Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Parrots

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Central America & Caribbean.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Australia Birds of Brazil Birds of Canada Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Spain Birds of India Birds of Mexico

By family

Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Argentina Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Australia Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Brazil Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Canada Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Colombia Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Costa Rica Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Ecuador Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Spain Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of India Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Mexico

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The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
Genus Ara
Species macao

Where it lives

Southeastern Mexico to Colombia and Amazonia

Quick facts

Weight: 1 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Blue-throated Macaw

Ara glaucogularis

Critically Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Scarlet Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Scarlet Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a member of the Psittacidae family, within the order Psittaciformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Mexico to Colombia and Amazonia.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1 kg, with a wing length of about 39.4 cm and a tail of around 55.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.8 million km².

Songs & calls

Scarlet Macaw — Call

Recorded by Simon Elliott Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Scarlet Macaw?

The Scarlet Macaw is a very large bird that weighs around 1 kg.

Where does the Scarlet Macaw live?

The Scarlet Macaw is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Mexico to Colombia and Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Scarlet Macaw belong to?

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.

What does the Scarlet Macaw eat?

The Scarlet Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Scarlet Macaw migrate?

The Scarlet Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Scarlet Macaw endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Scarlet Macaw make?

1 real field recording of the Scarlet Macaw — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Scarlet Macaw's range?

The Scarlet Macaw has a mapped global range of about 6.8 million km².