Scarlet Macaw

Colour and noise in the canopy

Scarlet macaws are large parrots with red bodies, yellow-and-blue wing patches and a bare white face. They fly high above the forest in pairs or small groups, and are usually heard before they are seen.

A flock that never goes unnoticed

Their calls are harsh, rolling squawks that carry across long distances. Pairs stay close and call to each other while flying; large flocks gather at river clay licks in the morning. Scientists think the clay may help the birds cope with toxins in some of the seeds they eat, although the exact reason is still debated.

Long-lived and threatened by trade

Macaws pair for life and can live for several decades. They nest in tree cavities, so large old trees are essential. Although the species as a whole is not endangered, poaching for the pet trade and forest loss have wiped out local populations, and reintroduction programmes exist in parts of Central America.

Further reading: Top Forest Animals and Their Unique Calls

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.