Scarlet Macaw
(Ara macao)

Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Ara
Species: macao

Incubation Period: 24-25 days
Range: Savannah and woodlands of South Mexico to Northern South America
Longevity: 40-50 years in wild, in captivity may live up to 75 years
Weight: 2 lb - 2.5 lbs

Conservation status:
According to the 2004 IUCN Red List, Scarlet Macaws are listed as a species of Least Concern. The wild populations are effected by their capture as pets and loss of habitat.

Sounds:
They communicate by making loud low pitched throaty calls and screams and are also well known for their ability to imitate human sounds.

Amazing Facts:
Macaws eat mud from the side of cliffs to obtain minerals that will aid in neutralizing the acid in their system. Their feet are zygodactyl, meaning that they consist of two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backwards which assists in their ability to climb. Scarlet Macaws have strong, long wings, and can reach speed of up to 35 mph. To the Maya Civilization Scarlet Macaws were Sacred. They represented the daylight and the rising Sun. They used to hold ceremonies in their honor, like they did for their gods as well as for the Sacred Quetzal and the Lord of Night, the stalker, the Jaguar. Many lords and rulers of Maya cities took the name "Macaw" for themselves to magnify their personality and power.

Behavior:
Wild Scarlet Macaws eat mostly fruits and seeds, including large, hard seeds. Ara macao gather in flocks to sleep at night, but pairs bond for life. Macaws are mostly found in pairs either in their nests or flying together. Mates may show affection by licking each other's faces. Once with a mate, Scarlet Macaws are rarely found alone except to feed when one bird must incubate the eggs. They prefer to nest in holes high up in trees and lay one or two eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs, and the young stay with the parents for up to two years.

General Description - Comparison to other species/animals:
Their feathers are mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail feathers are light blue, above the blue (towards the shoulder) is yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. Average length is 89 cm long - 1/3 to 1/2 of which is their tail. The only difference between ages is that young birds have dark eyes, and adults have light yellow eyes.