Elastic Saddle vs Scarlet Macaw

Helvella elastica compared with Ara macao

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Elastic Saddle	Scarlet Macaw
Kingdom	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Pezizomycetes (Pezizomycetes)	Aves (นก)
Order	Pezizales (Pezizales)	Psittaciformes (อันดับนกแก้ว)
Family	Helvellaceae	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus	Helvella	Ara (Macaws)
Species	Helvella elastica	Ara macao

Conservation Status

Elastic Saddle

LC — Least Concern

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Elastic Saddle	Scarlet Macaw
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	85 cm
Average Weight	—	1.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Elastic Saddle

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and North America (United States).

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.

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 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway