Scarlet Macaw

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

Red, and not a smaller project

Scarlet macaws are Ara macao. Adults run about 32 to 36 inches and roughly 2 to 2.5 pounds. Lifespan is 40 to 50 years or more. Care is expert. Noise is extremely high. Talking is only moderate, which surprises people who met a chatty blue-and-gold and assumed every macaw performs.

Give them at least 36 by 48 by 60 inches, and an adult still spends hours out of it. Pellets, nuts, fruit, and vegetables are the diet. Nuts are measured. A bowl of them is how a macaw gets fat. Destroyed furniture is normal wear, not a phase. A door that latches, and a room you can bird-proof, matter more than a new toy every week.

Captive-bred, and a plan for year forty

Wild scarlet macaws are protected. The pet to consider is captive-bred, and only after the cage exists and an avian vet is already on your list. AAV is that list. A bird that sits fluffed and silent needs the quiet bird page the same day, not after a weekend of waiting.

Scarlet macaw questions

Are scarlet macaws louder than blue-and-golds?

Scarlet macaw noise is extremely high. Both species are too loud for an apartment. Scarlets are not the quiet colorful version of a macaw.

Do scarlet macaws talk well?

Talking is moderate. Some learn words. A scarlet is not a purchase you make for a talking show.

How big is the commitment?

About 40 to 50 years or more, a very large cage, and expert care. All three are the real commitment.