Great Green Macaw vs Scarlet Macaw

Ara ambiguus compared with Ara macao

Key Differences

• Great Green Macaw is Endangered while Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Great Green Macaw	Scarlet Macaw
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Aves (นก)	Aves (นก)
Order same	Psittaciformes (อันดับนกแก้ว)	Psittaciformes (อันดับนกแก้ว)
Family same	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus same	Ara (Macaws)	Ara (Macaws)
Species	Ara ambiguus	Ara macao

Evolutionary Relationship

Great Green Macaw and Scarlet Macaw share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ara. (Macaws)

Conservation Status

Great Green Macaw

EN — Endangered

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Great Green Macaw

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and United Kingdom. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

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 4 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇴 Norway 🇬🇧 United Kingdom