The Common Macaw (Ara sp.) is one of the most characteristic and beautiful birds of the tropical and subtropical zones, belonging to the order of the Psittaciformes, which includes some 372 species grouped in 86 genera.
The name of macaw, macaw or papagayo is generic and designates several species of birds of the Psittacidae family.
Macaws Types
Among them, apart from Blue Macaw and the scarlet or red macaw (Ara macao), well known and popular in the world, others such as the red and green macaw (Ara chloroptera), the military macaw (Ara militaris), mostly green plumage, with shades of red and white on the head, and red and blue on the tail.
Michael Gwyther-Jones CC BY 2.0
The parrots are generally concentrated in the colpas, places with saline clays, rich in mineral salts, which they bite and lick.
They are very vulnerable birds, because they are hunted by indigenous peopleand settlers, for the beauty of their feathers and because they are used as pets in urban homes.
Scarlet Macaws
The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao, Ara chloroptera) is a beautiful bird that is widely distributed in the Amazon basin.
It is characterized by its powerful beak, its curved upper jaw and short lower jaw, and its multi-colored plumage, with a predominance of scarlet red, along with shades of blue, yellow and green.
Tony Hisgett CC BY 2.0
Emerald Macaws
The emerald macaw (Ara ararauna), about 90 cm long, with blue plumage on the back and yellow on the chest.
It has strong legs with four toes. Their curved and strong gray beak, longer at the top, works for them to shell, tear bark from treesand fruits.
Jan Smith CC BY 2.0
Some differentiate it from the scarlet macaw, which is larger, 1 meter long, and has red body plumage, with yellow and blue tones on the tail.
Macaw Behavior
Whipsnade Zoo Alex Smith CC BY 2.0
They walk in large groups and have the particularity that they are monogamous birds, which remain faithful to their partner.
This group of birds is very important in the neotropical regions, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peruand Venezuela, and particularly in the areas of the Amazon basin.
Dr. Rafael Cartay is a Venezuelan economist, historian, and writer best known for his extensive work in gastronomy, and has received the National Nutrition Award, Gourmand World Cookbook Award, Best Kitchen Dictionary, and The Great Gold Fork. He began his research on the Amazon in 2014 and lived in Iquitos during 2015, where he wrote The Peruvian Amazon Table (2016), the Dictionary of Food and Cuisine of the Amazon Basin (2020), and the online portal delAmazonas.com, of which he is co-founder and main writer. Books by Rafael Cartay can be found on Amazon.com
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