If you want to see them in the wild, you’ll need to travel to Central or South America where you can see them in places like the Carara National Park and the Osa Peninsula in the Corcovado National Park of Costa Rica. There are two subspecies of scarlet macaw: These beautiful birds are sometimes called by other names that reflect their bright colors such as: Yes, scarlet macaws mate for life, meaning they form long-term bonds and raise chicks together through successive nesting seasons. The scarlet macaw is one of the world’s largest parrots, growing to an average length of 35 inches (90 cm) and weighing around 2 to 2.5 pounds (1.13 kg) with a wingspan of about 3 feet (1 m). Scarlet macaws are native to Central and South America. In fact, some scarlet macaws can also talk very well. These macaws tend to take relationships and family seriously. Clay licks in South America are excellent places to see hundreds of macaws at once in the wild. Unfortunately, the Ara macao is in danger of becoming extinct in some locations such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and Panama. It will learn a few words and phrases, though it will do more screaming than talking. Scarlet Macaws are definitely trainable–you can teach them to talk and learn tricks fairly easily. These birds possess a brilliant plumage, and a coloring that is suited to the Amazon jungle with its bright fruits and flowers and vivid green canopies. Have you seen some of Ecuador’s beaches? Although, macaws are magnificent feathered creatures and largest of all in the parrot species with rough voices; they might not be good at talking but they love to socialize. If your scarlet macaw has not been accustomed to handling, it will be especially challenging to tame him, although your patience and effort can make it a success. The variety of sounds are used to communicate within the … 7 Famous Macaws That Make Outstanding Pets. This voice modulation of some people enables some macaws to talk better than the others. They enjoy communicating with others so at your home it begins to do what it would have naturally done in the wild – learn the different communication calls of its flock. They have long toes and … GringosAbroad is Ecuador’s largest blog for expats and travelers! A scarlet macaw can live to be 70+ years old and some are recorded as being over 100 years old. Like many other parrots, scarlet macaws primarily eat seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers and leaf shoots. Their upper mandible is mostly pale in colour and the lower is black. In the wild, these birds may behave shy and keep a distance from humans, but in captivity, they are friendly and familiar with people. No matter how hard you try they will not repeat your words. You can hear them make this call in the wild and in captivity. However, the main threats to the scarlet macaw are human-related and include habitat loss due to deforestation and trapping for illegal wildlife trading. They need owners who are experienced, consistent and can properly train and socialize them, the aggressive tendencies have often … Begin with small and simple words like hello or good morning! What does the scarlet macaw look like? This is a magnificent bird that features a variety of bold colors. Parrots love the attention of its owners, eye contact made with them, stroking and scratching it, toys to beak and food treats. You can also see scarlet macaws in captivity by visiting zoos such as the San Diego Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, and St. Louis Zoo in the USA. The scarlet macaw is not the most competent talker in the macaw family, but with those looks, it doesn’t have to talk. But birds and animals have limited vocabulary and hence ninety percent of their mode of communication is made up of their body behavior and body language. If you find a flock of macaws in the wild, the easiest way to spot them is through the loud screeching and squawking sounds they make. 13 Best Travel Umbrellas for Rainy Cities (Compact, Windproof)... 9 Best Luggage Scales for International Travelers (Buyers Guid... 15 Ecuador Landmarks to Visit: Historical, Natural, Artisan, C... Guide to 18 Largest Cities in Ecuador (Population, Elevation, ... 16 Ecuador Desserts You Need to Try! The body may be comprised of reds, blue… Scarlet Macaw: the Scarlet has gained a reputation for being nippy and aggressive, opinionated, stubborn and strong willed. Image Source Scientific Facts Common NameScarlet macawScientific NameAra macaoSize35 inches long, weighing 2 to 3 poundsLife Span80 years or moreHabitattropical and sub-tropical rainforests.Country of OriginCentral & South America These Macaws exemplify elegance. Living in Ecuador: All About Life in Ecuador (Cuenca, Salinas, Quito, Loja, etc), Best Way to Learn Spanish: Beginners Guide [Immersion, Books, Classes], Ecuadorian Food: Guide to Ecuador’s Traditional Dishes, Typical Drinks, Fruit…, Maracuya: Passion Fruit Guide (Taste, 7 Benefits, How to Eat it), Tagua Nut Guide: South America’s Vegetable Ivory (Vegan, Sustainable), We’re Leaving Ecuador After 1.5 Years: Here’s Why (Dave and Robin Zinck), The Best Book to Learn Spanish (Reader’s Choice 2020), Why Some Expats Decide Not to Live in Ecuador (Bad Things? The bird’s bill and face around the eye are white. I guess it goes without saying that its bright red feathers played a pretty important role in its name. These macaws are good learners, they can easily be trained to talk, they are very intelligent and confident. Coordinates, Elevatio... How to Use GoPro as Webcam (3 Steps) Gear, Settings, Mount. Scarlet macaws prefer the habitat of humid evergreen rainforests where they can often be seen flying above the canopy in either pairs or family groups. The cobalt-blue hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay is the largest of all parrots, measuring 95–100 cm (37.5–39.5 inches) long. 5. 