COMMON NAME: Scarlet macaw

SCIENTIFIC NAME(S): Ara macao with two subspecies: Ara macao cyanoptera (Central America) and Ara macao macao (South America)

ADULT SIZE: 35 inches long, weighing 2 to 3 pounds

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 80 years or more, though 40 to 50 years is more typical

Origin and History

Scarlet macaws are native to the tropical rainforest areas of Central and South America. Its preferred habitat is humid evergreen forests at elevations from about 1,000 to 3,000 feet. In the wild, it dwells mostly in the canopy and topmost layers of the trees.

This species has an extensive natural range, but it is threatened in many areas due to deforestation and illegal trapping for the pet trade. The scarlet macaw is on the CITES

Temperament

The scarlet’s striking plumage may be what initially draws your attention, but its personality keeps you enthralled. Scarlet macaws are intelligent birds with an abundance of energy and character.

Scarlet macaws that have been hand-raised or hand-trained can be very affectionate. They make great companions with a sweet disposition.

In the wild, scarlet macaws live in small flocks. If you keep this bird as a lone pet, you become its flockmate and can form a strong bond. To keep this bird as a tame housemate, you will need to be attentive and interact with it every day. If not properly trained and socialized, it can become aggressive and destructive.

Scarlet macaws are idiosyncratic birds that may become fixated on one person. To avoid this behavior, train them from an early age to socialize with every family member.

This bird’s impressively large beak is powerful. If provoked, it can bite. This bird may not be a great fit for families with children who are too young to understand bird warning signs or boundaries.

Scarlets, like all macaws, are noisy at times. They can learn how to talk, although its blue and gold macaw cousin is known to be the more prolific talker.

Speech and Vocalizations

Confident and friendly, scarlets are usually eager to learn tricks and develop a vocabulary of 5 to 10 words. Scarlets can get extremely loud which may make them a questionable choice for those living in apartments or condominiums. If you are sensitive to loud noises, you might want to think about getting another bird species.

Scarlet Macaw Colors and Markings

Scarlets are mostly vivid red with bright yellow and blue edging on their wings. Some birds may have a band of green where the yellow meets the blue. The large eye patch is white, and the bill has a horn-colored upper mandible and a black lower mandible. There is no obvious way to tell apart the males from females; to figure this out, the bird needs genetic or surgical sexing.

Caring for the Scarlet Macaw

Macaws are the largest of the parrots. A scarlet macaw is best suited for a large space and will not thrive in a cage that is too small. Get a cage that is at least 2 1/2 feet by 3 feet. It needs a lot of out-of-cage time, and if it doesn’t get it, the bird may develop behavioral problems. It will resort to feather-plucking and other forms of self-mutilation. They can get bored quite easily, so provide them with large swings and toys.

Once a week, offer your macaw a bath or hose down your bird with lukewarm water using the fine-mist setting of your handheld shower sprayer.

To prevent your bird from flying through an open window or door, trim its primary wing feathers.

Common Health Problems

Scarlet macaws, like other large parrots, are prone to self-mutilation and feather plucking when they are bored or neglected.

These birds are susceptible to a variety of nutritional disorders and diseases, such as macaw wasting syndrome (proventricular dilation disease), parrot fever (psittacosis), and psittacine beak and feather disease (viral infection).

Overgrown beaks are also sometimes a problem; this can be prevented if you provide hard chewable toys and rough surfaces for the macaws to trim their beaks.

Diet and Nutrition

Nuts, leaves, berries, and seeds from the rainforest make up the bulk of the scarlet macaw’s diet. Its strong, hooked beak is perfect for breaking nuts and seeds.

The best diet for a macaw in captivity begins with a formulated parrot mix that includes a variety of seeds, dried fruits, and nuts. Provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, as well as high-calcium greens like kale and spinach. An all-seed diet is extremely unhealthy for these birds. Never offer chocolate and avocado, which are toxic.

The average healthy macaw will consume approximately 10 to 15 percent of its body weight daily. An average bird weighs about 2 pounds. You can expect a bird will eat about 1/2 cup of food per day, which equates to about 100 pounds of food per year. Feed them in the morning upon waking. Remove any uneaten chop or freshly cut fruits and vegetables after an hour.

xercise

Macaws are large birds and need ample space and time to play and stretch their muscles. These are active birds by nature. These birds need the means to burn off energy. A scarlet macaw should be allowed outside of the cage for at least two hours a day; five hours is optimal.

Rotate a varied supply of chew toys to help it exercise its powerful beak and jaws. Rugged toys that can take a beating help the jaw muscles while providing an outlet for the chewing instinct. (scarlet macaw for sale australia)

A play gym or a parrot cargo net that allows your macaw to play and climb can be a great activity to help your bird meet its exercise requirements.

It is indigenous to the South American rainforest, with vivid flowers and brightly colored fruits and berries. The scarlet macaw, if left in their natural habitat, would be perfectly camouflaged against most predators.There’s no doubt that the scarlet macaw is colorful. While the scarlet macaw’s plumage might make it stand out in a Kansas field, in its home territory it blends perfectly in.

6. Do scarlet macaws talk? (scarlet macaw for sale australia)

Like all macaws, the scarlet macaw will mimic human speech. They are highly social animals and can be taught words or phrases easily.

They mimic their environment and the humans they are closest to, and just like children, will “parrot” most phrases you wouldn’t necessarily want them to. So be careful what you say around your scarlet macaw, or your face could be just as red as their plumage.(scarlet macaw for sale australia)

7. Are scarlet macaws friendly? Or aggressive?

Scarlet macaws bred in captivity are quite affectionate. Hand-feeding helps to earn your macaw’s affection and trust, but keep in mind, these are loud, raucous, and social birds. They have the ability to become aggressive – especially if they aren’t given enough stimulus.

In the wild, scarlet macaws are neither friendly or aggressive but simply keep to themselves. You have little to fear from a scarlet macaw.

8. Do scarlet macaws make good pets?

They’re intelligent, but not made to be alone. If you have a job or responsibilities that keep you out of your home, your scarlet macaw will need a friend to keep it company.

If they become lonely, they’ll develop nervous habits like biting or tearing out their own feathers.

Because of their loud nature and large stature, we also do not recommend for apartment living. These birds need room and lots of it! To be a good macaw pet parent, it’s essential to research the bird before deciding to adopt one. (scarlet macaw for sale australia)