Scarlet Macaw vs White-fronted Tern

Ara macao compared with Sterna striata

Key Differences

• Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern while White-fronted Tern is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Scarlet Macaw	White-fronted Tern
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Psittaciformes (Parrots)	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
Family	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Laridae
Genus	Ara (Macaws)	Sterna
Species	Ara macao	Sterna striata

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

White-fronted Tern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Scarlet Macaw	White-fronted Tern
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-fronted Tern

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Norway. 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway