The Tambopata Macaw Project Talk

Dr Donald Brightsmith, the manager of the Tambopata Macaw Project gives a lecture on the use of the clay lick by the various parrot species.  He also shows how the researchers study the growth of the baby parrots.

If you would like to see this amazing place for yourself, start with my article here and also learn how the use of frequent flier miles can get you all the way to Puerto Maldonado so all you have to pay is the taxes and the cost of the Tambopata Research Centre package!

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

IMG_0766 IMG_0763The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a large, red, yellow and blue South American parrot, a member of a large group of Neotropical parrots called macaws.

Two subspecies present differing widths in their yellow wing band:

  • A. macao macao South American Scarlet Macaw, the nominate subspecies
  • A. macao cyanoptera (Wiedenfeld 1995) North Central American Scarlet Macaw

The Central American scarlet macaw is larger and has blue on its wings instead of green.

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Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

It is native to humid evergreen forests of tropical South America. Range extends from extreme south-eastern Mexico to Amazonian Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela and Brazil in lowlands up to 500 m (1,640 ft) (at least formerly) up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft). It has suffered from local extinction through habitat destruction and capture for the parrot trade, but locally it remains fairly common. Formerly it ranged north to southern Tamaulipas. It can still be found on the island of Coiba. It is the national bird of Honduras.

Red – Carara National Park, Costa Rica
Purple – Tambopata, Peru
Blue – Alta Floresta/Cristalino, Brazil

Because the Scarlet Macaw has such a large range, it makes it easier to plan a trip to see them in the wild.  I have personally seen them at Carara National Park in Costa Rica (use a Central American award), Tambopata in Peru (use a nothern South American award) and Alta Floresta & Cristalino in Brazil (use a southern South American award).  Carara can also be accessed by cruise ship passengers, a great way to get your feet wet if you are new to bird watching!  Book a Panama Canal cruise that stops in Puntarenas.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PARROT

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

The Ara Project

VIDEO

The Ara Project in Costa Rica releases some Scarlet Macaws who were bred to fly free and replenish the wild population.

 The filmer cut off the best part, where the Chicos of Tambopata raid the breakfast table!

List Of Parrots In Peru

Blue-and-yellow Macaw –  Ara ararauna

Military Macaw – Ara militaris

Scarlet Macaw – Ara macao

Red-and-green Macaw – Ara chloroptera

Chestnut-fronted Macaw – Ara severa

Red-bellied Macaw – Orthopsittaca manilata

Blue-headed Macaw – Primolius couloni

Red-shouldered Macaw – Diopsittaca nobilis

Scarlet-fronted Parakeet – Aratinga wagleri

Mitred Parakeet – Aratinga mitrata

Red-masked Parakeet – Aratinga erythrogenys

White-eyed Parakeet – Aratinga leucophthalmus

Dusky-headed Parakeet – Aratinga weddellii

Peach-fronted Parakeet – Aratinga aurea

Golden-plumed Parakeet – Leptosittaca branickii

Green-cheeked Parakeet – Pyrrhura molinae

Red-crowned Parakeet – Pyrrhura roseifrons

Deville’s Parakeet – Pyrrhura lucianii

Wavy-breasted Parakeet – Pyrrhura peruviana

Maroon-tailed Parakeet – Pyrrhura melanura

Black-capped Parakeet-  Pyrrhura rupicola

Andean Parakeet – Bolborhynchus orbygnesius

Barred Parakeet – Bolborhynchus lineola

Mountain Parakeet – Psilopsiagon aurifrons

Blue-winged Parrotlet – Forpus xanthopterygius

Dusky-billed Parrotlet – Forpus sclateri

Pacific Parrotlet – Forpus coelestis

Yellow-faced Parrotlet – Forpus xanthops (E)

White-winged Parakeet – Brotogeris versicolurus

Gray-cheeked Parakeet – Brotogeris pyrrhopterus

Cobalt-winged Parakeet – Brotogeris cyanoptera

Tui Parakeet – Brotogeris sanctithomae

Amazonian Parrotlet – Nannopsittaca dachilleae

Scarlet-shouldered  Parrotlet – Touit huetii

Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet – Touit purpurata

Spot-winged Parrotlet – Touit stictoptera

Black-headed Parrot – Pionites melanocephala

White-bellied Parrot – Pionites leucogaster

Orange-cheeked Parrot – Pionopsitta barrabandi

Black-winged Parrot – Hapalopsittaca melanotis

Rusty-faced Parrot – Hapalopsittaca amazonina

Red-faced Parrot – Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops

Short-tailed Parrot – Graydidascalus brachyurus

Blue-headed Parrot – Pionus menstruus

Red-billed Parrot – Pionus sordidus

Speckle-faced Parrot – Pionus tumultuosus

Bronze-winged Parrot – Pionus chalcopterus

Festive Parrot – Amazona festiva

Yellow-crowned Parrot – Amazona ochrocephala

Orange-winged Parrot – Amazona amazonica

Scaly-naped Parrot – Amazona mercenaria

Mealy Parrot – Amazona farinosa

Red-fan Parrot – Deroptyus accipitrinus

 

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