macaw

Everyday

A macaw is a large parrot with a long tail, a strong curved beak and very bright feathers, such as red, blue, yellow and green, from the rainforests of Central and South America. tree →

In the lessons

In rainforest lessons macaws show the canopy layer: they crack hard nuts with their beaks, eat clay from riverbanks, and live in pairs that stay together for life. Many are endangered because of forest loss and the illegal pet trade. They can copy sounds and some words. Phrases: «scarlet macaw», «blue-and-gold macaw», «hyacinth macaw».

Examples

• A scarlet macaw flew over the rainforest canopy. tree →
• Macaws crack hard nuts with their strong beaks. tree →
• The macaw at the zoo said «hello» to us. tree →
• Hyacinth macaws are the biggest parrots that can fly. tree →
• Macaw pairs often stay together for life. tree →
• Many macaws are taken illegally from the wild to be sold as pets. tree →
• The macaw's feathers were red, yellow and blue. tree →

Note

Plural «macaws». Say ma-KAW. A macaw is a kind of parrot; not all parrots are macaws.