A large, brilliantly coloured parrot 81–96 cm long (half of which is tail) with crimson head, mantle and under‑parts. Upper wings show a yellow band grading to azure‑blue primaries; rump and tail coverts are light blue, the tail maroon above and pale blue below. Facial skin is bare and white with fine black feather lines; heavy bill ivory above and black below. Iris pale yellow in adults, dark brown in juveniles. Weight 900–1 100 g. Sexes are alike; juveniles have shorter tails and duller plumage.
Total length 81–96 cm; wingspan 90–110 cm
0.9–1.1 kg
40–50 yr wild; 60+ yr captivity
Data deficient
Data deficient
3–4 yr
January – April (late dry season)
Number of Offspring per Event: 2–4 eggs; one clutch yr⁻¹
A large, brilliantly coloured parrot 81–96 cm long (half of which is tail) with crimson head, mantle and under‑parts. Upper wings show a yellow band grading to azure‑blue primaries; rump and tail coverts are light blue, the tail maroon above and pale blue below. Facial skin is bare and white with fine black feather lines; heavy bill ivory above and black below. Iris pale yellow in adults, dark brown in juveniles. Weight 900–1 100 g. Sexes are alike; juveniles have shorter tails and duller plumage.
Prefers lowland and premontane evergreen or semi‑deciduous forest below 700 m, especially along large rivers and in coastal almond ( Dipteryx panamensis ) stands; also exploits mangroves, plantation edges and reforested corridors
| Large‑bodied frugivore; consumes > 50 fruit species—particularly Dipteryx, Anacardium and Ficus—and disperses intact seeds over kilometers. |
Activity pattern: diurnal; peak foraging early morning and late afternoon.
Group size: strong pair bond; forage in pairs within communal flocks of 10–50; nightly communal roosts in emergent trees.
Mating system: long‑term monogamy; both partners defend nesting cavity and feeding territory radius ≈ 500 m.
Territoriality: pairs vocalise and chase intruders near nest; outside breeding season, flocks share feeding sites with minimal aggression.
Communication: raucous squawks, piercing “raa‑ak,” and softer contact croaks; also wing‑flap displays and bill clattering during courtship.
Special behaviours: clay‑lick visits; cooperative sentinel behaviour—one bird scans while partner feeds; juveniles stay with parents up to 2 yr, learning fruiting trees.
Strong jaw can generate ~300 N bite force to crack tropical almonds.
Scarlet macaws historically traded as status symbols by pre‑Columbian cultures; feathers used in ceremonial garments.
Exhibit geophagy—ingest riverbank clay to neutralise dietary toxins.
Pairs maintain life‑long bonds, engaging in mutual preening and synchronous flights.
Roosting flocks create loud, identifiable dusk choruses audible > 2 km away.
Native
Increasing
