Macaw

Guide Note

Macaws are brilliantly colored members of the parrot family native to forests in Mexico, Central and South America. Intelligent and social, macaws gather in flocks consisting of ten to thirty members. Macaws are highly vocal, using loud squawks and calls to identify their territories and each other.

Fast Facts

1. 17 different species
2. Lifespan: Up to 60 years
3. Wingspan: Up to 4 feet
4. Form monogamous pairs for life
5. Some can mimic human speech
6. Have been observed using tools and playing with toys
7. Several species are endangered and at least two may already be extinct in the wild

Macaws eat fruit, nuts, seeds, leaves, flowers and insects. Like many other parrots, macaws have strong curved beaks that they use to crack nuts. They have a bone running through their scaly tongues which makes an effective tool for getting to the center of fruit and nuts. Many species also eat damp soil, which is believed to help neutralize some of the acids in the unripe fruit they eat.