Location

Scarlet macaws are located in southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and into South America, where the Amazon Rainforest is located. They are also found on some of the islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Habitat

In these countries, they are found in the rainforest. There, they build their nests in the trees.

Diet

Scarlet macaws feed on tropical fruits and nuts.

Size

Scarlet macaws are beautifully colored birds that grow to heights of 2.5 - 3 feet.

Description

As their name suggests, scarlet macaws are covered in bright scarlet-red feathers over most of their bodies. Their wings may also sport additional blue, green and yellow colored feathers. Scarlet macaws have long, beautiful red and sometimes blue tail feathers.

The eyes of scarlet macaws are surrounded by white feathers, and the eyes are located on the sides of their heads. Scarlet macaws have strong, curved beaks that are adept at eating food of the rainforest. Like all parrots, scarlet macaws feet are zygodactyl, which means they have two toes that point forward and two that point backward. This gives macaws the ability to easily grab and move along branches high in the canopy of the rainforest.

Behaviors

Scarlet macaws can make a variety of sounds in order to communicate with other macaws. If a person speaks to a macaw, the macaw may make sounds that resemble the words spoken to it.

Reproduction

Scarlet macaws often form long or life-long bonds with a mate. Female macaws will lay 1 - 4 eggs in the nests, and the eggs will be incubated for a period of 3 - 4 weeks.

Other Facts

They are the national birds of Honduras.

They are endangered throughout much or their range, due to habitat loss as well as pet trade.

Scarlet macaws are sometimes pictured as sitting on the shoulders of pirates in art or commercialism.