Macaw

About the species

Ara (Macaw) is not the name of a single species but the common name for the genus Ara — a group of large, loud and exceptionally long-lived parrots from the true parrot family (Psittacidae), native to tropical and subtropical Central and South America. The genus includes around eight living species, among them the Blue-and-yellow Macaw and the Green-winged Macaw, which already have their own dedicated profiles on this site. This page covers the genus as a whole — traits shared by all macaws regardless of species or plumage colour.

Taxonomy and species diversity

The genus Ara comprises around eight extant species that differ mainly in plumage colour and size but share the same body plan, long lifespan and similar way of life. Best known are the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), the Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) — covered separately on this site —, the Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloropterus), also with its own profile, the Military Macaw (Ara militaris), the Great Green (Buffon's) Macaw (Ara ambiguus), the Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys), the Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) and the Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severus). The genus once also occurred on Caribbean islands: the Cuban Macaw (Ara tricolor), the only macaw endemic to a single island, went extinct around 1864 after the last known birds were shot in Cuba — a consequence of deforestation for tobacco and sugarcane plantations and hunting. It remains one of the few well-documented extinctions of a species from this genus.

Appearance and physical traits

Macaws are among the largest parrots in the world — body length ranges from roughly 60 to 100 cm (including the long, pointed tail), with weight between 0.9 and 1.7 kg depending on the species. Their most recognisable physical trait is an extremely powerful, hooked beak adapted to cracking hard-shelled palm nuts and seeds that few other animals can open; the upper mandible is not fused to the skull, giving it extra mobility and leverage. Another trait unique among parrots is a bare or sparsely feathered skin patch around the eyes and cheeks; the pattern of small feathers on this patch is unique to each individual bird, much like a fingerprint, and is often used to tell individuals apart.

Behaviour, calls and intelligence

Macaws live in pairs or small flocks and are highly social, highly intelligent birds, with cognitive abilities often compared to those of great apes. They are known for loud, far-carrying calls — screeches, squawks and growls — used to keep in contact with a mate or flock over long distances through dense rainforest, mark territory and warn of danger. This same trait, essential for survival in the wild, becomes one of the main sources of conflict with owners and neighbours in captivity.

Natural habitat and range

The genus Ara is distributed across tropical lowland forest, savanna and riverine habitats from Mexico and Central America through much of South America, with some species restricted to very narrow ranges (for example, the Blue-throated Macaw occurs only in the savannas of the Beni department in Bolivia). Historically, macaws also inhabited several Caribbean islands, from which they have since disappeared.

Conservation status and threats

Several Ara species rank among the most endangered parrots in the world. The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is classified as Critically Endangered by the World Parrot Trust, with a population of only 500 to 1,000 mature individuals; the decline is driven by deforestation and illegal capture for the pet trade. The Blue-throated Macaw suffered a similar fate: considered nearly extinct until it was rediscovered in the savannas of northern Bolivia in 1992, when the population was estimated at only around 50 birds. Thanks to conservation programmes on private ranches, it now numbers a few hundred individuals and is considered stable, though still critically endangered. Habitat loss and illegal removal of chicks from nests for the pet-bird trade remain the main threats to most species.

Macaws as pets - demands and challenges

Because of their size, loudness and long lifespan (30 to as much as 60 years), macaws are among the most demanding parrots to keep in captivity. They need several hours of daily interaction and out-of-cage flight time, a spacious aviary and constant mental stimulation; without these, they commonly develop screaming, aggression and feather-destructive behaviour (self-plucking), which is documented in the parrot-welfare literature as one of the most common signs of stress and boredom in captive parrots. These problems are also the main reason many owners eventually surrender their macaw to a shelter or specialised sanctuary, as they cannot provide enough time and space across the bird's multi-decade lifespan.

Health

Macaws and other large parrots can develop proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), caused by avian bornavirus, which damages the nerves of the digestive tract and leads to chronic weight loss and passage of undigested food; the disease was first recognised in the late 1970s in macaws, and was long known as 'macaw wasting disease.' Macaws are also prone to stress- and inactivity-related conditions in captivity, the most common being the feather-plucking mentioned above. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian experienced in exotic birds are therefore essential throughout the bird's life.

Pros & cons