The Scarlet Macaw is arguably the most magnificent
bird of the parrot family. With their wide strong wings, macaws can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour. They often fly in pairs or small groups and often call to each other in raucous hoarse voices. Scarlet Macaws are a full sized macaw that are very colorful. They look like a rainbow starting with the head and shoulders a deep red changing to yellow about mid body, and finally blue and green on the lower part of the body and wings. The tail turns back to the deep red.
The Scarlets' natural habitat runs from eastern Panama in Central America south across northern South America, east of the Andes, to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. A full sized macaw can get over 2 lbs. Lengths up to 33.5 inches. Macaws appear to prefer higher elevations and riparian (riverine) forests. No visible differences between males and females.
They are known to have very large territories. They feed on specific fruits such as polewood, roaming large areas searching for clumps of their favorite foods. They prefer to nest in holes high up in trees and lay one or two eggs which incubate for about 28 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. |