Instructions
Look for a small patch of green feathers on the nape of the neck. Only the South American subspecies has this marking. The size of this patch tends to increase during the mating season. Crosses between South American and other varieties of scarlet macaw may also have this patch, though it is usually smaller.
Measure the width of the yellow band on the bird's wing and count how many rows of feathers it contains. Mexican scarlets have a narrow band with only two rows of feathers, while the Central American variety has a much wider band, with three or four rows.
Weigh your macaw. Mexicans are the lightest variety, averaging around 32 ounces., while female Central Americans range from 37 to 41; and the males top the charts at between 42 and 55 ounces. South American scarlet macaws are somewhere in between, with females averaging 41 and males around 43 ounces.
How Can I Tell Which Subspecies of Scarlet Macaw I Have?
The scarlet macaw, Ara macao, comes in three distinct subspecies, each with slightly different physical characteristics. Though all three look much the same, subtle variations in size and coloration set them apart. To the untrained eye, the varieties are indistinguishable: But if you know where to look, you can easily tell the difference between Mexican, Central American and South American scarlet macaws.