Scarlet Macaws

There’s nothing flashier than a scarlet macaw, making it a popular large bird among fanciers and novices alike. It’s not unusual for someone to begin his or her pet bird journey with a scarlet, though this bird is often not a great choice for the novice. The scarlet is just so gorgeous and filled with personality, it’s tough for someone with a few extra bucks in their pocket to refuse.

The scarlet ranges in size from 32 to 39 inches in length, and is primarily red, as its name implies, with a band of yellow in the center of the wings, followed by a band of blue leading to the flight feathers. In some birds, there may be a band of green where the yellow meets the blue. Some people confuse the scarlet and the green-winged macaw, though there are prominent differences. The green-winged, in general, is a much larger bird and has a large band of green on the wing. The primary difference, however, is in the face – the scarlet has a naked face, and the green-winged macaw has tiny red lines of feathers circling down from the eyes onto the face patch. Both birds have a similarly colored beak, a black lower mandible and a horn-colored upper mandible (with a little bit of black where the two parts of the beak meet).

Native Region / Natural Habitat

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao) has an enormous natural range in Central and South America and is found in two subspecies: Ara Macao cyanoptera, which hails from Central America, primarily from Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, and Nicaragua; and Ara Macao Macao, found in South America, including the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. The Central American Scarlet is said to be larger and has more blue than green on its wings than the South American if it has any green at all.

The scarlet macaw, because of its beauty, has been depleted in the wild, though efforts are taking place in Costa Rica and other countries to help save current populations or to repopulate area formerly occupied by these birds. They are on the CITES Appendix I list, and cannot be brought into the United States from the wild for the pet trade (nor can any other parrot), though they are still being threatened in the wild due to deforestation, trapping for food and feathers, and smuggling.

Some scientists believe that these aren’t true subspecies, but the final word isn’t out on this yet, though many scientists hold rigorously to the distinct classifications. Others break the scarlets into three groups — Mexican, Central and South American based on size and coloration. In general, the Mexican scarlet has less yellow and is smaller than the others; the South American is a little larger and has a little more yellow on the wing; the Central American scarlet is the visual stunner of the three, a large bird with a wide band of yellow on the wing.

Care & Feeding

Like all birds, the scarlet macaw will thrive in a large environment and will suffer in a cage that’s inadequate for its size. This bird is known for self-mutilation when confined, and will not do well with an owner who doesn’t plan on allowing it sufficient out-of-cage time. Large swings and toys are a must, too, because the scarlet is an active bird that likes to play and chew. If not given the opportunity to chew, it will become quite unhappy and may turn the chewing onto its feathers.

Scarlet macaw lives in small groups in the wild, and alone scarlet macaw in a household can become lonely if not interacted with regularly. This is not a bird for someone who isn’t home a lot or someone who doesn’t understand the intricacies and responsibilities of bird keeping. This is a sensitive, clever bird that can easily become bored and miserable, leading to excessive noise, plucking and biting.

Macaws, including scarlet macaws, thrive on a nutritionally balanced diet, such as Lafeber’s  Nutri-Berries and Lafeber’s Premium Daily Diet Pellets, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy table foods. If properly fed and cared for a scarlet macaw is reported to have a life span of over 70 years.