The Magnificent Scarlet Macaw
The Scarlet Macaw is a large, colorful macaw. It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. This macaw graces forest canopies from Mexico to central South America. In Costa Rica, it is more common on the Pacific slope than the Caribbean.
It measures about 81 centimeters (32 in) long, of which more than half of its size is the pointed, graduated tail typical of all macaws. Their average weight is about 1 kilogram (2.2 lb.). Their plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upper wing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. Some individuals may have green in the wings. Costa Rica car rental
The Scarlet Macaw can live up to 50 years in captivity. In the wild they can live 30 to 40 years. An interesting characteristic is that they are very stubborn at times.
These beautiful birds feed on fruits, nuts and seeds, including large, hard seeds. A typical sighting is of a single bird or a pair flying above the forest canopy, though in some areas flocks can be seen. They may also gather at clay licks.
The Scarlet Macaw lays two or three white eggs in a tree cavity. They do not dig these holes, but rely on finding cavities that are high off the ground and have vertical entrances. Finding enough of such trees can be a limiting factor for these birds to maintain populations in an area. Some bee species occupy the same kind of tree cavity. The female incubates the eggs for about five weeks, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 90 days after hatching. They chicks leave their parents about a year later.
In Costa Rica, they can be seen in Corcovado National Park, Carara National Park, and Palo Verde National Park.
They have strong wings to fly high over the canopy. Their travels may range far both daily and seasonally. Their loud calls can be heard as they fly but they are usually quiet while feeding. Pairs, trios, or small family groups are often seen, but these may sometimes merge into flocks of 25 or even 50 individuals at large roosts in tall trees or mangroves. Car rental Costa Rica
This macaw largely hunts in the canopy, feeding on large seeds, fruits and nuts in trees. Their favorite food in Costa Rica is the almost-ripe seed of Terminalia catappa. They are constantly looking for the almond-sized and almond-shaped seed hidden beneath the tough, fibrous nut. The macaw chips out big chunks of the hard fruit using the sharp edge of its lower mandible. Once it hits the nut, it slices through the outer fruit and picks out its meal. They can be fast foragers because a flock of ten birds can carpet the ground with three hundred of these fruits in a single hour as they look for the seeds.
Come to Costa Rica and chances are you will see this stunning colorful bird in its habitat.