bright yellow mid-wing band, and iridescent blue flight feathers. The rump is also blue.

2. 2

   Facial Patches

   Observe the bare white facial skin, which often has fine lines of small red feathers. This is a key distinguishing feature from the Green-winged Macaw.

3. 3

   Beak Color

   Note the large, pale horn-colored (whitish-yellow) upper mandible and the blackish-gray lower mandible.

4. 4

   Size and Shape

   Its large size (up to 96 cm including tail) and long, pointed tail are characteristic of a large macaw. In flight, the long tail is very evident.

5. 5

   Vocalizations

   Listen for their loud, harsh, and distinctive squawks and screeches, especially when flying overhead or in groups.

6. 6

   Flight Pattern

   Watch for their strong, direct flight with powerful wing beats, often in pairs or small groups, sometimes in V-formation.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, gallery forests, and forest edges.

Geographic range

From southeastern Mexico (southern Veracruz and Oaxaca) through Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and into South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil). There are disjunct populations, particularly in the Amazon basin.

Elevation range

Typically found from sea level up to 500 meters (1,640 feet), occasionally up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).

Preferred environments

Tall, mature evergreen rainforests, often near rivers or clearings. They require large trees for nesting and roosting, and a diverse array of fruiting and flowering trees for foraging.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal. Most active during early morning and late afternoon, foraging and flying between sites. Midday is often spent resting in the canopy.

Feeding habits

Primarily feeds on a wide variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers, and nectar. They have a powerful beak capable of cracking hard nuts and seeds. They are known to consume clay from riverbanks (geophagy), which is thought to neutralize toxins from unripe fruits and aid digestion.

Social behavior

Highly social birds, typically seen in pairs or small family groups. They form large communal roosts at night, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Pairs are monogamous and maintain strong pair bonds throughout the year.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct, and often high-flying with deep, powerful wing beats. They fly in pairs or small groups, often in V-formations, especially when traveling to and from feeding or roosting sites. Their flight is accompanied by loud calls.

Migration pattern

Resident throughout its range; does not undertake long-distance migrations. May make local movements in response to food availability.

Territoriality

Pairs defend their nest sites during the breeding season, but are generally not highly territorial outside of this period, especially at communal roosts and feeding grounds.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically, but generally from November to May in Central America, and from October to March in South America, coinciding with the dry season or early wet season.

Nesting habits

Nests exclusively in large, deep cavities of tall, mature trees, often dead palms or emergent hardwoods. They do not construct nests but utilize existing hollows. Nest sites are often reused year after year.

Clutch size

1-4 eggs, most commonly 2-3.

Egg description

Typically 2-4 white, elliptical eggs. Average size is approximately 47 x 35 mm.

Incubation period

Approximately 24-26 days, primarily by the female.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge (leave the nest) at about 90-105 days (3-3.5 months) after hatching. They remain dependent on their parents for several months after fledging.

Parental care

Both parents participate in raising the young. The female incubates, and both parents feed the chicks via regurgitation. Young remain with parents for up to a year, learning foraging skills and social behaviors.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for Calls. Their loud, distinctive calls often announce their presence long before they are seen. Follow the sound to locate them.
2. Look Up. Scarlet Macaws often fly high overhead, especially when traveling between roosting and feeding sites. Scan the sky, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon.
3. Visit Clay Licks. If in areas with known clay licks, visit at dawn. This offers an unparalleled opportunity to see large numbers of macaws, including Scarlet Macaws, at close range.
4. Observe Fruiting Trees. They are attracted to fruiting trees. If you know of specific trees in season, stake them out. They can be surprisingly camouflaged despite their bright colors when feeding in dense foliage.
5. Binoculars and Scope. Essential for detailed observation, especially for distinguishing facial features and wing patterns from similar species.

Similar species

Quick facts

Iconic Species:

One of the most recognizable and celebrated parrot species in the world.

Powerful Beak:

Possesses an incredibly strong beak capable of cracking the hardest nuts and seeds.

Geophagy:

Known to consume clay from riverbanks, believed to detoxify food and provide minerals.

Long-lived:

Can live for many decades, forming strong, lifelong pair bonds.

Social Birds:

Highly social, often seen in pairs, family groups, or large communal roosts.

Fun facts

• The Scarlet Macaw is the national bird of Honduras.
• Their powerful beaks are strong enough to crush a human finger, but they are generally not aggressive towards humans in the wild.
• They are excellent mimics and can learn to imitate human speech and other sounds, though this is more common in captive individuals.
• The bare facial skin of a Scarlet Macaw can blush red when the bird is excited or agitated, similar to human blushing.
• Despite their bright colors, they can be surprisingly difficult to spot when perched motionless in the dense canopy, as their plumage blends with the flowers and fruits of the rainforest.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittacidae

Genus

Ara

Species

Ara macao

Explore the Scarlet Macaw