Scarlet Macaw vs Shadow Dot Lichen

Ara macao compared with Micarea peliocarpa

Key Differences

Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern while Shadow Dot Lichen is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Scarlet Macaw	Shadow Dot Lichen
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Psittaciformes (Parrots)	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)
Family	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Byssolomataceae
Genus	Ara (Macaws)	Micarea
Species	Ara macao	Micarea peliocarpa

Conservation Status

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Shadow Dot Lichen

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Scarlet Macaw	Shadow Dot Lichen
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	50 years	—
Average Length	85 cm	—
Average Weight	1.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic 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.

Shadow Dot Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.