Birds diurnal

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

The Scarlet Macaw is a living masterpiece of the tropical canopy, boasting a brilliant palette of primary colors and an intelligence that rivals the world's smartest animals.

1 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 81–96 cm (32–38 in); Wingspan: 100–120 cm (39–47 in); Weight: 1 kg (2.2 lbs)

palette

Colors

Brilliant scarlet red body; yellow wing coverts; blue flight feathers and rump; bare white facial skin

visibility

Key Features

Bright yellow band across the mid-wing
Extremely long, pointed red and blue tail
Large, powerful hooked beak with a pale upper mandible
Bare white skin patch around the eyes without feather lines

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern diurnal

brightness_5

Peak hours 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet Primarily a granivore and frugivore; eats seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and occasionally nectar or flowers.

park

Habitat Humid evergreen forests, tropical woodlands, and forest edges; often found near rivers.

bar_chart
Loading activity data...

Behavior

Scarlet Macaws are incredibly social and intelligent birds, often seen flying in pairs or small family groups. They are famous for their lifelong pair bonds; once they find a mate, they are rarely seen apart, even flying so close together that their wingtips almost touch. They communicate with a variety of loud, raucous screeches and squawks that can carry for miles through the dense jungle canopy.

In the wild, they spend much of their day foraging for food, using their powerful beaks as a 'third hand' to climb branches and crack open the toughest nuts. While they are wary of predators, they can become quite bold around humans if they feel safe, particularly in areas where they are protected or accustomed to supplemental feeding. They are also known to visit 'clay licks'—exposed riverbanks where they eat mineral-rich soil to neutralize toxins in their diet.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

Capturing a Scarlet Macaw on a trail camera requires a bit of elevation. Since these birds are primarily arboreal, a ground-level camera is unlikely to see much action unless it is pointed at a known water source or a fallen fruit tree. For the best results, mount your camera 10 to 15 feet high on a tree trunk or a sturdy pole, angled slightly downward toward a known feeding branch or a platform feeder stocked with tropical fruits like papaya or mango.

Because Macaws are fast flyers and highly active when feeding, camera settings are crucial. Use a camera with a lightning-fast trigger speed (0.3 seconds or less) to catch them as they land. If your camera supports it, opt for a high shutter speed to freeze the motion of those vibrant wings; otherwise, you may end up with a blurry red streak. Setting the camera to take 'burst' photos (3-5 frames per trigger) is the best way to ensure you get a perfectly composed shot of their profile.

Lighting is your best friend when photographing these birds. Their plumage is exceptionally reflective, so aim your camera toward the east or west to catch the golden hour light in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid pointing the lens directly into the sun, as the high contrast can wash out the brilliant yellows and reds. If you are in a backyard setting, planting native trees like the Beach Almond (Terminalia catappa) is a surefire way to bring them within range of your lens year-round.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Scarlet Macaw.

Green-winged Macaw

Look for green wing feathers instead of yellow, and fine red feather lines on the white facial patch.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Features a teal-blue back and wings with a bright yellow underside, lacking the Scarlet's dominant red plumage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scarlet Macaws are most active in the early morning shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon. They spend these peak hours foraging for food and traveling between their roosting sites and feeding grounds.

The best way to attract them is by planting native fruit and nut-bearing trees, such as Wild Almond or various palm species. In some regions, providing a high-platform feeder with fresh tropical fruits can also entice them to visit.

Their diet consists mainly of seeds, nuts, and fruits. They have incredibly strong beaks designed to crack open hard shells that other birds cannot, allowing them to access high-fat energy sources like palm nuts.

In their native range, they are occasionally seen in suburban areas that have retained large, mature trees or are located near forest corridors. However, they generally prefer the cover of dense tropical forests.

Look at the wings: Scarlet Macaws have a bright yellow band of feathers, while Green-winged Macaws have green feathers in that same area. Additionally, Scarlets have a clean, bare white face, whereas Green-winged Macaws have tiny lines of red feathers across their cheeks.

Record Scarlet Macaw at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo