II. Birds of Splendor
Scarlet macaw
IN 1.40.01-A
Scarlet macaw
Ara macao
Adult portrait
II. Birds of Splendor
Field notes
Scarlet macaws travel through the forest in pairs or family groups, carrying their bright colours above the canopy. Powerful feet and bills handle fruit and seeds. Both parents feed the young, which remain with their family long after leaving the nest.
- Range
- Southern Mexico through Central America into tropical South America.
- Habitat
- Humid lowland forest and wooded river corridors, with large cavity-bearing trees.
Conservation
The global assessment records a declining population despite the species’ broad range. Forest loss and capture for the wildlife trade remain concerns; a reassuring global category should not be mistaken for security in every local population.
Sources & conservation context
- IUCN Red List — Ara macao, BirdLife International 2022
- National Aviary — Scarlet Macaw species account
Least Concern — IUCN global species assessment of Ara macao, assessed 19 August 2022. This is not a subspecies or national legal listing.
Source review: 6 October 2026. Assessment dates, where given, belong to the cited source.