Chestnut-fronted Macaw vs Scarlet Macaw

Ara severus compared with Ara macao

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Chestnut-fronted Macaw Scarlet Macaw
Scientific Name Ara severus Ara macao
Order Psittaciformes Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae Psittacidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 85.0 cm (33.5 in)
Wingspan 47.9 cm (18.9 in) 110.0 cm (43.3 in)
Weight 357.5 g (12.61 oz) 1000.0 g (35.27 oz)
Diet -- Fruits, nuts, seeds, and flowers from rainforest canopy trees. Visits clay licks to detoxify compounds …
Clutch Size 2 1-4
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Chestnut-fronted Macaw
Scarlet Macaw 85.0 cm
Wingspan
Chestnut-fronted Macaw 47.9 cm
Scarlet Macaw 110.0 cm
Weight
Chestnut-fronted Macaw 357.5 g
Scarlet Macaw 1000.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Chestnut-fronted Macaw only

Scarlet Macaw only

Scarlet Macaw

Humid tropical lowland rainforests, gallery forests, and forest edges. Requires large mature trees with cavities for nesting.

Song & Call Comparison

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Scarlet Macaw

Song

Very loud, raucous squawking screams 'araak-araak'. Also gives chattering contact calls in pairs. Capable of mimicking human speech in captivity. Highly vocal throughout the day.

Geographic Range & Migration

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Scarlet Macaw

Southern Mexico through Central America to Amazonian South America, including Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Least Concern

Scarlet Macaw

How to Tell Them Apart

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Scarlet Macaw

Plumage

Brilliant scarlet red body with bright yellow wing coverts and blue flight feathers and tail. Large white bare facial patch around the eye.

Bill

Large, strongly curved bill — pale horn upper mandible, dark lower mandible

About These Birds

Scarlet Macaw

The scarlet macaw is one of the most iconic tropical birds with its dazzling tricolor plumage. These highly intelligent parrots form lifelong pair bonds and can live over 75 years in captivity. They play an important ecological role as seed dispersers in Neotropical rainforests.

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