Why Do Scarlet Macaws Neglect Their Youngest Chicks?

Scarlet macaws lay as many as four eggs per clutch, but only one or two chicks survive until fledging due to parental neglect.

Scarlet macaw, Ara macao, in flight. (Credit: Zdeněk Macháček via Unsplash. NOTE: This image has been cropped.)

Scarlet macaws are one of the most recognizable New World parrot species, and they are highly sought after as pets due to their brilliant plumage colors. These large colorful parrots are also widely celebrated for the long-term bonds they form with their mates. But they apparently do not form such strong bonds with their chicks.

A new study of wild scarlet macaws, Ara macao, living in Peru has documented what has long been known by aviculturists who work with captive-bred scarlet macaws: the parents neglect some of their chicks, allowing them to starve to death — even when there is plenty of food available.