Birds Daytime

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

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.

9 Sightings

2 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

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

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Colors

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

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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

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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

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Season Year-round

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

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

Sightings on EverydayEarth

Macaw Feeder Low Cam

Apr 8, 2026

A vibrant Scarlet Macaw is perched on a wooden feeding platform, busily eating. Its bright red, yellow, and blue feathers stand out against the lush green foliage of the Costa Rican forest as it uses its powerful beak to handle food.

Macaw Feeder Low Cam

Apr 7, 2026

A vibrant Scarlet Macaw perches on the edge of a wooden feeder tray. It spends several moments inspecting the seeds within the metal pan, turning its head to look around the surrounding forest before leaning down to feed.

Macaw Feeder Low Cam

Apr 6, 2026

Two Scarlet Macaws are perched on a suspended feeder within a large tree canopy. They are actively feeding and looking around their environment, with their vibrant red, yellow, and blue feathers clearly visible. Loud squawking and natural forest sounds can be heard throughout the footage.

Macaw Feeder Low Cam

Apr 6, 2026

A vibrant Scarlet Macaw is perched on the edge of a wooden hanging feeder, diligently picking through seeds in the metal tray.

Macaw Feeder Low Cam

Apr 5, 2026

A vibrant Scarlet Macaw is perched on a thick branch in the upper right foreground, its brilliant red, yellow, and blue feathers standing out against the green canopy. The bird remains mostly stationary, observing its surroundings as the wind gently sways the nearby trees.

Macaw Feeder Low Cam

Apr 5, 2026

A Scarlet Macaw is perched on a feeding platform in a tropical environment. The bird uses its strong beak to forage on the tray, occasionally looking up to observe its surroundings while displaying its brilliant red, yellow, and blue feathers.

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.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

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

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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.

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