The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is one of the most striking birds of the tropical forests of the Americas. Its range extends from Mexico and Central America to the Amazon Basin. In Ecuador, it inhabits mainly the Amazonian tropical rainforest, where it often moves above the canopy in pairs or family groups.
Its plumage combines intense red, yellow, and blue, but behind this spectacular display of color is an animal perfectly adapted to life among the trees. Its large, curved bill is extremely powerful, allowing it to crack open fruits, nuts, and hard seeds. Its feet, with two toes pointing forward and two backward, work almost like hands for holding food and climbing among branches.
It feeds mainly on fruits and seeds, as well as nuts, flowers, and nectar. In some parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon, it can also be seen visiting clay licks, where parrots and macaws gather to consume mineral-rich clay.
Scarlet macaws form long-lasting pair bonds and nest in cavities in large trees. Both adults take part in caring for their young, which remain with their parents for an extended period of learning.
Although globally classified as Least Concern, its populations are declining and face threats such as forest loss and illegal capture. Watching a pair cross the rainforest amid loud calls and flashes of color is a reminder that the Amazon can also be recognized from the sky.
