Scientific Name:       
Ara macao    
Class:                        
Aves              
Order:                        
Psittaciformes          
Family:                       
Psittacidae   
Feeding Type:          
Herbivorous  
Range:                       
Throughout Amazon Basin to Northern Bolivia. Central America to Southern Mexico
Habitat:                      
Tropical forests, tree savannas, wooded banks of large rivers  
Diet in the Wild:        
Fruits and nuts                      
Diet at the Zoo:         
Fruit and commercial parrot pellets. Vegetable, monkey biscuits, and parrot seed mix                       
Description:
Scarlet macaws are red with blue and yellow wings. From its beak to the tip of its tail, it measures 34 to 36 inches. Their feet consist of 2 toes pointing forward and 2 toes pointing backwards.  They are used for climbing and grasping food. Wings are typically narrow and pointed, enabling the macaw to fly with great speed and maneuverability.
Adaptation/Behavior:
The macaw’s strong bill is adapted not only to crush its food, but also as an additional limb for climbing. The bill is hinged against the skull for independent movement, thus increasing its strength and flexibility. Macaws are gregarious birds and often form large flocks. They communicate by making various calls, from squawks to piercing shrieks, and are also well known for their ability to imitate human sounds.
Courtship/Breeding:
Scarlet macaws mate for life. Their nests are usually in tree hollows, several feet from the ground. The clutch is 2 to 4 eggs, and incubation lasts approximately 25 days.
Conservation:
Scarlet macaws are at low risk, but increase deforestation could pose as a threat. Threats also arise from cage-bird trade, which accounts for thousands of captures and deaths every year.