Scarlet macaw

Healthy or poisonous meal?

The scarlet macaw has a magnificent plumage with bright colours. For many, it is the example of what a parrot should look like. Its powerful beak make it easy for the scarlet macaw to crack even the hardest nuts. But the bird must be very careful in foraging for its delicious snack. The nuts and fruits available in nature are often not yet ripe. As a result, they can be very poisonous. In response, the bird frequently eats a little bit of clay in order to be able to digest this food. That clay binds to the poison and prevents it from being absorbed in the blood. As result the scarlet macaw can also eat unripe nuts and is always able to find something to eat in the jungle.

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