Macaws are rainforest dwellers and many animals living in the jungle are green to camouflage with all the trees and plants. Reproductive rates in the wild are low for a number of reasons, including a natural scarcity of suitable nesting sites. Scarlet Macaws- Rainbows of the Rainforest. They also help with insect population control. So, why is it so important to research Scarlet Macaws? Here, they’re camouflaged from predators. To insure their nests are not vulnerable to this type of predator, macaws prefer to build their nests 100 feet or more off the ground. We need you to answer this question! WWF helped create Peru’s spectacular Manu National Park, home to the scarlet macaw and nearly 10 percent of all bird species on Earth. According to the IUCN Red List the total Scarlet macaw population size is around 20,000-50,000 individuals. Scarlet Macaws eat a variety of fruits, nuts and seeds. They make their nests in the humid climates of these ranging forests, near rivers where the vegetation is thick, lush, and bright. The scarlet macaw is one of the most impressive birds you will ever encounter. There are two main reasons why Scarlet Macaw Research is so crucial: Scarlet Macaws are a flagship species. Examples of Rainforest Bird Scarlet Macaw, Toco Toucan, and Xenops. How to plan your Amazon travel to see Scarlet Macaws and other rainforest wildlife. These red, yellow and blue parrots communicate to each other with their powerful squawks which can be heard up to a couple of kilometers away. They make it so the new trees/plants can grow and maintain the forest. Nine of the sixteen species of macaws are listed on Appendix I of CITES, including scarlet macaws. However, by the 1960s Scarlet Macaws had been decreasing in numbers due to a combination of factors, particularly hunting, poaching and the destruction of habitat through deforestation. At least 17 different species of macaws live in the Central and South American rainforests, with many calling the Amazon their home. Scarlet Macaws are found in tropical forests from eastern Mexico to the Peruvian Amazon and Brazil. Scarlet Macaws are an endangered species due to their capture as pets and loss of habitat. Their strong talons and long toungue are well adapted to breaking open the shells of tough nuts and seeds. Some of the birds that call the rainforests their home are the Scarlet Macaw, which has the scientific name Ara Macao.. Before the Scarlet Macaws decline in population, its distribution included much of Costa Rica. Scarlet macaws are important as seed eaters of large tree fruits. Scarlet Macaws are so friendly that they often stop by our Tambopata Research Center lodge for a breakfast-time visit. Why are macaws important to rain-forest? In the Amazon Rainforest, many macaws will gather on steep river banks to eat the clay located there. Visit the clay licks (colpas): Scarlet Macaws often visit the clay licks near the Rainforest Expedition lodges to gain important nutrients. Scarlet, Hyacinth, Red-fronted and Blue-throated Macaws are seriously endangered, while it’s thought that both the Glaucus and Spix’s Macaws may already be extinct. With their vibrant feathers full of a rainbow of colors, they look more like a flying bag of Skittles. This means that everyone who visits the tropical rainforest hope to see macaws — one of the most endearing and charismatic jungle critters. by Lindsay Bradshaw, Animal Care Manager. Currently this species is classifed as Least Concern (LC); however its numbers today are decreasing. Scarlet macaws inhabit humid lowland subtropical rain forests, open woodlands, river edges, and savannas. Conservation status. Ecological niche. Scarlet macaws are found in thick, dense rainforests mainly located in southern Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Trinidad. Some conservation organizations have found that macaw species will nest in artificial cavities and have supplemented certain areas with artifical nesting boxes. To learn more about how to help, visit the World Wildlife Fund . Scarlet macaws occasionally fall prey to jaguars and other large cats. The habitat of scarlet macaws is also considered to have the greatest latitudinal range for any bird in the genus Ara, as the estimated … Most macaws live in the emergent layer in the rainforest, but some species, such as Red-fronted macaws, live in swampy areas within rainforests, while Scarlet macaws tend to favour lowlands. They eat the fruit... and poop the seeds. Most macaws live in the emergent layer in the rainforest, but some species, such as Red-fronted macaws, live in swampy areas within rainforests, while Scarlet macaws tend to favour lowlands.