Red-bellied Macaw

The Red-bellied Macaw is a specialized parrot found year-round in Ecuador’s eastern lowland Amazon, where it inhabits seasonally flooded forests and palm-dominated swamps, especially those rich in Mauritia flexuosa (moriche palms). Though generally uncommon, it occurs locally in small flocks and is highly dependent on these palms for roosting, feeding, and nesting, feeding almost exclusively on their fruits. Globally listed as Least Concern, its population is considered stable, though habitat alteration and palm harvesting pose localized threats. Nesting in natural cavities within dead palms, the species is known for its soft, growling calls and subtle plumage, with a maroon belly patch that gives it its name.