Scarlet Macaw vs Spur-winged Lapwing

Ara macao compared with Vanellus spinosus

Key Differences

• Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern while Spur-winged Lapwing is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Scarlet Macaw	Spur-winged Lapwing
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Aves (นก)	Aves (นก)
Order	Psittaciformes (อันดับนกแก้ว)	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
Family	Psittacidae (True Parrots)	Charadriidae
Genus	Ara (Macaws)	Vanellus
Species	Ara macao	Vanellus spinosus

Evolutionary Relationship

Scarlet Macaw and Spur-winged Lapwing share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (นก)

Conservation Status

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Spur-winged Lapwing

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Scarlet Macaw	Spur-winged Lapwing
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.

Spur-winged Lapwing

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (8 countries).

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.

Spur-winged Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) is classified as Not Evaluated (NE) on the IUCN Red List. Not yet evaluated against IUCN Red List criteria. Conservation status remains to be determined.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇬🇧 United Kingdom