Macaw Facts & Worksheets

A Macaw is a big, colorful bird that belongs to the parrot family. It is characterized by bright hues, long tail feathers, and a sickle-shaped beak. What typically sets them apart from other parrots is their size (they are often bigger in length and weight) and their bare facial features. Their average lifespan is approximately 50 years.

See the fact file below for more information on Macaw, or you can download our 28-page Macaw worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

NAME & TAXONOMY

• The macaw’s name is said to have come from the Portuguese term “macau”, which may be a derivative of a type of palm tree that bears the fruit macaws eat.
• A group of macaws is called a flock. A baby macaw is called a fledgling.
• In terms of scientific classification, macaws belong to the kingdom Animalia; the phylum Chordata; the class Aves, which consists of birds; the order Psittaciformes, encompassing all parrots; the family Psittacidae; the subfamily Arinae, together with other neotropical parrots; and the tribe Arini, which is a clade of macaws and parakeets.

HABITAT

• Macaws are native to South America, Mexico, Central America, and formerly the Caribbean.
• They mainly inhabit wild rainforests, but they can also thrive in arid regions such as savannas and woodlands.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

• Macaws are immediately distinguishable from other parrots because they are bigger in size and weight. 
• An average macaw can weigh up to 3.75 pounds. The lightest recorded weight of a macaw is 4.5 ounces, according to National Geographic.
• The size range of macaws go from 11.8 inches (the Hahn’s macaw, Ara nobilis nobilis) to 39.5 inches (hyacinth macaw, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus).

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• All 19 species of macaws have a brightly-colored feather coat.
• Some species have a blue-and-yellow plumage, while some have a scarlet red, vibrant green, or a rich cobalt blue color.
• They have long, tapered tails, relatively huge sickle-shaped beaks, and a bare facial patch.
• It is common that the bare facial patch covers most of a macaw’s face and reaches the base of the beak. 
• In some species, the facial patch is smaller.
• Similar to a human fingerprint, a macaw’s facial patch pattern is unique to each bird.
• Using its robust and sturdy beak, a macaw can easily crack seeds and nuts.
• A macaw’s tongue is distinctively scaly and dry, with a bone inside that makes for a useful tool for tapping into fruits.
• A macaw is able to cling onto branches and stand tall on trees because of its gripping toes; their first and fourth toes actually point backward.
• They can also use their toes to grab and hold various objects and food.
• Whenever a macaw climbs trees in search of food, their beak can also serve as a third foot.
• Generally, macaws have typical parrot features but have giant-sized versions.

DIET

• Macaws are omnivorous creatures, which means they feed on plants and meat.
• Most of the time, a macaw’s diet consists of seeds, nuts, berries, and fruits.
• They also enjoy protein-rich food such as feeder insects. Caterpillars, mealworms, waxworms, fly larvae, grasshoppers, beetles, roaches, termites, and crickets can be eaten by macaws.

REPRODUCTION & LIFESPAN

• The average lifespan of macaws is approximately 50 years; some live up to 60 years.
• It is believed that macaws usually mate for life and are monogamous.
• Macaws are generous with their mates; they share food and groom each other!
• Female macaws play a different role from male macaws during the breeding season; the females incubate eggs while the males hunt for food to bring back to the nest.

BEHAVIOR

• Macaws are loud communicators. They communicate and identify with other macaws through echoing vocals and screams. 
• They also squawk and make screaming sounds to mark territory.
• There are macaws that can imitate how humans talk.
• Macaws are social creatures. 
• Flocks of 10 to 30 macaws would often gather at one time.
• At night, macaws would sleep in trees. During the daytime, they fly massive distances to search for food, such as fruit, nuts, seeds, snails, and insects.
• Not all macaws eat soil, but those that do benefit from it because damp soil aids in easing their stomachs.

DIFFERENT SPECIES

• The Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) has a prominent red color with yellow and blue tones native to the evergreen forests of South America.
• The Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is also called “little blue macaw” because of its blue color and relatively smaller size. It is native to Brazil and was declared an extinct species in 2019.
• The Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is covered with a dark blue feathered coat with a yellow outline over the eyes and mouth. Unlike the Scarlet and Spix’s macaws, the Hyacinth has a calmer personality. It is also the largest in size among species.
• The second-largest is the Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), a species that is red in color and has green wings, which is why it’s also called the “green-winged macaw.”
• The Blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) is a social species that is predominantly blue, yellow, and light orange.
• The Military macaw (Ara militaris) got its name from its coat looking similar to a military uniform. It is a giant-sized species that is native to forests of Mexico and South America.
• The Blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is an at-risk bird with its throat coated with rich blue feathers. They can live up to 80 years, which is longer than other species.
• Another species that is critically endangered is the Red-fronted macaw (Ara rubrogenys), a type of macaw native to Bolivia that commonly has a red forehead and a red patch over the ears.
• The Great green macaw (Ara ambiguus) has a prominent green color with hints of red and blue. It is a large bird, just like the Scarlet and Military macaws.
• The Lear’s macaw or the indigo macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) is an all-blue macaw native to Brazil. What makes it easily distinguishable is the yellow patch at the base of its bill.
• The Glaucous macaw (Anodorhynchus glaucus) is a critically endangered species closely related to the Hyacinth macaw and the Lear’s macaw. Its color is blue and gray.
• The Cuban macaw, or Cuban red macaw (Ara tricolor), and the Martinique macaw, or orange-bellied macaw (Ara martinicus), are already extinct.

MINI-MACAWS

• The Red-shouldered macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis), also known as Hahn’s macaw, is fully green with hints of red on its shoulders. It is one of the smallest in size.
• The Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severus), also known as the Severe macaw, got its name from having a chestnut-brown patch just above its beak.
• The Blue-winged macaw or Illiger’s macaw (Primolius maracana) is a predominantly green Macaw with a hint of blue on its wings.
• The Golden-collared macaw (Primolius auricollis) is an eye-catching species because of its gold collar, which goes contrastingly well with the bird’s green coat.
• The Blue-headed macaw (Primolius couloni) is nearly all-green with a blue head. They are less social than most macaw species.
• The Red-bellied macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata) has a distinct red color on the stomach area.

Macaw Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Macaws across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Macaws. A Macaw is a big, colorful bird that belongs to the parrot family. It is characterized by bright hues, a long tail feather, and a sickle-shaped beak.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Macaws Facts
2. Fact ID
3. Macaw Me Maybe
4. Search To Describe
5. Picture Clues
6. Sketch The Species
7. Scientific Name Crossword
8. Great Pet Qualities
9. The Spix’s Comeback
10. The Parrot Family
11. Macaws in Movies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a macaw?

A macaw is a large, colorful bird belonging to the parrot family. They are native to Central and South America and are known for their brilliant plumage and powerful beaks.

What do macaws eat?

In the wild, macaws eat a variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, and insects. In captivity, they can be fed a diet of high-quality pellets, fresh fruits and vegetables, and occasional nuts or seeds.

How long do macaws live?

Macaws can live a very long time, with lifespans ranging from 30 to 50 years or more in captivity. In the wild, their lifespans are typically shorter due to predation and other environmental factors.

Are macaws endangered?

Many species of macaws are endangered due to habitat loss, illegal trapping for the pet trade, and other factors. Some of the most critically endangered species include the Spix’s macaw and the glaucous macaw.

Can macaws talk?

Yes, macaws are known for their ability to mimic human speech and other sounds. However, not all macaws are capable of talking, and it requires consistent training and socialization to teach them to speak.

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