The Scarlet Macaw in the Riviera Maya

The Scarlet Macaw

 

The Scarlet Macaw, called "moo" or "xkandzuloop" in Maya, "caquis" in Quiche and "xcchc pan" in Tzeltal, was thought to be the encarnation of the solar fire spreading out from the sky to the Earth. It is an outstanding bird because of its unique biological features: it is the largest species of macaw in Mexico and is brightly colored – scarlet feathers on the head, body, tail and upper edge of the wings; blue feathers on the base of the tail and wings and transverse yellow stripe across them. Its beak is ivory on top and black below.

 

Its territory used to spread over a large area, from the north of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, the east of Peru, Venezuela, French Guyana, Surinam, Bolivia to the south of Brazil. In Mexico it lives in Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Chiapas and Campeche.

Its natural habitat is riverside evergreen forests on higher elevations. It nests in secondary holes, that is, it depends on other birds which bore their own nests in trees. It lays one or two eggs with hatch in 28 to 33 days. In Mexico breading starts when the location of the nest is chosen, from December to February, and finishes when the young birds fly away, from April to June.

If you want to appreciate the wonderful world of the birds, visit Xaman-Ha Aviary in Playacar, where several native endangered species are exhibited, preserved and bread. Birds fly freely; you can hear their sing and their shapes and colors can be seen throughout the green foliage in an oasis to rejoice the peace of nature.