Scarlet Macaw vs White-collared Kite

Ara macao compared with Leptodon forbesi

Key Differences

Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern while White-collared Kite is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Scarlet Macaw	White-collared Kite
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Psittaciformes (Parrots)	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)
Family	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)
Genus	Ara (Macaws)	Leptodon
Species	Ara macao	Leptodon forbesi

Evolutionary Relationship

Scarlet Macaw and White-collared Kite share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

View Class: Aves

Conservation Status

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

White-collared Kite

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Scarlet Macaw	White-collared Kite
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.

White-collared Kite

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as 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.