Scarlet Macaw vs Smith's Thorius

Ara macao compared with Thorius smithi

Key Differences

• Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern while Smith's Thorius is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Scarlet Macaw	Smith's Thorius
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Psittaciformes (Parrots)	Caudata (Caudata)
Family	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Plethodontidae
Genus	Ara (Macaws)	Thorius
Species	Ara macao	Thorius smithi

Evolutionary Relationship

Scarlet Macaw and Smith's Thorius share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Smith's Thorius

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Scarlet Macaw	Smith's Thorius
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.

Smith's Thorius

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.