Widely regarded by bird lovers as the most beautiful parrot, scarlet macaws are among the most colorful. They have large solid swatches of red, blue, and yellow feathers. This flashy, gutsy bird is full of energy and has a big personality. This large parrot easily makes the list of most popular parrots every year.
Scarlet macaws are native to the tropical rainforest areas of Central and South America. Its preferred habitat is humid evergreen forests at elevations from about 1,000 to 3,000 feet. In the wild, it dwells mostly in the canopy and topmost layers of the trees.
This species has an extensive natural range, but it is threatened in many areas due to deforestation and illegal trapping for the pet trade. The scarlet macaw is on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix 1 list. The commercial trade of these wild birds is forbidden, which means the import of these birds to the U.S. is illegal.
The scarlet's striking plumage may be what initially draws your attention, but its personality keeps you enthralled. Scarlet macaws are intelligent birds with an abundance of energy and character.
Scarlet macaws that have been hand-raised or hand-trained can be very affectionate. They make great companions with a sweet disposition. In the wild, scarlet macaws live in small flocks. If you keep this bird as a lone pet, you become its flockmate and can form a strong bond. To keep this bird as a tame housemate, you will need to be attentive and interact with it every day. If not properly trained and socialized, it can become aggressive and destructive.
Scarlet macaws are idiosyncratic birds that may become fixated on one person. To avoid this behavior, train them from an early age to socialize with every family member. This bird's impressively large beak is powerful. If provoked, it can bite. This bird may not be a great fit for families with children who are too young to understand bird warning signs or boundaries.
Scarlets, like all macaws, are noisy at times. They can learn how to talk, although its blue and gold macaw cousin is known to be the more prolific talker. Confident and friendly, scarlets are usually eager to learn tricks and develop a vocabulary of 5 to 10 words. Scarlets can get extremely loud which may make them a questionable choice for those living in apartments or condominiums. If you are sensitive to loud noises, you might want to think about getting another bird species.
Scarlets are mostly vivid red with bright yellow and blue edging on their wings. Some birds may have a band of green where the yellow meets the blue. The large eye patch is white, and the bill has a horn-colored upper mandible and a black lower mandible. There is no obvious way to tell apart the males from females; to figure this out, the bird needs genetic or surgical sexing.
Macaws are the largest of the parrots. A scarlet macaw is best suited for a large space and will not thrive in a cage that is too small. Get a cage that is at least 2 1/2 feet by 3 feet. It needs a lot of out-of-cage time, and if it doesn't get it, the bird may develop behavioral problems. It will resort to feather-plucking and other forms of self-mutilation. They can get bored quite easily, so provide them with large swings and toys. Once a week, offer your macaw a bath or hose down your bird with lukewarm water using the fine-mist setting of your handheld shower sprayer.
