Common Chamomile vs Scarlet Macaw

Anthemis arvensis compared with Ara macao

Key Differences

• Common Chamomile is Vulnerable while Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Chamomile	Scarlet Macaw
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Psittaciformes (Parrots)
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus	Anthemis	Ara (Macaws)
Species	Anthemis arvensis	Ara macao

Conservation Status

Common Chamomile

VU — Vulnerable

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Chamomile	Scarlet Macaw
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	85 cm
Average Weight	—	1.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Chamomile

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate coniferous forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Oceanian and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (4 countries), Europe (19 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Chile). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Scarlet Macaw

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Population trends indicate a declining trajectory in parts of its range.

Common Chamomile

<em>Anthemis arvensis</em>, commonly known as common chamomile, is a plant species found across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. It typically occupies multiple biome types, often colonizing arable fields, disturbed ground, roadsides, and open grasslands in temperate regions. The species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it faces a significant risk of extinction in the wild if the pressures affecting its populations continue. Common chamomile belongs to the genus <em>Anthemis</em> within the family Asteraceae and is an annual or biennial herb known for its white ray florets and yellow central disc flowers, which superficially resemble true chamomile (<em>Matricaria chamomilla</em>). The decline of this species is often associated with agricultural intensification, the widespread use of herbicides, and the loss of the traditional arable habitats it depends on across its range. Biological traits such as average lifespan, plant height, and mass of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Conservation efforts focusing on the preservation of low-intensity agricultural landscapes are important for the species' long-term survival.

Scarlet Macaw

One of the most brilliantly colored birds in the Americas, scarlet macaws display vivid red, yellow, and blue plumage with wingspans reaching 1 meter. Found in humid lowland forests from Mexico to Bolivia, they are highly intelligent, long-lived — up to 75 years — and form lifelong pair bonds. They travel long distances to clay licks where they consume mineral-rich soil to detoxify seeds. Listed as Least Concern but locally threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇬🇧 United Kingdom