Scarlet Macaw vs Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

Ara macao compared with Touit huetii

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Scarlet Macaw Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet
Scientific Name Ara macao Touit huetii
Order Psittaciformes Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae Psittacidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 85.0 cm (33.5 in)
Wingspan 110.0 cm (43.3 in) 22.2 cm (8.7 in)
Weight 1000.0 g (35.27 oz) 62.0 g (2.19 oz)
Diet Fruits, nuts, seeds, and flowers from rainforest canopy trees. Visits clay licks to detoxify compounds … --
Clutch Size 1-4 --
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Scarlet Macaw 85.0 cm
Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet
Wingspan
Scarlet Macaw 110.0 cm
Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet 22.2 cm
Weight
Scarlet Macaw 1000.0 g
Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet 62.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Scarlet Macaw only

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet only

None

Scarlet Macaw

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

Song & Call Comparison

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.

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

Geographic Range & Migration

Scarlet Macaw

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

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Scarlet Macaw

Least Concern

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

How to Tell Them Apart

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

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

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.

Related Comparisons

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family