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Scarlet Macaws

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 9 months ago

 

Scarlet Macaw Ara macao. Family: Psittacinae

These noisy, magnificent birds can fly at speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 kph), often flying in pairs or small flocks up to 20 birds. In captivity, Scarlet Macaws have a life span of up to 80 years.  They are among the most spectacular of the neotropical birds, with brilliant colors and loud calls making them highly conspicuous, especially in flight.

 

Habitat:  They inhabit the tropical rainforests of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.  They live in the lowlands, on dry ground in evergreen forest and savanna.  They often visit mangroves or remnant large trees in clearings. In parts of Central America they occur in deciduous forests.  They spend their time in the canopy (the tree leaves) and emergent layer (the tops of the very highest trees) of the rainforest. 

 

Anatomy: The Scarlet Macaw is about 35 inches (90 cm) long. The feathers are bright red with bits of yellow, orange and blue on the wings. The bill is very curved. The feet are zygodactylous; the 2 outer toes point backwards and grip in opposition to the 2 forward-pointing toes. Males and females are similar in appearance. 

 

Diet: Scarlet Macaws eat fruit, seeds, and nuts. Like other parrots, they are seed predators; they destroy the seeds that they eat and do not disperse them.  Macaws also feed on clay licks, and while the reason is not known for sure, it is speculated that they use the clay to feed to their chicks for nutritional supplementation and to neutralize the toxins found in the seeds that they eat.

 

Clutch: Macaws nest in holes located high in deciduous trees. Females lay 2 plain white eggs in each clutch. Both parents incubate the eggs. The young stay with the parents for up to 2 years.

 

Conservation Status: Scarlet Macaws remain common only in remote areas away from human habitation. Deforestation and capture of birds for live-bird trade have extirpated populations in much of Central America.  Elsewhere they are declining in accessible localities, but good numbers survive in some national parks and reserves.

 

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