MACAW
Ara is a neotropical genus of macaws with
eight extant species and at least two extinct species.
Ara macaws are large striking parrots with long
tails, long narrow wings and vividly coloured plumage. They all have a characteristic bare face patch around the
eyes
The Ara macaws have a Neotropical distribution from Mexico to Argentina. The
centre of Ara distribution is the Amazon Basin and the Panama–Colombia border region.
The Ara macaws are generally fairly adaptable
in their habitat requirements; this reaches its extreme in the scarlet macaw,
which as suggested in its widespread distribution, uses most habitat types from
humid rainforest to open woodlands tosavannah. The only requirement is sufficient large trees, which is
where they obtain their food and breeding holes. Like all macaws and
most parrots seeds and fruit are the major part of the diet of the genus Ara.
