Scarlet Macaw vs Timneh Parrot

Ara macao compared with Psittacus timneh

Key Differences

• Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern while Timneh Parrot is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Scarlet Macaw	Timneh Parrot
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Psittaciformes (Parrots)	Psittaciformes (Parrots)
Family same	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus	Ara (Macaws)	Psittacus
Species	Ara macao	Psittacus timneh

Evolutionary Relationship

Scarlet Macaw and Timneh Parrot share a common ancestor at the Family level: Psittacidae. (True Parrots)

Conservation Status

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Timneh Parrot

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Scarlet Macaw	Timneh Parrot
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.

Timneh Parrot

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

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.