image courtesy: APA
Common name: Scarlet Macaw
Scientific name: Ara macao
Length: 36 inches
The Scarlet Macaw is a species of large colorful parrot that can be found in the lowland rainforests of the Amazon River Basin
and from Panama to southeastern Mexico. They are probably the best known of all South American parrots and are often
displayed in travel brochures. Scarlet Macaws usually fly in pairs or in small groups and often call to each other with hoarse
screeches. These parrots form very strong pair bonds which is evident as flocks fly over head. The pairs always flying very
close to each other. They can fly with shallow, steady wing beats and can fly at up to 35 miles per hour.
Scarlet Macaws as a rule are very wary and will fly away at the slightest disturbance screeching loudly. The sound they give is a
very loud "raa-aar".They undertake conspicuous daily flights from their roosting sites to the surrounding areas for food. They
feed during the day the the top most branches of trees. Their food includes palm fruits, figs, berries, and nuts. They will also eat
insect and insect larvae during the breeding season. They lay about 2-4 eggs in the hollow trunks of trees during the breeding
season and both parents help raise the chicks.
This species is rapidly declining in the wild and is endangered throughout most of its range. This bird is a victim of human greed
and two main reasons for its decline has been habitat loss through deforestation and heavy hunting, trapping, and collecting for
the pet trade.