Cactus Parakeet vs Scarlet Macaw
Eupsittula cactorum compared with Ara macao
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cactus Parakeet | Scarlet Macaw |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eupsittula cactorum | Ara macao |
| Order | Psittaciformes | Psittaciformes |
| Family | Psittacidae | Psittacidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 85.0 cm (33.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 110.0 cm (43.3 in) |
| Weight | 120.0 g (4.23 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 | 3-6 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Scarlet Macaw
Humid tropical lowland rainforests, gallery forests, and forest edges. Requires large mature trees with cavities for nesting.
Song & Call Comparison
Cactus Parakeet
Scarlet Macaw
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
Cactus Parakeet
Scarlet Macaw
Southern Mexico through Central America to Amazonian South America, including Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.
Conservation Status
Cactus Parakeet
Scarlet Macaw
How to Tell Them Apart
Cactus Parakeet
Scarlet Macaw
Brilliant scarlet red body with bright yellow wing coverts and blue flight feathers and tail. Large white bare facial patch around the eye.
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.