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What are 3 adaptations of a Scarlet Macaw?

Adaptation in natural habitat!

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Phoenix by Phoenix
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August 13, 2006
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Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

First of all, look at the bird physically.
What stands out?
His powerful beak gives him an adavantage in being able to open pods, nuts, seeds, husks, and dig into trees for insects.This is a perfect tool to have in the rainforst. His tongue is long and flexible, giving him yet another tool in order to dig food out of little places. It also gives him a tool with which to enlarge or enhance a hole in a tree for a home.
Look at his environment:
He lives in a rainforest right? Okay, look at the layers of the rainforst: There are distinct layers...the richest and most abundant part of the rainforst layers is the canopy...about 40 to 90 feet up. There's a lot of action up there including a lot of food. But a lot of the plants growing up there are poisonous...so the birds have learned to go to Clay Licks which is like Pepto Bismol to them and keeps them from getting sick from potentially poisonous substances.

And finally, look at his feet:
He has four toes right? Find a photo or drawing of a parrot's foot. Look up the meaning of the word: Zygodactyl
Look at the way parrots eat. This zygodactyl feature (meaning 2 toes facing forward and 2 toes facing backwards) gives the Parrots the ability to use their feet as we use our hands. and they are the only birds that pick up their food to eat it. Other birds use their feet to carry food such as the eagle. But when an eagle carries a fish to a rock to eat it. he puts one foot on it to hold it down and then bends his head down to the food to eat it.
Why do you think this would be advantageous? Think about why bending down to eat food might be dangerous to an animal in the wild.
This is yet another adaption.
So work on these and see what else you can find about these particular features.
I hope this got you on the right track...and I hope this is what you had in mind.

Source(s):

Companion Parrot behavior Consultant
Parrot Rescue volunteer
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