18. It will constantly dilate its pupils while trying to grasp what you say. When they communicate with each other, Scarlet Macaws make really distinctive squeaking sounds which can be heard from very far away. When you use our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Factors such as the bird’s age and its ability to talk can affect the price. ), 39 Vampire Bat Facts (All 3 Species) Tiny, Heat-Sensing Flying Mammals, 40 Bothrops Asper Facts: Guide to Fer de Lance (Terciopelo Viper), Associating words and phrases with objects and actions, Chestnut-fronted macaw (also called Severe macaw), Glaucous macaw (critically endangered or extinct), Red-and-green macaws have tiny rows of feathers around the eyes – forming. If you don’t like a lot of noise, or if you work long hours and don’t have much time to spend socializing with this bird, the scarlet macaw is probably not a good pet for you. They have an extremely long tail of various colors. Sound the word in a loud and clear voice, hesitating slightly between repetitions. If you plan to have a pet scarlet macaw, you should know that they can get loud sometimes because not only is this how they communicate, but they also love getting attention this way. Have you see one at a zoo or maybe on a jungle trip? Scarlet Macaw vs Red-and-Green Macaw (Differences), Guide to Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest Animals. If you own more than one macaw it is best that you teach one bird at a time, teach them one word or phrase at a time; remember parrot species are not multi-tasking! They are known to have very large territories. Carl Linnaeus (the Swedish botanist, physician, zoologist and naturalist) officially named and described the scarlet macaw in 1758. They can learn how to talk, although its blue and gold macaw cousin is known to be the more prolific talker. You can easily spot this beautiful bird by its brilliant plumage. Yes, it is legal to buy a scarlet macaw (and other macaws) as long as you buy it from a reputable source who has proper documentation to show that the parrot was bred legally and not stolen or imported from the wild. Ecuador living: Learn about life in Ecuador from these actual expats. Macaws are splendid birds to have for pets. Yes, unfortunately, scarlet macaws (and other macaws) are prone to some diseases such as: Scarlet macaw and other macaws can also develop the following illnesses: There are plenty of places where you can see scarlet macaws. It is believed that they do this to counteract toxins found in plants and fruits that are routine to their diet. Scarlet macaws make great pets for the right kind of owners. If this is a family bird, it will usually be left to someone in a will. Scarlet macaws are brightly colored birds with feathers ranging in color bands from scarlet on their head and shoulders, to yellow on their back and mid wing feathers and blue on the wing tips and tail feathers. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies this species as Least Concern. Parrots belong to the group of language learning species with an ability to produce similar sounds that are used in human language. In the wild, scarlet macaws can live between 40 and 50 years. Scarlet Macaws are the longest of all the large macaws at 36-40 inches from head to tail and they typically weigh between 900-1100 grams. Pet scarlet macaws in captivity are friendly and affectionate if they have owners who spend plenty of time with them on a daily basis, stimulating them by playing learning games and socializing with them. Both male and female macaws look alike, which is uncommon among vividly coloured birds. Yes, macaws can talk by mimicking human speech, and blue-and-gold macaws boast the reputation of learning phrases more easily than other macaws. Check out our  Ecuador real estate guide. This might be the reason for macaws to imitate and learn words. Predators and Threats. If you plan to have a pet scarlet macaw, you should know that they can get loud sometimes because not only is this how they communicate, but they also love getting attention this way. They appear to be happy if kept in a colorful, brightly lit area with sunshine. Build an environment before you start teaching you macaw, once you find it relaxed start the lesion. Do you have questions not answered in this post? They are very social and need daily interaction or else they become irritated and aggressive. Some of the best clay clicks are found in Yasuni National Park (Ecuador) and Manu National Park and the Tambopata National Reserve (both in Peru). Humans have used scarlet … 1. The face has short white feathers. Training your scarlet macaw to talk typically will not happen overnight. Please do not substitute this template. Macaws, like many parrots, can be taught to “speak.” You can train your feathered friend to repeat all sorts of words. Macaws also have gripping toes that they use to latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and examine items. It hears everything that you say and suddenly repeat a word that it has heard a couple of days back. These birds … Travel tip: If you’re traveling to the Amazon, you should bring a camera with a good zoom and a decent pair of binoculars. The red-and-green macaw is also known as the green-winged macaw. The scarlet macaw also uses its stout, flexible toes to grab things, and its wide, powerful wings enable it to fly up to 35 miles per hour. Teaching a macaw to talk will take time and patience, but it’s fascinating and lots of fun. A frightened parrot who does not trust you will stay quiet and far from you. In the wild, they can honk, squawk, and even scream loud enough to be heard miles away. Training your scarlet macaw to talk typically will not happen overnight. A macaw has keen eyesight and observes the environment that it is kept in.